Construction is set to begin at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/orchard-mews-glen-iris-18-scott-grove-glen-iris-vic-3146">Orchard Mews</a> in Glen Iris, with&nbsp;PC Whitehall &amp; Sons&nbsp;now appointed as the townhome development moves into its next phase.

The development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/montcoeur">MontCoeur</a>,&nbsp;located at 18 Scott Grove, is now around 30 per cent sold, with completion targeted for late-2027.

Orchard Mews comprises a curated collection of three- and four-bedroom customisable townhomes, positioned within one of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/glen-iris-vic-3146">Glen Iris</a>’ more tightly held residential streets. The low-density project has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jack-merlo">Jack Merlo</a>, bringing together a team known for high-end residential projects across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150128 project_image_fid=366285]

The development is defined by its focus on flexible living and long-term usability. Each residence includes multiple living zones and a customisable multipurpose room, allowing buyers to tailor spaces to suit changing needs, whether as a home office, additional bedroom, wellness area or entertainment space.

Architecturally, the townhomes emphasise natural light and spatial volume, with dual-aspect layouts and double-height living areas incorporated into the design. Interiors feature natural stone benchtops, premium appliances, and a neutral material palette intended to support everyday functionality rather than statement-driven finishes.

All residences are all-electric and include private lifts and secure double garages, reflecting a broader shift toward sustainability and future-focused housing in Melbourne’s established suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150128 project_image_fid=366277]

Outdoor connections are also central to the offering, with a mix of private courtyards and terraces extending internal living spaces and integrating with the landscaped surrounds.

The Scott Grove address places Orchard Mews within close proximity to some of Melbourne’s key lifestyle and education amenities, including Scotch College, Sacré Cœur, Cabrini Hospital and the retail hub of Chadstone. Public transport access is also nearby, with trams and Gardiner Station providing connectivity to the CBD and surrounding suburbs.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150128]

Joel Robinson

Construction to commence at luxury Glen Iris townhome project, Orchard Mews

A rare new apartment development has been proposed on the fringe of St Ives Village.

Developer Newquest Property has lodged plans for a low-rise apartment project designed by well-regarded architecture firm Warren &amp; Mahoney, which is best known for its work in the multi-residential sector in Melbourne.

The building, proposed for a 1,916 sqm site on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/st-ives-residences-3-5-memorial-avenue-nsw-2075">Memorial Avenue</a> opposite St Ives Village Green, has been designed to blend into the surrounding natural environment.

<img alt="St Ives" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c1c7437-2fba-4345-a6d7-05321714ad3e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-04%20at%201.28.46%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=KrYyMaJvNqR7vbx0xbB3Ef8sJ6FuHpmn" />

“Drawing inspiration from the pale trunks and flowering canopies of the scribbly gums and blue gums prevalent in the area, a considered material palette was developed,” the architectural design report states.

“This palette references the established materiality of the suburb while elevating it through refined finishes to achieve a more luxurious architectural expression.”

Of the 33 apartments proposed, 21 will be three-bedroom residences. The remaining mix includes nine two-bedroom apartments, one one-bedroom apartment and two four-bedroom residences. The development will be supported by 62 car parking spaces and 33 secure bicycle spaces.

The proposal would replace two single-storey brick buildings currently on the site.

<img alt="St Ives" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21422eaf-09a9-4439-9278-b9bd9daf22a1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-04%20at%201.38.10%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=v.fXSgcUcEscvOZzqcjG5nk3gVqk_Amt" />

St Ives remains a relatively untapped market for new apartment development. North Shore developer WINIM has a number of projects in the area, while INCA is nearing completion of Ellis Residences.

More recently, Traders In Purple has lodged plans for one of the denser projects proposed in the suburb, a 75-apartment development on a 5,900 sqm site on Cowan Road.

NewQuest, a construction, design and development firm, has delivered over 24 projects across commercial, residential, industrial, and lad markets.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

First look: NewQuest Property proposes new St Ives apartment development

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/centa-property-group">Centa Property Group</a> has achieved two major milestones at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bilinga-house-107-golden-four-drive-bilinga-qld-4225">Bilinga House</a> apartment development in the sought-after southern Gold Coast.

They've almost sold 50 per cent of the Golden Four Drive building, while at the same time announcing the commencement of construction through reputable builder Greyburn Construction.

The boutique 10-storey building, with 47 two- and three-bedroom apartments, now has a mid-to-late 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150037 project_image_fid=5333]

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>-designed project is positioned just 200 metres from Bilinga Beach and brings a relatively rare apartment offering to a market that has seen limited new supply in recent years.

Residences have been designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, with open-plan interiors, generous glazing, and material palettes that reflect the surrounding coastal landscape.

Interiors incorporate engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, and custom joinery, with layouts designed to adapt to both permanent living and lock-and-leave use.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150037 project_image_fid=5336]

Rothelowman Senior Project Leader Matthew Tencate said the design approach centres on liveability and community.

“Providing curated on-site amenities and communal spaces for residents that facilitate a sense of community, liveability, and wellness,” Tencate said.

Residents will have access to a suite of private amenities including a pool, gym, sauna, and communal alfresco areas, alongside practical features such as surfboard storage and bicycle facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150037 project_image_fid=5336]

Centa Property Group Director Jason Yuen said the project has been designed to appeal to a range of buyers seeking flexibility in how they use their property.

“Bilinga House is designed for those who want the best of both worlds – a modern beachside escape with the flexibility to generate income when you're not there,” Yuen said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150037 project_image_fid=5338]

Bilinga remains one of the quieter pockets of the Gold Coast, sitting between the more established hubs of Coolangatta and Palm Beach. Its appeal has strengthened in recent years, supported by proximity to the Gold Coast Airport and the Oceanway coastal path.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150037]

Bilinga House apartments snapped up as Greyburn commences construction

Breaking into the Sydney property market has long felt out of reach for many first home buyers, particularly as median house prices sit above $1.6 million and unit prices push beyond $900,000.

But entry points still exist in pockets of Greater Western Sydney, where pricing, government incentives, and product mix are aligning to make ownership more attainable.

Understanding where those opportunities sit, and how the numbers actually stack up, is becoming increasingly important for buyers weighing up their next move.

<h2>Work out what you can actually afford</h2>

Sydney is expensive, but it isn’t uniformly expensive. The Greater Parramatta region continues to offer comparatively accessible entry points, particularly for buyers open to alternative configurations like studios.

There's an assumption that a first home needs to be a certain size, that anything smaller than a one-bedder is a concession rather than a choice. That assumption doesn't hold up against what well-designed studios in the right location actually offer: immediate liveability, strong urban amenity, and a price point that makes the deposit target realistic rather than theoretical.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/mason-main-merrylands-249-259-merrylands-road-merrylands-nsw-2160">Mason &amp; Main</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/coronation-property">Coronation Property</a>'s multi-award winning precinct in Merrylands, studio apartments are unlike the typical studio configuration.

Starting from $498,000, the bedroom is fully enclosed, separated from the living area by a cavity sliding door, creating a genuinely private sleeping space that functions more like a one-bedroom apartment than a traditional open-plan studio.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=31751 project_image_fid=359814]

At 42 sqm internally, with an open-plan kitchen, built-in robes, modern bathroom, and separate laundry, the apartments are designed for everyday liveability rather than short-term use.

With a five per cent deposit under the Federal Government's First Home Guarantee, that equates to a deposit of around $24,200, achievable for many first home buyers without the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

<h2>Understand the real cost of renting versus buying</h2>

For buyers weighing up the shift from renting to owning, the numbers are closer than many expect.

Here’s how the numbers stack up for a studio at Mason &amp; Main (based on a $498,000 purchase):

<ul>
	<li>Purchase price: $498,000</li>
	<li>Five per cent deposit (First Home Guarantee): ~$24,900</li>
	<li>Loan amount: ~$473,100</li>
	<li>Estimated mortgage repayment (6.29% variable, 30-year term): ~$675–$695/week*</li>
	<li>Estimated rental return: $590–$620/week*</li>
	<li>Rental yield: 6.16% - 6.47%</li>
</ul>

At this level, the gap between renting and owning is relatively narrow, particularly when factoring in long-term equity, with rental returns also making the apartments a viable option for investors.

The rental range reflects current asking rents for remaining studio stock in the development and, based on prevailing asking prices, equates to an indicative gross rental yield of up to 6.47 per cent.

For buyers seeking more internal space, Mason &amp; Main also offers a range of one-bedroom apartments from $629,000, alongside larger one-bedroom plus multipurpose room configurations priced from $680,000 - all priced under $800,000 and eligible for first home buyer incentives.

<ul>
	<li>Purchase price: $629,000</li>
	<li>20 per cent deposit: ~$125,800 (5% deposit on exchange: $31,450)</li>
	<li>Loan amount 80%: ~$503,200</li>
	<li>Estimated mortgage repayment: ~$720–$740/week*</li>
	<li>Estimated rental return: $650–$680/week*</li>
	<li>Rental yield:&nbsp;5.37% - 5.62%</li>
</ul>

One-bedroom apartments continue to present a balanced option for both owner-occupiers and investors, supported by steady rental demand across Western Sydney.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=31751 project_image_fid=359812]

<h2>Make sure you're across the government incentives</h2>

Government incentives continue to play a key role in reducing the upfront cost barrier.

At Mason &amp; Main, studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments are priced under $800,000, allowing eligible buyers to access a full stamp duty exemption under the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme.

On a $498,000 purchase, that represents a saving of roughly $17,900 that would otherwise need to be paid at settlement.

Combined with the First Home Guarantee, which enables purchases with as little as a five per cent deposit, the total capital required to secure a home is significantly reduced compared to traditional lending pathways.

<h2>No waiting, no uncertainty</h2>

For first home buyers who want to move sooner rather than later, Mason &amp; Main removes one of the more common pain points from the purchase process entirely. The development is already complete and move-in ready, meaning buyers can walk through the apartments, inspect the finishes, and have full certainty about what they're purchasing before signing anything.

Coronation brought in renowned architecture firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> to design the development.&nbsp;

"The project's design drew inspiration from the area's rich heritage, in particular the nearby brickworks and aqueduct, infusing a contemporary perspective to seamlessly integrate historical influences into the design," Woods Bagot Principal Dom Alvaro says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=31751 project_image_fid=736]

<h2>Factor in location and lifestyle</h2>

Beyond the apartment itself, the surrounding infrastructure matters, particularly for a first purchase. Merrylands Station sits 350 metres from the development, putting the Parramatta CBD a five-minute drive away and the Sydney CBD roughly 25 minutes via the Western Line. Directly across the road is Stockland <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/merrylands-nsw-2160">Merrylands</a>, one of Greater Western Sydney's major retail centres.

At street level, Mason &amp; Main's own retail and dining precinct has more than 30 tenants trading, including Iftar, Macelleria, Hayat, San Churro, Yuzu, and Fat Jaks. Residents also have access to a resort-style pool, a Technogym-equipped gym, private dining rooms, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views across Parramatta, the Sydney CBD, and the Blue Mountains, all exclusive to the building.

Due to the mix of configurations, including studios which are rarely offered in today's new apartment market, first home buyers and investors have driven Mason &amp; Main to over 90 per cent sold.

Coronation Property Managing Director Joe Nahas says the development is driving a revitalisation of Merrylands, setting a high standard for future developments in the area.

Mason &amp; Main is move-in ready and is the latest in a series of award-winning mixed-use developments by Coronation Property.

Disclaimer: Mortgage repayment figures are estimates only, based on a 6.29 per cent variable rate over a 30-year term (Canstar, April 2026). Pricing and rental estimates are indicative and based on current listings and project information. Gross yield figures are indicative and derived from asking prices and estimated rental ranges. Stamp duty savings are indicative only. Buyers should seek independent financial and legal advice before proceeding.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=31751]

How first home buyers can enter the Sydney property market for under $500k

Australia’s housing debate has rarely been more urgent. The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council forecasts the country could fall around 262,000 homes short of housing needs by 2029, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing planners, governments and developers.

In response, much of the conversation has centred on high-density towers around transport corridors and strategic centres.

Diversified developer Coronation Property, while also focused on well-located, strategic sites, is incorporating an arguably underutilised typology, the terrace.

Difficult to integrate into true high-rise developments, terraces have become a defining feature of Coronation’s lower-rise portfolio, including projects in Ashbury and Erskineville. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/ashbury-terraces-165-171-milton-street-ashbury-nsw-2193">Ashbury Terraces</a> places a stronger emphasis on this housing type, forming part of a broader community mix.

At its Erskineville development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lillian-erskineville-9-metters-street-erskineville-nsw-2043">Lillian</a>, terraces are more limited, with just a handful&nbsp;included within the wider, predominantly apartment-led precinct, one of the first developments to launch in Erskineville in several years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=368392]

Terrace residents at Lillian benefit from many of the same advantages as apartment owners, the lock-up-and-leave lifestyle and access to shared amenities like the rooftop wellness space, but with significantly more space.

Spanning multiple levels, the terraces also feature front and rear courtyards, providing direct access to the central landscaped gardens within the precinct.

<h3 data-end="212" data-section-id="1n97jye" data-start="191">The terrace model</h3>

Terrace housing has long been part of Australia’s urban fabric. From Paddington and Surry Hills to Glebe and Annandale, rows of terrace homes have shaped neighbourhood streets, offering a housing form that sits between detached houses and apartments.

The contemporary terrace, however, addresses many of the limitations of older designs, where narrow staircases and constrained layouts often compromised liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=368157]

“Terraces represent one of the city’s most intelligent housing models,” says Joe Nahas, Managing Director of Coronation Property.

“They deliver density without losing the human scale that makes neighbourhoods liveable. In many ways, they provide a bridge between the Sydney we know and the Sydney we need to build. If Sydney is going to grow well, it can’t rely on towers alone.”

<hr data-end="1090" data-start="1087" />
<h3 data-end="1124" data-section-id="1a7l0gw" data-start="1092">The evolution of the terrace</h3>

That thinking has shaped Coronation’s approach at Ashbury Terraces, where the terrace typology has been reinterpreted for modern living.

Designed by SJB, the project recently received recognition at the 2026 Better Future World Design Awards, acknowledging its architectural clarity and response to the surrounding suburban context.

SJB Director Adam Haddow says the intent was to evolve a familiar housing form rather than reinvent it.

“The terrace is one of Sydney’s most familiar housing forms, so our approach at Ashbury was to reinterpret that typology in a contemporary way,” Haddow says.

“The homes are designed to sit comfortably within the existing neighbourhood while introducing more light, landscape and shared spaces that support modern living.”

Ashbury Terraces combines terraces, apartments and penthouses across a series of low-rise buildings, integrating contemporary architecture with landscaped communal spaces and resident amenity.

That same typology is now being carried into Coronation’s Lillian development in Erskineville, where a smaller number of terraces sit within a predominantly apartment-led precinct.

<hr data-end="2269" data-start="2266" />
<h3 data-end="2289" data-section-id="cazuws" data-start="2271">Buyer response</h3>

Coronation’s decision to include terraces at Lillian was informed by strong buyer feedback from Ashbury Terraces, where purchasers were drawn to the flexibility and scale the housing type offers.

One resident, Sweta Pursem, purchased a terrace as a single buyer, citing its long-term versatility.

“As a single buyer, it might seem surprising that I chose a terrace over an apartment, but I was thinking long term,” Pursem says.

“The terraces are incredibly versatile, catering to a range of lifestyles while still offering the space and privacy of a house.”

For Pursem, the multi-level layout provides a level of functionality not typically found in apartment living.

“Having a separate living area from the bedroom and home office makes everyday living feel both functional and comfortable. When friends and family come to visit, the layout gives a sense of privacy while still feeling open and spacious.”

Her terrace also supports a more connected, lifestyle-driven way of living.

“I love entertaining, and the courtyard is ideal for relaxed weekend drinks with friends. I tend to use each level differently throughout the day, it creates a natural rhythm between work, downtime and entertaining, which I didn’t have in apartment living.”

Ashbury Terraces is now complete and ready to move in, while Lillian in Erskineville is under construction and expected to welcome residents in mid-2027.

Coronation champions terraces as a key piece of Sydney’s housing mix

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>
EXPERT OBSERVER
Regional area index data for SA4 regions produced by CoreLogic is showing early signs of improving housing market conditions, predominately across Sydney and Melbourne and with some level of improvement in the areas where values previously recorded comparatively large falls.
Over the three months to July 2019, national dwelling values continued to decline, falling by -0.5%, however, the monthly rate of decline has been slowing right throughout 2019 with no change in values throughout the month of July.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/30/SA4%203.JPG" alt="">
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/30/SA4%204.JPG" alt="">
The improvement in market conditions was more evident across the combined capital cities, while the combined regional markets have seen the magnitude of declines trend higher throughout 2019.
The improvement in housing market conditions is largely being driven by a slowing rate of decline in values in Sydney and Melbourne throughout 2019 with increases over the past two months.
Melbourne is the only city where values increases occured over the past three months (0.1%) while a several cities recorded slower rates of decline. Dwelling values remained lower than when at their peak across all 46 capital city SA4 regions; the magnitude of declines varied greatly from city-to-city and within the individual capital cities.
While values are now lower than their peak across all SA4 regions, 13 individual regions have either recorded an increase in value or avoided declines over the past three months.
Analysis of the 13 regions where values did not fall over the past three months where in areas that have previously seen comparatively large value declines from their peak. To July 2019, Sydney dwelling values have fallen -14.7% from their peak.
Over the past three months, seven Sydney regions have avoided falls and Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury (-15.7%), Inner West (- 15.9%), North Sydney and Hornsby (-15.4%) and Sutherland (-16.7%) have each recorded larger overall falls than the Sydney benchmark.
It is a similar story for Melbourne, four SA4 regions have avoided value falls over the past three months, two of which were the Inner East and Inner South which have seen some of the largest overall declines of all Melbourne regions, down - 15.0% and -14.4% from peak respectively. Outside of regions of Sydney and Melbourne, Hobart and Adelaide’s North have also recorded an increase in values over the past three months.
Only 15 of the 46 capital city SA4 regions have recorded falls in excess of 1.0% over the past three months.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/30/SA4%201.JPG" alt="">
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/30/SA4%202.JPG" alt="">
Several combined regional markets are not showing the same early signs of a market recovery that was visible for the capital city markets. Furthermore, some regional markets have seen significant overall declines. For the capital cities, Mandurah in Perth experienced the largest overall decline in values (-35.7%), while three regional markets have recorded larger total falls.
Of the 42 regional SA4 areas, 16 have either recorded an increase in values or no decline over the past three months which is greater than the 13 amongst the capital cities.
The reason for the declining regional values, and with little to no real signs of an improvement, is more to do with the fact that most of the larger regional markets continue to record value falls.
What is interesting is that some of the markets that have recorded significant value falls over recent years have actually recorded value increases over the past three months. Most of these are located in Qld: Townsville, Cairns, Central Qld and Mackay-Isaac Whitsunday while Outback SA has seen the largest value increase over the three months despite values being more than 20% below their peak.
Unlike the capital city SA4 regions, two regional markets have managed to avoid declines with values sitting at record-highs. These regions are West and North West Tas and South East SA. The more populous regional markets continued to record value falls over the past three months with areas like Townsville, Cairns, Richmond-Tweed, Toowoomba and Launceston and North East the main exceptions.
Larger regional areas such as Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Geelong, Illawarra and Bunbury have continued to see values fall. Overall early signs are emerging to suggest that the housing market has stabilized, however, this evidence is much more prevalent in capital cities than regional markets.
Within the capital cities, the research concluded that improved conditions are mainly being driven by Sydney and Melbourne and interestingly, in many instances it is those areas where values have recorded larger declines over recent years that are showing the largest improvement.
Over the coming months it will be interesting to see if the improvement continues and whether it spreads from Sydney and Melbourne to other capital cities and regional markets.
CAMERON KUSHER is the head of research for the Australian branch of CoreLogic
Kusher regularly posts on the <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news" target="_blank">CoreLogic website</a>.
</body></html>

ckusher-ujnxiKuFQs

Regional markets have seen the magnitude of declines trend higher throughout 2019: CoreLogic's Cameron Kusher

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
The Perth recovery is back on track, having paused in the lead-up to the Federal Election. Sales activity is solid to strong in many locations and some areas have had price growth. 
The Price Predictor Index published by Hotspotting reported increasingly strong signs of recovery in Perth markets in 2018 and early 2019. The number of suburbs with growing sales activity in five consecutive quarters was 39, 45, 49, 51 and 53 - undeniable evidence of growing demand in the Perth metro area.
Then the revival hit a wall. Like many locations across capital city Australia, Perth paused amid the uncertainty created by the Election and the prospect of a Labor victory and major changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax.
Tighter finance and a highly negative media also contributed to putting the brakes on the Perth recovery. For those reasons, the number of growth markets across the Perth metropolitan area was lower in our Winter survey.
Now our Spring survey shows that the decline has likely bottomed out, with a steady number of growth markets and improving number of consistency markets. There are now very few declining markets across the Perth metro area.
This comes as vacancy rates continue to tighten and rents rise. New data from SQM Research shows that the Perth vacancy rate is continuing to fall. In 2017 the rate was close to 6% and in mid-2018 it was still at 4% - but now 2.9% and trending in the right direction.
SQM Research also reports solid growth in Perth rentals, with the Rents Index up in annual terms for both houses and apartments. This source has also recorded short-term improvement recently in the city’s Prices Index.
Our analysis of median price trends shows that close to 30% of Perth suburbs have recorded growth in their median prices in the past 12 months. The list of suburbs with rising prices is dominated by top-end markets and upper-middle markets - locations with median prices above $700,000.
Mount Pleasant, which has stood out in a number of our recent surveys, continues to be a market leader with its median house price rising 14% to $1.25 million in the past year. This suburb is part of the Melville LGA which has been - and remains - one of the most solid precincts in the Perth market. 
An emerging feature is the number of suburbs with median prices lower than a year ago, but with growth in the latest quarter - providing further evidence of a recent market turnaround. Most of the locations exhibiting that trend are at the affordable end of the market - examples include Two Rocks in the Wanneroo LGA (median price $370,000 - down 3% in annual terms, but up 2% in the latest quarter) and Huntingdale in the Gosnells LGA (median price $375,000 - down 1% in annual terms but up 1% in the latest quarter).
Perth, in general terms, is a capital city leader on housing affordability (thanks to several years of price decreases) and, according to one recent report, has its highest affordability reading since 2004. Against that background, a notable feature of our Spring survey is the emergence of growth markets at the affordable end of the Perth market.
The LGAs of Armadale, Wanneroo, Canning, Gosnells, Kalamanda and Rockingham all now have suburbs with growth momentum.
Another precinct attracting attention is the Kwinana LGA in the south of the Perth metro area. It has been identified in a recent affordability report as the only part of the Perth market where it’s cheaper to buy than to rent. Many suburbs have median house prices in the low to mid $200,000s, making it the cheapest precinct in capital city Australia, except for parts of northern Adelaide.
Rental yields are typically above 6%, in an area that attracts residents because it’s close to one of Perth’s biggest jobs nodes and has good transport links to the CBD, as well as good local amenities.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Perth recovery back on track: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Adelaide is the standout market in capital city Australia. Its consistency of sales performance is remarkable and two-thirds of its suburbs have had price growth in the past year, led by double-digit rises in top-end markets.
Adelaide is undoubtedly Australia’s most under-rated market. I have often lauded Canberra as the most consistent of the capital cities but Adelaide is a serious challenger. It keeps delivering good sales activity and above-average results on house prices in specific markets.
In the five years Hotspotting has been conducting quarterly surveys of sales activity and price trends, Adelaide has never delivered a poor result. Most cities have had peaks and/or troughs in that time, but Adelaide just keeps on producing steady markets with consistent demand. 
65% of Adelaide suburbs have experienced growth in their median house prices in the past 12 months, many of them with rises above 5%. 
The list of suburbs with growth above 10% is dominated by top-end locations, a positive sign for the market overall, which we believe is poised for a significant growth phase.
Our Spring survey has identified 61 Adelaide suburbs with rising sales momentum. Over the past two years, the number of growth suburbs quarter-by-quarter has been 45, 58, 61, 71, 60, 62, 64 and 61.
Adelaide continues to rank well ahead of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in terms of the number of growth suburbs – and ahead of most state regional jurisdictions (where many of the strong growth markets are found at present).
There are 11 Local Government Areas across the metropolitan area with three or more suburbs with upwardly-mobile markets.
The Marion LGA, a middle-market area in the south-west of Adelaide which has been a market leader for the past 18 months, is once again a standout market – indeed one that ranks nationally. It has nine suburbs with rising sales patterns, including Ascot Park, Glengowrie, Hallett Cove, Marion, O’Halloran Hill, Sheidow Park and Seacombe Gardens. 
Port Adelaide Enfield, another precinct that regularly features, also has nine growth suburbs including Croydon Park, Clearview, Dernancourt, Ferryden Park, Greenacres, North Haven and Rosewater.
The Charles Sturt LGA, which extends north-west from central Adelaide out to the beach areas, is close behind with seven rising suburbs. 
Eight municipalities have between three and five rising markets each: the Burnside, Campbelltown, Holdfast Bay, Mitcham, Onkaparinga, Salisbury, Tea Tree Gully and West Torrens LGAs.
While sources such as CoreLogic and SQM Research report annual growth of only 1-2% in Adelaide house prices, these generalised figures disguise individual areas which have done better. Our suburb-by-suburb analysis shows that 65% of Adelaide suburbs have median house prices higher than a year ago. Of the 123 suburbs which have recorded price growth, 51 have lifted more than 5%.
Only 23 of the 188 suburbs in the Adelaide metropolitan area have recorded falls in their median house prices of more than 5%.
Many of the suburbs with the highest annual growth are towards the upper end of the Adelaide market, headed by North Adelaide (up 35% to $1,165,000), Glenunga (up 21% to $1,185,000) and Unley (up 17% to $1,075,000). 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Adelaide the best performing capital for real estate growth suburbs: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The number of new listings being added to the combined capitals housing market has seen a hefty 44% rise from the depths of the winter slowdown in early July through to the first week of October, however that hasn’t been enough to push fresh listing numbers in line with previous years.  The number of new capital city listings over the past twenty eight days was tracking at the lowest level for this time of the year since CoreLogic started tracking real estate listings in 2007.
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/new_and_total_listing_capital_cities.png" width="600" height="399">
 22,939 fresh real estate listings were added to the capital city housing markets over the past twenty eight days; 13% lower than the same time last year and 15% below the thirteen year average.    New stock levels are down across every capital city, with the largest fall in Darwin where newly advertised listings are 36% lower than a year ago and 63% below the highs recorded in 2007.   Darwin housing conditions have been weak since the middle of 2014, so its understandable that home owners would be reluctant to list their property under such challenging selling conditions.  
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/new_and_total_listing_capital_cities_chart.png" width="600" height="370">
 The same logic can’t be used for stronger markets though.  Properties in Hobart are averaging just 28 days to sell and homes are selling, on average, in less than fifty days across Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, yet vendors seem to be lacking confidence to put their home on the market with new listing numbers down in these cities also.  Auction clearance rates remain high across the main auction markets and prices are under renewed upwards pressure. So why the lack of new listings in cities where housing market conditions are picking up.   It’s reasonable to expect there would be some level of pent up demand amongst home owners who were unwilling to sell during the downturn and were waiting for selling conditions to improve. Potentially a partial explanation can found in persistently low levels of consumer sentiment.  The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment recorded its lowest reading since mid-2015 in October.  With Australians increasingly concerned about their finances and the economic outlook, it may be the case that prospective vendors are choosing to sit on their hands until they feel more confident.  A property transaction, whether it be an option to sell or buy, is a high commitment decision that is much harder to make during periods of uncertainty.  Another explanation is the recency of the improved market conditions.  Capital city dwelling values were still trending lower only three months ago and the change to more positive conditions wasn’t widely anticipated.  Realistically it can take some time for home owners to get their affairs in order and prepare their property for sale.  With this context, a lag between the improved market conditions and a more substantial rise in new listings isn’t all that surprising.  
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/capital_city_listing_summary.png" width="600" height="342">Capital City Listing Summary
 Another barrier that may be preventing a more significant lift in listing numbers is high transaction costs, especially if the home owner is downsizing or upgrading which would incur a stamp duty payment.   With market activity rising, active buyers are becoming more competitive across a shallow pool of listings which is adding some urgency to the market.  With increased competition, vendors are regaining some of the leverage they lost through the housing downturn and buyers could be feeling the first pangs of FOMO as they see properties selling faster and prices rising. 
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/monthly_sales_combine_capital_cities.png" width="600" height="282">Monthly Sales, Combined Capital Cities
 Historically the seasonal peak in new listing numbers is around the second week of November, so there is still some time for the spring / early summer listing season to ramp up.  If the market recovery continues at the same pace as the last few months its almost certain that more home owners based in the markets showing strength will take advantage of the renewed level of buyer demand.
TIM LAWLESS is the CoreLogic head of research
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Spring hasn't quite sprung for real estate listings: Tim Lawless

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Regional Victoria remains a stand-out market on price performance, although the two latest quarterly surveys conducted by Hotspotting indicate that sales activity overall is not as strong as 2018. 
Some of the key markets have passed their peaks in terms of buyer demand, although other locations are now rising.
In our Winter survey of sales activity, we have identified 22 markets with rising buyer demand, down from 29 in the Autumn survey and a significant reduction on the 51 in the Summer survey. This is primarily because the two growth leaders of the past couple of years, Geelong and Ballarat (pictured above), have passed their peaks in terms of sales activity.
Other recent growth markets appear to have moderated also, including Cardinia Shire on the south-eastern fringe of Melbourne, where Pakenham and Officer have recorded a significant decline from the previous peak levels of sales activity. But new growth markets are appearing.
We have previously declared Regional Victoria to be the strongest market in the nation. Most of the growth markets that have inspired that assessment have been locations within commutable distance of the Melbourne metropolitan area. Now growth markets are being found in locations more distant from the state capital, including Wodonga, Wangaratta, Port Fairy and Portland.
But the No.1 market continues to be Bendigo. It has overtaken Geelong and Ballarat, based on the number of suburbs with rising sales activity.
Bendigo now has eight suburbs with increasing demand, as well as numerous others with steady sales performance. Growth suburbs include Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat, Kennington, Long Gully, Maiden Gully, White Hills and North Bendigo. Quarterly sales in the suburb of Epsom have grown from 20-25 two years ago to 35-40 more recently. Its median house price ($355,000) is typical of pricing in Bendigo, one of the strongest regional cities of Victoria.
Wangaratta (median house price $315,000) has emerged as a market where sales demand has grown steadily over the past two years. Quarterly sales have risen from 80-85 two years ago to around 120 more recently. Its median price has risen 13% in the past 12 months.
Further north at the NSW border, Wodonga (median $340,000) presents as a solid market with growing strength.
In the western areas of the state, both Port Fairy and Portland have had steady increases in quarterly sales. Portland’s quarterly sales pattern of 33, 41, 45, 48, 48, 52, 76, 86, 77, 79, 95, 90 and 101indicates a market that has grown steadily over the past three years, with its median price up 5% to $240,000 in the past 12 months. Port Fairy’s median has increased 7% to $600,000 in the past year.
Geelong has been Victoria’s strongest real estate market in recent years. However, our Winter survey has found only two rising suburbs in terms of sales activity but 20 plateau suburbs, which means sales have tapered off below the former peak levels. There’s a similar trend in Ballarat: it has two rising suburbs, but 11 plateau suburbs and six consistency markets.
Despite being passed their peaks in terms of buyer demand, both Geelong and Ballarat are still delivering significant price growth: 17 suburbs of the City of Greater Geelong and nine in the Ballarat LGA have had double-digit growth in their median house prices in the past year.
A number of Regional Victoria markets have had median price growth above 20% in the past 12 months. Five of them are Geelong suburbs – Indented Head, Mt Duneed, Newcomb, St Leonards and Whittington. Big growth has also occurred in Mt Pleasant and Wendouree, suburbs of Ballarat, as well as Cowes and Wonthaggi in the Bass Coast LGA. 
But the No.1 location in Regional Victoria for annual median price growth is Loch Sport in the Wellington LGA, up 30% in the past 12 months.
Four towns in the Macedon Ranges LGA had recorded double-digit increases in their median house prices, including Woodend which rose 21%. But our Winter survey confirms that this area has peaked in terms of sales activity. It’s a similar story with the Mitchell LGA, where towns like Beveridge, Broadford, Kilmore, Seymour and Wallan have attracted strong buyer interest in the past two years.
Overall, Regional Victoria has been an outstanding performer on price growth, arguably the best in the nation, in the past 12 months. We have analysed price performance for 140 towns and suburbs and found that 89% have median house prices higher than a year ago. Two-thirds of Regional Victoria locations have risen by more than 5%. 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Regional Victoria remains stand-out market, but sales activity drops: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER
If sentiment was money we’d all have got richer in the past month. Pretty much everyone in property has felt the perceptible change in vibe since a series of fortunate events snowballed through the winter market: the election, the demise of Bill Short-sighted and his tax policies, the APRA easing, the interest rates decision, help for first-home buyers and the income tax cuts.
People who provide services to real estate have felt the mood change - but it will take time before consumers, the people who really matter, can touch it and taste it. APRA hasn’t actioned it policy changes, consumers aren’t yet living the lower mortgage rates, FHBs can’t bank the promised assistance and the tax cuts are still a long way from our hip pockets.
The changes will take time to show up in research depicting an uplift in markets. The ABS recently published its price data for the March Quarter – it won’t be until they publish their September Quarter figures towards the end of 2019 that we might see the positive changes reflected in ABS figures.
So how do we know that anything tangible is happening as a result of the recent sugar hits to sentiment?
Little by little, we’re seeing growing research evidence of a turnaround in fortunes for property markets in Australia’s biggest cities. 
Auction clearance rates are improving, vacancy rates are dropping, rents are rising, price decline is bottoming out and the pickup in consumer sentiment is being quantified in surveys.
Two major indicators which measure short-term changes in prices in the capital cities indicate that the slump in property values is coming to a halt. CoreLogic’s Property Market Indicator data shows a trend of improvement in the daily home value index for the capital cities – firstly the rate of decline showed and then we saw recent weeks of no change. The Home Value Index for June showed small monthly improvements in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart, while those three cities plus Darwin showed monthly increases for units.
The Asking Prices Index from SQM Research has shown more even positive outcomes, with the indexes for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart all recording weekly rises, while Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart have all achieved monthly increases.
We have to resort to these wobbly short-term measures on prices, because it will take some time before the long-term trends are evident. I don’t like weekly indexes much, but there has been a steady pattern emerging in both the SQM and CoreLogic measures – and that trend has been one of recovery and improvement.
Tyron Hyde, director of depreciation experts Washington Brown, says the uncertainty that existed two months ago has been removed from the minds of investors and home-buyers, and sentiment has improved in the  big city markets.
“Everyone I speak says there’s been a 10% uplift in the market,” Hyde says. “I don’t think that means a return to big price growth, but it has put a floor under those markets that wasn’t there a few months ago.”
All that’s being reflected in some of the surveys. The Westpac sentiment survey has reported a “spectacular” rise in expectations of house price increases and a general improvement in sentiment from real estate consumers. “Housing-related sentiment showed a clear response to the lowering in interest rates,” says Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan.
The time to buy a dwelling index showed a 1.8% rise to 116.9 points, while the house price expectations index recorded a “spectacular” 22.7% rise. “This is the highest level since August 2018,” Hassan says.
Meanwhile, the latest edition of ME’s Quarterly Property Sentiment Report shows that seven out of ten real estate consumers feel positive or neutral about the market. It found 37% feel neutral towards property overall, while 35% feel positive and 28% feel negative. 
Auction outcomes continue to provide evidence of improvement in the big city property markets. The latest data suggests June was the strongest month for auction outcomes since September 2017 in Sydney and since February 2018 in Melbourne.
The preliminary clearance rates for the weekend were 68% for Sydney and 73% for Melbourne, which are quite strong results, especially compared to the same time last year.
Interest in mortgages rose dramatically in the days following the Reserve Bank cash rate reduction in early June, according to comparison site Finder.  Traffic to <a href="https://finder.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc5e9bce699fa1d71a67cf499&amp;id=ab42718692&amp;e=e0c2d5151d">home loan deals</a> on Finder jumped 654% in the 48 hours after the RBA announced the cash rate reduction. Interest in variable rates on Finder grew by 564%, while there was a 369% spike in those looking to refinance.
Residential rents continue to rise in most Australian capital cities, both in monthly and annual terms. Figures from SQM Research show that the Weekly Rents Index has risen in the past year in all cities except Darwin and Sydney. The Indexes have shown similar trends in the past month.
This reflects a general decline in vacancy rates. According to SQM, vacancy rates fell or remained steady in all eight capital cities in May. The national average vacancy rate is 2.2%, well below the 3% benchmark.
As we go forward, I expect the pile of tangible evidence of revival to grow. For people who work in the real estate space, the second half of 2019 is going to be a lot more fun than the first six months.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Tangible evidence of stronger property markets: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Young adults not only struggle to buy a home, many struggle to secure any kind of independent housing. This contributes to a cycle of living in precarious and informal housing and to a growing gap between their current situation and their short and longer-term housing aspirations.
A <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/318" target="_blank">report released today</a> by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (<a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/about-us/who-we-are-and-what-we-do" target="_blank">AHURI</a>) adds nuance to debates about generational change and housing by examining how housing aspirations differ among emerging adults (18-24 years) and in early adulthood (25-34 years). For example, emerging adults are more likely than the older cohort to prefer living in an apartment.
By early adulthood, the housing aspirations gap is greatest for individuals in the private rental sector, particularly those on higher incomes, and narrowest for home owners. Home buyers on low to moderate incomes are most happy with their housing.
While long-held values around the ideal of home ownership prevail, these are not as persistent as for past generations. The ideal differs according to age, education and the quality and security of current living arrangements. But having somewhere safe and secure to call home was the top priority across all young adults.
Aspirations change with stage of life
An extended phase of dependence to semi-dependence shapes the housing aspirations of young adults. This involves either remaining in the family home or sharing with others.
In 2015-16, the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6503.0" target="_blank">ABS Survey of Income and Housing</a> revealed that only one in six (17%) young adults (18-24 years) lived independently. Two-thirds (66%) lived with parents. Around a third of young adults (25-34 years) are also opting to remain or move back with parents or live in shared housing.
While these living arrangements reflect concerns about housing affordability, they are also used as a strategy to pursue other aspirations, such as education.
What do young adults want in their housing?
The AHURI <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/research-in-progress/ahuri-inquiries/evidence-based-policy-inquiry-51170" target="_blank">research</a> includes a nationally representative survey of more than 2,400 Australians aged 18-34 years. It was supported by focus groups and in-depth interviews, including with Indigenous Australians, in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.
Home ownership was the ideal tenure for 60% of emerging adults (18-24). By early adulthood (25-34) the proportion had climbed to 70%. The ideal of home ownership was lower (61%) for those still living in the family home by early adulthood compared with higher-income couples living independently (80%).
By early adulthood, educational status becomes a key marker of whether home ownership is considered possible. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of households with a tertiary-educated member believed they could buy a house within five years. This compares with just over a third of those with an education to year 12 (36%) and less than a quarter (23%) of those with an education to year 11 or below.
The preference for apartment living falls with age. About a third (34%) of emerging adults reported this as their ideal, compared with 21% of early adults.
Young adults also want more space. The largest share of both emerging (32%) and early adults (43%) indicated that a four-bedroom house is ideal. This compares to just 20% of those over 55 years of age who wanted four or more bedrooms.
How large is the housing aspirations gap?
For emerging adults (18-24), living in a group household typically met short-term (82%) but not longer-term (25%) aspirations. Similarly, living with parents mostly met short-term (76%) but not longer-term (30%) aspirations.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287454/original/file-20190809-144851-1h1mcvj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge: 
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287454/original/file-20190809-144851-1h1mcvj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287454/original/file-20190809-144851-1h1mcvj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Australian Housing Aspirations Survey 2018, Author provided
By early adulthood (25-34) the housing aspirations gap is greatest for individuals in the private rental sector, particularly those on higher incomes. For higher-income groups, their current private rental housing met the short-term aspirations of just over three-quarters (76%) but only 20% for longer-term aspirations.
The aspirations gap is narrowest for home owners. Home buyers on low to moderate incomes were most happy with their housing in the short-term (92%) and longer-term (60%).
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287457/original/file-20190809-144843-1v1u54g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287457/original/file-20190809-144843-1v1u54g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/287457/original/file-20190809-144843-1v1u54g.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Housing Aspirations Survey 2018, Author provided
What can be done to close the aspirations gap?
Very few people are actively planning for their housing futures. Affordability and the deposit gap, insufficient income, employment insecurity and “waiting for the market to settle down” all impact on achieving longer-term aspirations. In the short-term, not being in a preferred location, high mobility and insecurity matter most.
Housing policy needs to become more realistic about the housing futures of young Australians. Achieving both short- and longer-term aspirations requires new policy frameworks that can enable young people to move towards attaining “secure independence”.
Public debate about the housing aspirations of young adults gained prominence during the federal election with <a href="https://theconversation.com/small-but-well-formed-the-new-home-deposit-scheme-will-help-and-its-unlikely-to-push-up-prices-117073" target="_blank">promises of a targeted scheme</a> to help first home buyers. Proposed first home owner deposit schemes are an important step in meeting aspirations, particularly among private renters with higher and secure incomes.
But before young people even contemplate home ownership they need greater support in making key life transitions, such as from education to work, via more continuous and integrated packages of housing assistance.
We also need continued reforms to ensure a fairer and more secure private rental sector with short and longer-term leasing options close to employment and training, and with stable rents.
There needs to be diversity and real choice in dwelling types, size and locations and scaling up of more sustainable and niche models of co-housing.
As for young people locked out of home ownership in the long-term, they need a way to build an investment nest egg and to access quality social and public rental housing.<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/121431/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
Sharon Parkinson, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology
Amity James, Senior Lecturer, School of Economics, Finance and Property, Curtin University
Steven Rowley, Head of School, Economics, Finance and Property, Curtin University. Director, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Curtin Research Centre, Curtin University
Wendy Stone, Associate Professor, Centre for Urban Transitions and Director, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Swinburne Research Centre, Swinburne University of Technology
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/first-home-buyer-schemes-arent-enough-to-meet-young-adults-housing-aspirations-121431" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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First home buyer schemes aren’t enough to meet young adults’ housing aspirations

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<div>EXPERT OBSERVER</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The national residential vacancy rate was stable at 2 per cent in March.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>This represents a slight decline from a year earlier, when the vacancy rate was 2.1 per cent.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Only Melbourne and Hobart had higher vacancy rates than a year earlier. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Given that properties need to be advertised for 3 weeks before being classified as vacant, there's more likely to be a jump in April as Airbnb operators and other short-term accommodation providers are forced to try more conventional routes for leasing their properties.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The 6-month moving average by capital city is plotted below, not seasonally adjusted:</div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJdu7a0K0QU/XpT_eswSm-I/AAAAAAAA1Og/-dMPxJ-RFect1lCV6nMdBke9TtLGEwfkwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/SQM1.jpg" width="640" height="364" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1414"></div>
<div> </div>
<div>With more short-term units hitting the market the median asking rental price was down in March.</div>
<div>
 PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.
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Residential vacancy rates down to 2 percent: Pete Wargent

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One of the recent trends in real estate is more people moving from the big cities and buying in lifestyle areas within an hour or two of the city.
This movement has been enhanced by technology which allows people to work from home or by improved transport links.
I’ve described Regional Victoria as the strongest market in the nation over the past two years, based on data on sales activity and price growth in multiple locations.
And much of the uplift in markets within an hour or two of Melbourne – in the north, north-west and the south-east – has been driven by buyers out of Melbourne, both home-buyers and investors.
In the six months before the onset of the virus-induced restrictions, there had also been a notable increase in sales activity, with consequent positive impact on prices, in regional areas close to Sydney, including the Central Coast, the Southern Highlands and the Wollongong region.
I believe this trend will be further exacerbated by the current situation, which is forcing people to work from home.
Some will make it a permanent arrangement – and increasingly we are seeing media commentary to that effect.
An article last week in the Herald Sun in Melbourne said:
Many Melburnians will leave the city behind for regional Victoria during the coronavirus crisis, property experts say.
Agencies are reporting a “significant increase” in inquiries about regional properties from city dwellers “seeing the benefits” of working from home due to the COVID-19 lockdown, and keener than ever to escape the “madness” of Melbourne life.
Others are viewing the pandemic-impacted market as offering opportunity to get their feet on the property ladder in affordable areas.
A report from JLL says the COVID-19 quarantine policies have sent employees of all levels – from chief executives to junior staff – home with laptops to their kitchen tables.
“With this mass experiment under way, there is a belief among workplace experts that such set-ups could become more prevalent at companies large and small,” it says.
“Well beyond the peak of the crisis, corporate culture and, more than likely, the digital skills of global workforces, will have changed in significant ways. Location and working hours could become more flexible, leading to better productivity and improved work life balance for individuals.”
Gillian Rowbotham, human experience director – Australasia at JLL, says: “Given how suddenly everything changed, that tech has stood up pretty well, and people are mostly enjoying the flexibility to manage their day according to what needs to be done, I think we are inevitably entering a new dawn in the workplace experience.”
Interior architect Iva Durakovic suggests the success of working from home will mark the end of the office as we current know it, with remote working becoming the new norm.
The Associate Lecturer at UNSW Built Environment believes that remote working arrangements will continue long after the coronavirus pandemic has passed and will also change the nature of office spaces for the better.
"We already saw this idea of a distributed workforce getting stronger - and this will only accelerate it,” she says.
She says that widespread working from home is shaking up the role of the traditional workplace and highlighting what is truly valuable.
"It will break down what we need to come to a traditional workplace for, like face-to-face contact, and the way the future work environment looks. And it will be very different."
All of this has consequences for real estate. It provides another good reason for property investors to consider regional real estate, which offers greater affordability and higher rental yields than the big cities – and, if you choose your location well, good potential for capital growth.
We’ve seen excellent price growth in the past year or two, not only in Regional Victoria, but also in regional locations in NSW, Tasmania, South Australia and increasingly in Queensland.
TERRY RYDER is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Regionalisation: The positive real estate trends exacerbated by COVID-19: HotSpotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER
There are 3 key drivers of property prices.
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(i) Supply - the rate of construction and the properties listed for sale on the market;</div>
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(ii) Interest rates - the cost of borrowing; and</div>
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(iii) Population growth - immigration, natural population growth (births minus deaths), and interstate migration.</div>
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<div>Or, as depicted in his infographic:</div>
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<div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfAMyhsEwDU/XsC1SuAaGqI/AAAAAAAA1xE/oWHfOVu6Wt4Dg29nArHLDV26HjXIy8SaACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/FIN.jpg" width="640" height="360" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="791"></div>
 
<div>Source: Tim Boyle, Finalytics</div>
 
<div>People often state that the unemployment rate is critical, but this argument isn't backed up by any hard statistics. In fact the last couple of times the unemployment rate spiked housing prices soared the following year, as pointed out by Stuart Wemyss of ProSolution, Game of Mates author Dr. Cameron Murray, and others:</div>
 
<div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGeIhomU-Rw/XsDARe3SG3I/AAAAAAAA1xg/AF7pCtVj6yImNusAc2_soCsN-9f2dwlHQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/A3.jpg" width="640" height="366" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="738"></div>
 
<div>There's also an enormous fiscal stimulus washing through, comfortably dwarfing anything we've seen in recent decades. </div>
 
<div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SwOd64SloIQ/XsDAdNa9cVI/AAAAAAAA1xk/IA2iutyq4sE-ulOJVokqdP6KWZMNVqNCwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/Stim.jpg" width="640" height="638" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="739"></div>
 Boyle's 3 drivers today In that context, here's what's happening with Boyle's 3 key drivers today. Supply is extremely tight at the moment. Dwelling construction is plunging towards 70-year lows and vendors aren't listing either. <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ituPSwbTdvU/XrNkMZcBltI/AAAAAAAA1lM/lSj4XGqL1Gcc-lP5wKWKzjVlXG5YWXJ-gCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/CL2.jpg" width="640" height="386"> 
<div>Source: CoreLogic</div>
 Lending rates, meanwhile, are at the lowest level in modern history. <img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHbGid402-g/XrNlXdwQxnI/AAAAAAAA1lc/Fd54mmUYX1kJWedMT-5JdHyEbCZFOZD3ACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/CL3.jpg" width="640" height="398"> 
<div>This effectively allows borrowers to take on bigger mortgages, as I showed in my recent post on lending trends. ANZ have just noted the same thing: <div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bGysfQwD18o/XsDAo9GSxRI/AAAAAAAA1xs/Vx2-pm8vZHE32TUM-20dz-8UmDRRD4DyQCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/ANZ1.jpg" width="640" height="448" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1143"></div>
 The big unknown factor at this stage is population growth.
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<div>My base case expectation or scenario is that within the next few months the powerful interests such as the Property Council, Australia's universities, the airlines, Tourism Australia, and big business at the top end of town will have forced the government's hand to reopen the borders, albeit with a period of enforced quarantine.</div>
 
<div>As for the thesis that things will be totally different after COVID-19...well as a gallant but struggling home-schooler I reckon that's total garbage! People can't wait to get back and out to spend, socialise, travel, go to work, and holiday again.</div>
 It's just the way we're designed, we're pack animals. 
<div class="separator"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9TZrsC6zMw/XsC1SYxsobI/AAAAAAAA1xA/_k9XLZBNywgB_0ApBK_96zfH9-jzlSPNACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/JT.jpg" width="640" height="308" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="747"></div>
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<div>And moreover, Australia will likely be seen as one of the safest and most desirable countries on earth in which to live.</div>
<div>
 PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.
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