ANZ believes the Reserve Bank is in no rush to move again.

Following the release of the May Monetary Policy Board Minutes, ANZ has taken the view that the RBA is now firmly in a holding pattern, with the cumulative impact of previous rate hikes giving the Board scope to assess how the economy evolves from here.

That positioning, in ANZ’s view, makes a June rate hike unlikely.

The bank continues to expect the cash rate to remain unchanged at 4.35 per cent for an extended period, with the RBA adopting what is effectively a wait-and-see approach.

The Minutes point to a Board that sees financial conditions as already restrictive, but without a clear read on just how restrictive they are. That uncertainty has shifted the focus away from immediate policy action and toward monitoring both domestic conditions and global developments, particularly the conflict in the Middle East.

As ANZ interprets it, the Board is deliberately avoiding strong forward guidance.

Instead, it is allowing itself flexibility, acknowledging that monetary policy has limited ability to influence the near-term trajectory of inflation, while also recognising that economic growth is likely to remain below potential for some time.

Despite that pause in momentum, ANZ notes that the Board still carries a tightening bias.

The Minutes reveal that, in weighing up its decision, the Board seriously considered another 25 basis point increase. The key debate centred on the trade-off between inflation and activity, particularly in the context of global uncertainty.

Ultimately, most members leaned toward the inflation side of that equation.

Underlying inflation is still expected to remain above target for an extended period, regardless of how external risks evolve. That has led to a view within the Board that the risks to its inflation objective have increased, and that the current cash rate may not be sufficiently restrictive to fully contain those pressures.

That’s important.

While the decision, for now, is to hold, the underlying tone of the Minutes suggests the door to further tightening has not been closed.

ANZ also points to commentary from Assistant Governor (Economic) Sarah Hunter, who highlighted the risk that inflation could pass through the economy more quickly and broadly than in previous cycles. Both Hunter and a majority of the Board expressed concern that inflation expectations could become less anchored after such a prolonged period above target.

That combination, persistent inflation and the risk of expectations shifting, is what continues to underpin the RBA’s cautious stance.

However, where ANZ diverges from the RBA is on the outlook for activity.

The Board appears relatively comfortable with current spending patterns, effectively downplaying recent declines in business and consumer sentiment. It notes that sentiment has historically been only weakly correlated with actual spending, and that feedback from its liaison program has not yet pointed to a meaningful slowdown in consumption.

ANZ is less convinced.

The bank believes the link between household disposable income, sentiment and spending is more direct than the RBA is currently acknowledging. With inflation continuing to erode real incomes, ANZ expects household spending to soften more materially than the central bank is forecasting.

That divergence matters because it shifts the balance of risk.

If activity weakens more than expected, the trade-off between inflation and growth changes. In ANZ’s view, that would reduce the need for further tightening and reinforce the case for the RBA to remain on hold.

It also suggests that the current policy setting may already be doing more work than the Board fully appreciates.

The broader takeaway from ANZ’s interpretation is that the RBA is walking a narrow path.

On one side sits the risk of inflation remaining elevated for longer than expected. On the other is the growing pressure on households and the potential for a sharper slowdown in activity.

For now, the Board is choosing to wait.

But it is a pause that still carries an underlying tightening bias, rather than a clear pivot toward easing.

In practical terms, that leaves the cash rate anchored at 4.35 per cent for the foreseeable future, with the next move still uncertain.

For borrowers, it reinforces the reality that relief is not imminent.

And for the broader economy, it highlights the delicate balance the RBA is trying to strike, between bringing inflation back to target and avoiding an unnecessarily sharp slowdown in growth.

According to ANZ, it is a balance that is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

Joel Robinson

RBA to hold rates for "prolonged period" rather than hikes: ANZ

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/venturecrowd-property-projects">VentureCrowd</a> is down to the final Canopy Villa release at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara, as construction continues on the 59-residence gated community positioned above 100 hectares of natural savanna on the Gold Coast.

The remaining Canopy Villa forms part of one of four collections within the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>-designed community and has attracted interest from buyers seeking larger-format homes that combine privacy, security and low-maintenance living. Positioned within a private cul-de-sac and facing a protected black she oak forest, the four-bedroom villa includes a large private outdoor area suited to pet owners and families wanting more flexible space.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/cumulus-grand-villas-carrara-17-baltimore-court-carrara-qld-4211">Cumulus Grand Villas</a>, located at 17 Baltimore Court, comprises a mix of three and four-bedroom villas across the Skyline, Canopy, Savanna and Broadview collections. Prices currently range from $1.455 million to $1.895 million, with the final Canopy Villa priced from $1.825 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360477]

The Canopy Collection villas offer four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and approximately 245 sqm of internal space, alongside double garages and landscaped private areas. Expansive glazing, open-plan living spaces and private balconies have been designed to maximise natural light and outlooks toward the surrounding savanna landscape.

Construction is now underway across the fully funded development, which VentureCrowd says has become an increasingly important consideration for buyers assessing off-the-plan opportunities on the Gold Coast. The project is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/devcon">Devcon Property Group</a>, which has operated in South East Queensland since 1993 and delivered more than 1,000 homes across the region.

VentureCrowd Director of Property David Whitting previously said the project responds to changing buyer priorities in the prestige Gold Coast market.

“Flexible floorplans have proven particularly relevant for purchasers aged between 40 and 65, including next home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Whitting said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360505]

The buyer profile at Cumulus has reflected that shift toward owner-occupier-driven demand. Stuart Towns and Tracey Loynes recently purchased a Canopy Villa, drawn to both the lifestyle offering and the flexibility the home provided for their next stage of living together.

The couple, who met three years ago, sold their Robina home earlier this year after identifying what they saw as strong long-term investment potential at Cumulus while remaining within the same Gold Coast market. The villa’s private backyard was a major drawcard for their dog Luna, while proximity to golf courses including Emerald Lakes also aligned with their lifestyle interests.

Beyond the residences themselves, the community has been planned around shared lifestyle and recreation amenities. The Infinity Terrace will include a 20-metre heated pool, barbecue facilities, alfresco dining spaces and elevated retreat areas overlooking the surrounding landscape. Walking trails, a private nature reserve, orchard and herb garden are also integrated into the masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360473]

BDA Architecture Director Darren Greenaway said the design approach was heavily influenced by the site’s outlook and secluded setting.

The practice sought to create what Greenaway described as a “little piece of paradise,” drawing inspiration from the elevated views, surrounding greenery and quiet location.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/carrara-qld-4211">Carrara</a> continues to attract buyers seeking larger homes within proximity to the coast but without direct beachfront pricing. Cumulus sits within easy reach of Broadbeach, Pacific Fair, Robina Town Centre and the M1, providing connections north to Brisbane and south toward the Gold Coast Airport and northern New South Wales.

The first stage of Cumulus Grand Villas is targeting completion in 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135663]

VentureCrowd nears sell-out of Canopy Collection at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara

Waverley Council has made a call that many councils have been reluctant to make publicly. Growth is coming, regardless of who controls it.

The release of the Bondi Junction Vision and Master Plan is less about whether the Eastern Suburbs’ primary centre will change, and more about how that change is shaped, funded, and ultimately experienced on the ground. Waverley Council has released a 100-page plan which is effectively the first comprehensive blueprint for Bondi Junction in over two decades, and in doing so, signals a clear shift in how councils are positioning themselves in the current planning environment.

For the past 18 months, the conversation across New South Wales has been dominated by the State Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms and the emergence of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway. Both have created faster, more centralised avenues for development approvals, particularly in well-located, infrastructure-rich areas like Bondi Junction.

Waverley Council’s response has been to move early, and decisively.

Rather than react to individual proposals as they come through the HDA or broader State-led reforms, Council has sought to establish a clear, place-based framework that sets the terms for how Bondi Junction evolves. The underlying position is relatively straightforward: if densification is inevitable, it should be tied to infrastructure, public domain improvements, and a cohesive vision for the centre, not delivered piecemeal through ad hoc applications.

<img alt="bondi junction" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7f1f729c-ed99-4c6c-bf87-ffbce6991941" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-19%20at%209.58.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ULX4OlXKjeJ5BvNCNGL86evgXCjCfMih" />

At its core, the document is attempting to reposition Bondi Junction from what it largely functions as today, a transport interchange anchored by a major retail centre, into something far more layered. The ambition is to transform it into what the plan describes as the “civic and cultural heart of Sydney’s East,” a place that is active beyond commuting hours and capable of supporting a broader mix of uses, experiences and communities.

That repositioning is built around four key ambitions.

The first is to create a true destination. Bondi Junction already attracts significant foot traffic, with more than 86,000 daily transport users and millions of annual retail visits, but much of that activity is transient. People pass through, rather than stay.

The Master Plan seeks to change that dynamic. It leans heavily into the idea of an “18-hour economy,” extending activity well beyond traditional retail hours through dining, cultural programming, events, and a more active night-time offering. This is not just about adding more hospitality venues, but about fundamentally shifting how the centre operates, from a daytime shopping destination to a place that functions across the full span of the day and into the evening.

Oxford Street Mall sits at the centre of that shift.

Long seen as underperforming relative to its potential, the Mall is identified as one of the key catalyst projects in the plan. It is to be reimagined as a day-to-night spine, combining retail, dining, wellness and cultural uses in a way that creates a continuous flow of activity. Outdoor dining, rooftop venues, laneway activation and a curated events program are all part of the strategy, alongside significant public domain upgrades that aim to improve comfort, safety and usability.

&nbsp;

The second ambition is to transform Bondi Junction into a world-class interchange.

Despite being one of the most heavily used transport nodes in Sydney, the current experience is fragmented. Connections between the station, Westfield, Oxford Street Mall and surrounding streets are often unclear, and major roads create physical barriers that disrupt pedestrian movement.

The Master Plan proposes a more seamless, people-focused network. That includes clearer pedestrian links, improved wayfinding, better integration between transport modes, and a rethinking of how arrival into the centre is experienced. The aim is to shift the perception of Bondi Junction from a place people move through, to a place they arrive in.

The third ambition focuses on greening and open space.

One of the more consistent pieces of community feedback throughout the Vision phase was the need for more greenery, better public spaces, and a more comfortable urban environment. Despite being surrounded by major parks, Bondi Junction itself has relatively limited accessible open space, with much of the public realm dominated by hard surfaces and traffic infrastructure.

The plan responds with a network of new and upgraded public spaces, increased tree canopy, and what it terms the “Parkline,” a green link connecting Waverley Park through to Centennial Park. This is not just about aesthetics. It is about addressing heat, improving liveability, and ensuring that increased density is matched by access to high-quality outdoor space.

The fourth ambition is perhaps the most important from a development perspective: growth that gives back.

Bondi Junction is already the primary location for new housing supply in the Waverley LGA, and that is expected to continue. The area carries a target of 2,400 new dwellings by 2029, with further growth projected beyond that as demand for well-located housing continues to rise. The Master Plan does not seek to limit that growth. Instead, it attempts to shape it.

New housing is to be concentrated around transport, with stepped building heights designed to protect the character of surrounding neighbourhoods. At the same time, the plan introduces a more explicit link between development uplift and public benefit. This is where value capture becomes central.

The document outlines a framework where increased development potential is tied to contributions that fund public domain improvements, community infrastructure, open space, and affordable housing. It is an approach that recognises that much of the transformation of Bondi Junction will be delivered by the private sector, but seeks to ensure that the benefits of that growth are shared more broadly. The Civic Precinct is a key part of that equation.

Leveraging Council-owned land, the plan proposes a consolidated civic and cultural hub centred around Ebley Street. This would include new community facilities, cultural spaces, and potentially a new Council Chambers, creating a focal point for civic life that currently does not exist in Bondi Junction at scale.

It is one of several catalyst projects identified in the Master Plan, alongside the Oxford Street Mall transformation. These projects are intended to anchor change, acting as early interventions that unlock broader investment across the precinct.

Importantly, the Master Plan is not just a design document. It includes a delivery framework that sets out how these ambitions are intended to be realised.

Council is explicit in acknowledging that it cannot deliver the transformation alone. Implementation will require coordination between State agencies, private developers, landowners and the community, with a mix of planning agreements, infrastructure contributions and direct delivery mechanisms used to fund and stage improvements over time.

The plan outlines a mix of short-term, medium-term and long-term actions, from immediate public domain upgrades and planning controls, through to larger-scale projects that will unfold over the next decade or more. In practical terms, the next 12 to 24 months will be the most important.

This is when the Master Plan will move through exhibition, refinement and eventual adoption. It is also the period in which Council will seek to embed the framework into its planning controls, giving it weight in the assessment of future development applications.

Council officers have indicated that once the Master Plan is in place, it could be used as a benchmark when assessing Housing Delivery Authority proposals, and potentially reduce the need for further HDA declarations within Bondi Junction. In effect, it is an attempt to bring planning control back to the local level, while still aligning with State housing targets.

That tension between State-led reform and local planning control is not unique to Waverley. It is playing out across Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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If delivered as intended, Bondi Junction will become denser, more active, and more complex. It will support more residents, more workers, and a wider range of uses, extending beyond its current retail core into a more layered urban environment.

“The civic and cultural heart of Sydney’s East”: Bondi Junction masterplan revealed

Toorak's dress circle St Georges Road, home to some of the city's priciest homes, is set for a rare new apartment development.

Blood Diamond Group, an entity tied to Tina Brandi, wife of David Brandi who has been a prolific bidder on The Block over the years, has filed plans for an ultra-exclusive development across an amalgamated 3,662 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/104-106-st-georges-road-toorak-vic-3142">104 and 106 St Georges Road</a>.

The proposal would replace two existing homes on the riverfront site with a five-level apartment building cascading down the steeply sloping land toward the Yarra River. Designed by Charles Wright Architects, the development has been carefully shaped around the site’s topography and river environs, with the upper levels stepping back to reduce visual bulk from both St Georges Road and the Yarra corridor.

Planning documents describe the proposal as “a site layout and building typology that is consistent with the emerging character of the area and which provides exceptional amenity for future residents without compromising that of neighbouring properties.”&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Blood Diamond Group unveils riverfront apartment plans for Toorak Pavilion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea19a17e-7528-4fa8-b727-05f2f7c025e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Toorak%20pavilion%20a_0.png?VersionId=rZ2IjdoUL_UrRl1sZ4wZHnQXbYUaEmUQ" />

The scheme comprises 12 apartments, including 10 three-bedroom residences, one one-bedroom apartment, and a substantial split-level five-bedroom penthouse. A 624 sqm communal rooftop terrace will crown the building, while three undercroft levels embedded into the hillside will accommodate apartments and basement parking.

The design leverages the site’s dramatic northern outlook across the Yarra River, with living areas and balconies oriented toward the water. A central atrium running the full height of the building is intended to draw natural light deep into the residences and improve internal amenity.

Landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jack-merlo">Jack Merlo Design &amp; Landscape</a> will play a major role in softening the built form, particularly along the river edge where significant setbacks have been introduced. The proposal includes a minimum 30-metre setback from the Yarra River boundary, preserving a substantial landscaped buffer between the development and the waterway.

While a mature English Oak near the front of the site is proposed for removal, the plans retain a large English Elm closer to the riverfront, alongside other established vegetation in the lower section of the property.

<img alt="First look: Blood Diamond Group unveils riverfront apartment plans for Toorak Pavilion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ed3bf19b-5bc7-482f-bde7-41f709a13c3a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Toorak%20pavilion%20b.png?VersionId=SG_kBGu4rOaSPY8FtVcmPJfSCrstuOfg" />

Architecturally, the building adopts strong horizontal forms with expansive glazing and curved balcony edges facing the river. Planning documents note the upper levels “adopt a receding form” to ensure the building responds appropriately to the Yarra River environs overlay controls.&nbsp;

The surrounding streetscape is characterised by large contemporary homes embedded into the hillside, many presenting as modest one or two-storey forms to the street before expanding toward the river frontage below. The planning report notes this established pattern heavily influenced the massing strategy for Toorak Pavilion.&nbsp;

Until the recent sale of the landmark Clendon Road mansion Coonac for around $130 million, St Georges Road held the state's most expensive home, the $80,000,088 derelict "Ghost House" mansion that was bought by crypto king Ed Craven.&nbsp;

Blair House, also on St Georges Road, sold for $74.5 million in 2022.

First look: Toorak Pavilions slated for dress circle St Georges Road

Six months after a development site on Kangaroo Point’s Shafston Avenue sold for $6.55 million, plans have been lodged for a 23-storey apartment tower.

A company named JMT Mega Capital, understood to be interstate investors when the 1,222 sqm double block traded late last year through Patona Property, is proposing an 84-apartment development in place of the existing low-rise buildings.

The slender tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/212-220-shafston-avenue-east-brisbane-qld-4169">212–220 Shafston Avenue</a>, overlooking the Brisbane River, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/aplus-design-group">Aplus Design Group</a>. It will comprise a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments above six basement levels, topped by rooftop resident amenities.

<img alt="First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e17ba9e-553e-42ef-92b6-22081671521a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium_3.png?VersionId=hlVUf99vrOjUs.vhQs0qV0DhOncUy9T8" />

The development has been designed as a vertically articulated tower with recessed balconies, curved façades and planted edges intended to soften its scale within the evolving Shafston Avenue skyline. In the submitted Urban Design Report, Aplus Design Group said the tower had been “shaped with a slender vertical expression, articulated façades, recessed balcony zones, integrated planting and a clearly defined podium relationship, helping to reduce perceived bulk and create a more elegant contribution to the Shafston Avenue streetscape and broader Kangaroo Point skyline.”

The scheme comprises 84 apartments, including 25 one-bedroom units, 34 two-bedroom apartments and 25 three-bedroom residences. A total of 104 car spaces are proposed across six basement levels, including resident, visitor and accessible parking.

Residents will have access to rooftop communal open space and shared amenities, while the development also incorporates deep planting zones and subtropical landscaping throughout the podium and tower levels. The project includes 35 per cent communal space coverage across the site and a 17.5 per cent deep soil zone allocation to support urban greening outcomes.

The application exceeds the mapped building height under the Kangaroo Point Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan and is being assessed under Brisbane City Council’s impact assessment pathway. The design team argues the additional height is supported by the site’s strategic inner-city location, existing high-density zoning, and proximity to transport and employment hubs.

“The design has been developed to make better use of a well-serviced urban site within an established high-density residential setting, while improving the street presentation and overall quality of the public realm interface,” the report states.

<img alt="First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1ab44b1e-ff45-4bf3-8da8-8aa0cd79db33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_10.png?VersionId=tSxeGekZOqj1e9g3PEn_yFoC3taKDp3U" />

The proposal adds to a growing pipeline of apartment developments reshaping Kangaroo Point ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, with demand continuing to strengthen for new housing supply in well-connected inner-city precincts.

Mosaic has nearly sold out its under-construction <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-bedford-by-mosaic-16-30-prospect-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Bedford by Mosaic</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carter-by-mosaic-77-linton-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Carter</a>,&nbsp;while Pikos recently completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye Residences</a> nearby. Pikos is also delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gaia-kangaroo-point-108-lambert-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Gaia</a>, over 230 three- and four-bedroom apartments on Lambert Street.

First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point apartment tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct

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

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

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60 Minutes was an interesting talking point this week, wherein some American geezer claimed that he "could" have got a 95 per cent mortgage using a "fake income" by pretending to be a "gay couple". OK. Given that he didn't actually get a mortgage written, it is a little perturbing how often people choose to believe what random punters say in preference to the actual data, but such is the nature of confirmation bias.</div>
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 Household debt is high, no doubt, and some lending has been reckless, particularly in mining towns, but by the same token not everything that is claimed on the internet or elsewhere is true. For example, some years ago bearish commentators got sucked in to believing erroneous figures which claimed that an incredibly high percentage of lending was 100 per ent mortgages.</div>
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 Of course, the data sources quoted advertised loans rather than actual loans written, a rookie error that surely wouldn't pass the sniff test. Another favourite trick is to tap a few notional numbers into a mortgage calculator and use this as "evidence" of irresponsible lending, conveniently neglecting to mention the key words "may be able to borrow". Clickbait ahoy!</div>
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<div>It's one of the reasons I write blogs - not to get a readership, mainly just so I can stop annoying my missus by regurgitaing every blasted "fact" that I read in the media and on the internet. APRA exposures data
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<div>Back in the real world APRA released its latest ADI Q4 2015 property exposures data today, which showed that the share of new loans whereby lenders extended a 90 per cent or more loan-to-valuation ratio (LVR) has continued its long and steady decline from more than 18 per cent in the March 2008 quarter to under 10 per cent in the December 2015 quarter.</div>
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<div>The share of loans whereby an 80 to 90 per cent LVR loan was advanced has also declined significantly over the last eight years from 20 per cent to only 14 per cent, meaning that the overwhelming majority of loans see a deposit of 20 per cent or more used. </div>
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<div>I'll just clarify that. In aggregate high LVR lending has been in decline for years, while low-doc loans and other non-standard now loans represent just a small and rapidly declining fraction of new loans and total residential mortgage market exposures.</div>
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<div>Within the "big four" major banks 90 per cent plus LVR loans have fallen even more sharply from 21.6 per cent in 2009 to just 9.1 per cent, while 80 to 90 per cent LVR loans have declined from 22 per cent in 2011 to only 14.2 per cent. </div>
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Lending shifts to homebuyers If there is anything suspicious in the APRA figures related to lending standards, I believe it is in the incredibly smooth transition from investment loans to owner-occupier loans. </div>
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<div>The market has barely skipped a beat in recording remarkably similar headline quarterly data while the percentage share of loans conveniently swings from investors to homebuyers. </div>
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Draw your own conclusions from that, but I'd hazard that some of these homebuyers may well be would-be investors sneakily veiled behind a Scooby-Doo mask. The 60 Minutes segment claimed that household debt is "exploding", and indeed the above chart shows that the total stock of outstanding credit has more than doubled since 2008. However, the aggregate of outstanding household debt nearly always rises in an inflationary economy with rising household incomes and a strong population growth. The truth is that after accounting for record high mortgage buffers and offset balances, the figures show that the household debt to income ratio is unchanged in Australia since 2008. Australia has a unique mechanism whereby loan repayments often continue at the same level when interest rates fall, as they have been since 2011. 60 Minutes also claimed that "half" of all loans are interest only. The true figure as revealed in APRA's figures today is 39 per cent - still too high for comfort, granted, but this mostly reflects tax strategy rather than that people "can't afford to pay the debt back", and the interest-only loans figure should theoretically now decline following the crackdown on investor lending. The truth according to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) research is that on average homeowners are miles ahead on home loan repayments, by fully two years which is an unprecedented margin. 
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PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>. 
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

High LVR loans have been declining for years: Pete Wargent

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Quest Apartment Hotels has opened the first of its three new New South Wales properties planned for 2016 – the Quest St Leonards at 10 Atchison Street in the lower North Shore suburb of Sydney.
One of Sydney’s suburban skyscraper clusters, St Leonards has 79 studio apartments, gymnasium, swimming pool and a car park.
The building is five kilometres from the CBD. 
Quest CEO Zed Sanjana emphasised the importance of the Sydney market in the company’s growth strategy. 
“According to STR Global data from the September quarter 2015, occupancy in Greater Sydney increased to almost 86% – positioning the city as the top performer in Australia’s hotel market. This demand is simply not being met by supply – an issue we are addressing with the three properties scheduled to open this year,” he said. 
“Quest St Leonards is located within a triangle of prominent commercial centres of Sydney – the CBD, North Sydney, and Chatswood – with a growing number of national and international companies choosing to base themselves in these areas.
“I am looking forward to considerably growing Quest’s presence in Sydney, expanding our offering in 2016 to include St Leonards, Bella Vista and Macquarie Park,” he said.
Bella Vista will follow in June and Macquarie Park in December
St Leonards’ own commercial centre continues to expand, providing one of the largest office markets in metropolitan Sydney.
Quest has a strong pipeline of property openings this year, opening in 11 new locations. In addition to St Leonards, this includes: West Perth, Mounts Bay Road, East Perth and Fremantle (WA); Newcastle West, Bella Vista and Macquarie Park (NSW); Port Adelaide (SA); Dandenong Central (VIC); and Petone (New Zealand). 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Quest opens first of three Sydney properties for 2016 at St Leonards 

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GUEST OBSERVER
The construction sector is a source of weakness as work on major mining projects nears completion.
This was apparent in 2015, with a soft end, -3.6%qtr, to a soft year.
This is the third consecutive year of decline: -2.2%yr December 2013; -5.9%yr December 2014; and -4.3%yr December 2015.
In Q4, the upswing in home building activity provided only a partial offset to mining sector weakness, as did the emerging upswing in public infrastructure, centred on transport projects.
Construction activity will subtract around 0.4ppts off Q4 GDP, a bigger hit than we anticipated, around -0.25%.
By state, weakness in Q4 was understandably centred in the mining jurisdictions: –17.7% NT; –9.5% WA; and to a less extent Qld, –1.4%.
Work was resilient in NSW, +0.2% and advanced in Victoria, +1.1%.
Details
Total construction                –3.6% Private construction            –4.6% Public construction             +1.2%
Private - by segment
Infrastructure                        –13.9% Dwelling, new                      +3.6% Dwelling renovations          –1.0% Non-res. building                 +4.6%
Public - by segment
Infrastructure                        +3.9% Building                                 –6.9%
Andrew Hanlan is senior economist for Westpac and can be contacted <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://au.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-hanlan/3/222/430" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Construction work in Q4 fell more sharply than anticipated: Westpac's Andrew Hanlan

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Listed property developer Cedar Woods Properties has doubled its profit for the half year to December 31, after securing better project margins. 
Net profit after tax was $18.1 million, up 100 per cent from the previous $9 million. 
Revenue remained steady at $77 million.
It found cost savings in lower development expenses, through cheaper contractors.
It is developing in four states, including the recently acquired a 3.81-hectare infill site approved for 279 dwellings in Wooloowin, Brisbane.
It has announced the expansion of the Williams Landing Shopping Centre, in western Melbourne which opened in December 2014, comprising a Woolworths supermarket, 21 specialty stores and 1,800 m2 of office space.
Cedar Woods is constructing a $6.5 million expansion of the centre. It noted strong price growth on residential lots was being achieved resulting in the higher margins.
The expansion will include a 106-place childcare facility managed by Future Kids and around 1200 square metres of ground floor retail space.
The expansion will be financed by a $30 million facility provided by Bankwest, to fund the expansion and also refinance the existing $23 million development facility that was arranged to build the Williams Landing Shopping Centre in 2014.
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Cedar Woods Properties doubles profit for half year to December 2015

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A Hong Kong investor has secured a 123 sq m tenanted retail property in Broadbeach CBD on the Gold Coast for just over $1 million.
The ground-floor property at 3/90 Surf Parade earns a net annual rent of $63,682 representing a yield of 5.8 per cent.
Ray White’s Steven King handled the deal for a Melbourne-based investor.
It had last sold at $690,000 in 1998 
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Gold Coast shopfront sells just north of $1 million

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A private Stewart Island eco-sanctuary spread over 172 hectares is up for sale at an asking price of $2.25 million.
The Dancing Star Reserve, which adjoins Rakiura National Park, is on the market after 15 years as a private, protected ecological refuge for native flora and fauna.
Encompassing mountainous terrain, garden meadows, five beaches and some of the oldest native forests in New Zealand, the property features a high-tech, ecologically engineered fence to exclude predators, as well as state-of-the-art electronic and video surveillance.
The listing brings a rare opportunity for anyone to own a piece of prehistoric New Zealand, says listing agent Matt Finnigan of New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty.
Wildlife preservation and biodiversity conservation have been the core focuses of the property’s current owners, the California-based, not-for-profit Dancing Star Foundation. The refuge now hosts well over 126 native species and contains one of the highest concentrations of kiwi in New Zealand.
“This particular property is quite special - it’s one of the largest pieces of privately-owned land on Stewart Island, and with the work done by the vendors, it has the potential to lead the world in conservation efforts,” says Finnigan.
Buildings within the reserve include a 230-square-metre barn and an environmental education centre with a shower block and kitchen. A full-time conservation manager currently lives on site to maintain the property and its inhabitants.
Finnigan says the reserve presents a unique opportunity for tourism operators and corporates, as well as private owners looking to balance their impact on the environment. It would also be of interest to individuals wanting a secluded and amazing holiday retreat or innovative stewards seeking a project with conservation attributes. 
“It would appeal to someone who would like to appreciate and preserve what the land was several hundred years ago. There are very few places like this remaining in New Zealand - or the world, for that matter,” he said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Stewart Island eco-sanctuary up for sale

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Brisbane is undergoing a warehouse refurbishment boom, as larger and older logistics centres struggle for relevance in a market that is driven by new construction in emerging precincts offered at competitive rentals, according to a commentary in Colliers.
Institutional owners are investing heavily in their existing portfolios, according to Anthony White, director of Industrial at Colliers International. 
“These owners are looking to attract new tenants to their buildings following existing tenants vacating, sometimes after leases which are on a term of 20 years or more,” he said.
 “Brisbane Airport Corporation is in the final stages of completing a substantial refurbishment of a 26,912 sqm distribution centre at 51 – 57 Qantas Drive, which has yielded immediate results.
“Following a 21,912 sqm commitment by GPC Australia, Brisbane Airport Corporation undertook a substantial refurbishment which included a full fire sprinkling upgrade, an office extension and refurbishment and an external cosmetic refurbishment.
“This strategy yielded immediate results, with national fitout company Mills Display agreeing to lease the balance 5,000 sqm tenancy just prior to Christmas.
“We believe this is only the beginning of a refurbishment cycle and that many owners will need to consider how their buildings function to suit modern tenants’ requirements.
“Efficient truck access, undercover loading areas and quality fire and building management systems will be demanded by tenants as the design and construct market offers brand new buildings at competitive rentals.”
John Tormey, general manager-Commercial Businesses at Brisbane Airport Corporation, acknowledged the need to tailor the airport’s property portfolio to meet the specific needs of customers.
“We have a terrific $1billion portfolio of assets and extensive development opportunities for both our existing and new tenants,” he said. 
“While we have the lowest office vacancy in Australia – virtually no vacancy in industrial buildings – and many brand new developments, we are long-term owners and see the benefits of making sure our offering suits our customer base in the future.”
Brisbane-based De Luca Construction &amp; Development worked with Brisbane Airport Corporation in delivering the project and commented that they are seeing increasing demand for this type of construction work.  
“Taking an existing building that could be 20 or 30 years old and installing modern systems and features is not without its own challenges,” said De Luca’s MD Nic De Luca.  
“This project required substantial attention to make sure the new fire system and office refurbishment was suitable for the needs of the main tenant GPC."
Brisbane Airport Corporation is not the only company investing in its portfolio, with Charter Hall recently completing a substantial refurbishment on its 18,000 sqm distribution centre at Pinkenba which was previously occupied by NQX. 
Goodman has also invested heavily in its existing assets at Hendra and Acacia Ridge and Stockland has completed a substantial refurbishment of its highly exposed distribution centre on the corner of Nudgee Road and the East-West Arterial.
Anthony White forecasts this trend to continue.
“We have seen repositioning strategies rewarded with some exceptional leasing outcomes over the past 18 months,” he said. 
“As tenants demand more efficient buildings we will see increased activity in distribution centre refurbishments.”
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Brisbane warehouses go for makeover: Colliers 

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The NAB Online Retail Sales Index for the December 2015 quarter edition has estimated the Australian online retail market was worth $19.1bn in the 12 months to December 2015.
The survey noted month-on-month figures to December 2015 grew 2 percent, seasonally adjusted, driven in part by online sales growth on 2.5 percent. Australians spent an estimated $19.1 billion in retail online to December 2015. NAB report this level is equivalent to around 6.5% of the traditional bricks &amp; mortar retail sector.
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<div><a href="/images/2016/02/18/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-18%20at%201.55.59%20PM.png" target="_blank"> Click to enlarge</a></div>
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mick.cee-iDmgDDAmu8

Australian online retail market worth $19.1bn in 2015: NAB

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<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
GUEST OBSERVER
Australian CBD office space is just one percent of global office floorspace, however for such a small market it is remarkably popular with investors.
In our 2015 Global Investor Outlook survey, Sydney and Melbourne were ranked as the second and third most popular destinations in which global investors wanted to target.
<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
London, which has an office market more than three times larger than Sydney, ranked first.
<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
Offshore investors now own 17 percent of Australian office stock, around twice as much as they did five years ago. Investment levels continue to rise. In 2015, offshore investors accounted for 67 percent of total direct investment in CBD office buildings. If indirect investment is included, the proportion is a lot higher.
<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
Australia's strong economy, high transparency and low sovereign risk continue to play a key role in driving investment decisions. However, yield compression is continuing to occur and some investors are beginning to see Australia as too expensive. We consider this is unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in offshore investment in CBD office investment in 2016.
<a href="https://www.colliers.com.au/find_research/office/cbd_office_-_first_half_2016/" target="_blank"></a>
The key challenge for offshore investors is that although Australia is a particularly popular target, the small size of the market makes it difficult for them to access stock.
 
<a href="/images/2016/02/24/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-24%20at%201.10.27%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/24/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-24%20at%201.10.27%20PM.png" alt="" width="790" height="554">
Nerida Conisbee is national director of research for Colliers International and can be contacted <a href="https://www.colliers.com/nerida.conisbee">here</a>.
 
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Prices soar as offshore investment dominates (Is Australia becoming too expensive?)

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Real estate investment management firm Qualitas has announced the successful first close of its Opportunity Fund, raising capital from institutional and high-net-worth (HNW) investors, to sit alongside its co-investment. 
The investment vehicle, which is funded by offshore and domestic investors, has a target size of $200 million. It will provide equity and mezzanine debt for high-quality commercial, retail and residential projects identified by Qualitas’ experienced investment team. 
Andrew Schwartz, Group Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Qualitas, said the fund allows investors to benefit from the unique dynamics of the Australian property sector.
“Australian real estate markets, particularly in the private capital space, tend to be localised and relationship-based. Well-established, local investment firms can therefore achieve superior risk-adjusted returns thanks to their access to information and on-the-ground knowledge.” 
“In the private, mid-market real estate sector where Qualitas specialises, we tend to have a first-mover advantage on profitable deals, thanks to our strong relationships. We can generate value by seizing opportunities early,” Mr Schwartz said.
Qualitas’ fund will focus on quality investment and development opportunities in the mid-market segment. 
“Australian core real estate has reverted to the prices and momentum seen in the pre-GFC period, and is heavily dominated by large-scale institutional and public capital. However, those sources have yet to turn their attention to the value-add and development spaces, and this is where we see significant opportunity for value creation by private capital investing.” 
“The big banks’ focus on capital requirements has led to a contraction in lending for property development, opening up the market to alternative capital providers who provide ‘gap funding’. However, the banks are highly selective - and not just about the projects they will finance, but the third party capital partners they’ll work with. In this environment, Qualitas is ideally positioned as an experienced, credible provider of debt and equity. That’s been a big drawcard for the banks we work with, and now, the investors in our Opportunity Fund,” Mr Schwartz said.
“A combination of a continuing low interest rate environment, lower currency, positive market dynamics and good governance make Australia attractive to overseas investors. However, they want local knowledge too. Many global investment managers adopt a ‘fly in fly out’ approach, so they don’t have the same access to deal flow or opportunistic investments. This is one of the reasons we had a strong response from investors."
"We believe development site values have peaked, which will create  opportunities for prudent  developers who have previously been priced out of the market due to the heavy weight of capital particularly from overseas investor groups .
"We are seeing cost input assumptions adversely affecting values such as lower availability of bank debt, higher costs of capital and increased construction costs, which can only be offset by lower site values.
"We are selective about the risk profile of our investments and more cautious at this point of the cycle.
"We would avoid open equity risk in a market like this, because there are better, de-risked alternatives available offering premium returns."
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