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;

&nbsp;

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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Stockland Cairns – a nearly 50,000 square metre shopping centre in Cairns — is up for sale through an International Expressions of Interest (EOI) campaign closing March 31.
The sale is expected to fetch more than $230 million for the Stockland Group, which has appointed JLL’s Simon Rooney for the campaign.
Stockland Cairns, spread over 49,532 sqm, is a triple DDS anchored sub-regional shopping centre comprising a Big W, Target, Harris Scarfe, Coles, Woolworths, BCC six screen cinema complex, in addition to 10 mini majors, 110 specialty tenancies and kiosks.
“Investors continue to see long-term value in the Queensland retail market. Investment into retail assets in Queensland continues to strengthen from year to year. Total transaction activity has risen from $1.4 billion in 2013, to $1.7 billion in 2014 and to a record-high of $2.3 billion in 2015,” said Rooney.
“There have been very few opportunities historically to acquire a 100% interest in a major, high quality retail asset over $200 million in Queensland. We have recorded just three transactions above this threshold in the last 10-years. One of those transactions occurred directly off-market and one was part of a national portfolio.”
He said several institutional retail landlords bought assets in Queensland last year to increase exposure to the state. Blackstone acquired Westfield Strathpine as part of a wider portfolio transaction for $655.5 million, QIC bought Domain Central Homemaker Centre (nearly $130 million) and Hinkler Central ($110 million) and LaSalle Investment Management acquired three retail assets totalling $171 million.
“We expect Stockland Cairns will be highly sought after given the high level of demand for major retail assets in Queensland and the shortage of opportunities to acquire major assets,” said Rooney.
“The resurgence in inbound tourism, which follows the depreciation in the AUD, is supporting the local economies of major tourist regions such as Far North Queensland. Overseas visitor arrivals have increased by over 7% year-on-year, nationally, which supports a positive outlook for retail trading conditions.”
Stockland Cairns benefits from its location at the gateway to the southern growth corridor of the Cairns region, with 247,030 residents within the total trade area, including 168,810 residents in the main trade area.
Several major tenants including Target and Woolworths have renewed their leases to July 2022 and June 2036, respectively, as well as a brand new lease to Harris Scarfe to May 2026.
<a href="/expert-insights/investing/stockland-reports-8-1-percent-increase-in-first-half-underlying-profit">Stockland</a>, Australia's largest diversified real estate investment trust, reported on Wednesday an 8.1 percent rise in first-half underlying profit to $313 million.
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Stockland Cairns comes to market with a price tag of $230 million plus

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Nearly $870 million worth of reported industrial property transactions (&gt;$2m) were recorded by Savills in the 12 months to December 2015, down from $913 million in the previous year, and up on the five-year average $651 million.
The hunt continues by investors for prime assets encouraged by the returns that property offers in the current climate, however, well located land is also eagerly sought as developers return to the market.
The highlight of the year was a $1.073 billion purchase of the GIC portfolio by Singapore-based Ascendas. The portfolio included assets from Victoria, New South Wales and Brisbane. There were seven Brisbane properties included in the deal amounting to $317.2 million.
In another unconfirmed deal, Logos Property Group secured 246,000 square metre of land at Heathwood on the Logan Motorway with intention to develop a premium logistics estate.
Overall, industrial sales topped $1 billion in the 12 months to December 2015, however Savills only includes sales over $2 million in their charts and reporting. 
Nevertheless, it is interesting to note strength of the under $2 million purchases at around $161 million for the year which would be mainly small owner occupiers and land sales which says a lot for the confidence of small businesses and underpins future industrial growth.
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Savills reap $870 million in industrial property sales to December 2015

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Stockland, the nation's largest diversified real estate investment trust, today reported an 8.1 per cent increase in first-half underlying profit to $313 million.
After the group settled 2,770 lots in the six months ended December 31, its chief executive, Mark Steinert said that favourable conditions in Sydney and Melbouurne saw the company ending its first half with a record number of contracts in hand.
"We've activated a high proportion of our residential land bank and we have sufficient depth to our projects in high demand corridors to underpin future organic growth," he said.
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<img src="/images/2016/02/10/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-10%20at%2012.32.47%20PM.png" alt="" width="450" height="292">
Stockland delivered a 45 per cent increase in operating profit in its residential division.
Its material improvement in profitability was driven by new projects and market conditions.
With record contracts on hand, full year settlements are expected to be slightly above its through the cycle range of 5,000- 6,000 lots.
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The company said it adopted a disciplined restocking focussed on key urban markets - Craigieburn and Mickleham, Melbourne, consolidation ~1,000 lots; Rowville, Melbourne, stand alone medium density, 180 dwellings; Waterway Downs, Gold Coast, ~750 dwellings
Its sell outs included at Arve (Ivanhoe, Melbourne) with 150 townhomes under construction.
Stockland signaled it was bringing to market four additional projects in priority metropolitan corridors in 2H16: Schofields (Sydney); Macarthur Gardens (Sydney); Newport (Brisbane) and Pallara (Brisbane).
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<img src="/images/2016/02/10/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-10%20at%2012.37.32%20PM.png" alt="" width="558" height="295">
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Stockland reports 8.1 percent increase in first-half underlying profit

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<h1>London 1970 - 1976: A case study into Real Estate Market Cycles<a class="next on" href="https://www.jll.com/cities-research/london-case-study-lessons-learnt"></a><a class="prev on" href="https://www.jll.com/cities-research/london-case-study-background-causes"></a>
</h1>
<h2>JLL came up with seven factors that contributed to the <a href="https://www.jll.com/cities-research/london-case-study-1970-1976" target="_blank">1974 London office market crash</a>.</h2>
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1. Strong business cycle
Financial deregulation in the United Kingdom was followed by an expansion of international banking and financial services. This resulted in a rise in occupier demand for office space and increased floor space per worker. At the same time, public sector demand for office space in Central London increased. The temporary shortage of space resulted in rising rents and capital values. Therefore, financial deregulation increased the demand for office space in London, while at the same time facilitating the financing of additional construction leading to increased supply.   2. Property development cycle
The London office construction boom was highly speculative due to a lack of pre-committed tenancies. While occupier demand increased steadily and rents rose by 90% between 1970 and mid-1973 (compared with a 30% rise in consumer prices) the supply of new space took several years before reaching completion.   3. Price distortions due to regulation
From 1964 onwards the Labour administration enacted legislation limiting new office development (Control of Office &amp; Development Act of 1965) and imposed taxation (Land Commission Act of 1967) on property development gains, thereby disincentivising new construction. The corporation tax (1965) favoured direct ownership of property assets. Together, these regulatory changes stimulated investor demand while constraining supply, hence exerting more upward pressure on values. These policies were later reversed by the Conservative administration of Edward Heath from 1970 to alleviate the supply shortage. However, by then, easy credit was providing further stimulus for consumer and asset price inflation.   4. Lending boom and gearing ratio increases
The expansionary economic policy of the Heath government from 1971 led to low interest rates and a rapidly increasing money supply. The result was a credit growth boom. Since property values were rapidly increasing, banks concentrated their lending to this sector. Gearing ratios, often based on inflated values, increased beyond traditionally safe levels (up to 100%). Developer-borrowers were servicing their debt with additional loans solely in anticipation of capital appreciation. The office market boom, and subsequent bust, might be seen as collateral damage from the policies adopted to stimulate the broader UK economy.   5. Financial liberalisation
Sections 123 and 127 of the Companies Act of 1967 had spawned a category of secondary (fringe) banks without explicit regulatory oversight. These financial institutions relied on the ever-growing money markets as a source of (largely short-term) funding. The Bank of England's laissez-faire stance towards the loosely regulated secondary banks failed to monitor and to limit their over-concentration of lending to the commercial building market. The 1971 Competition and Credit Control plan also advanced banking sector deregulation by removing lending ceilings and reducing the reserve ratio, thereby releasing credit for lending. Deregulation resulted in increased competition among banks for market share, which led to the erosion of underwriting standards and increased risk-taking through highly leveraged loans priced at margins that did not adequately reflect the riskiness of the exposures.   6. The economic shock
The unanticipated shock of the 1973 oil crisis further accelerated the UK inflation rate.Annual inflation rose from 7.1% (1971) to an all-time record of 24.2% (1975), prompting the Bank of England to precipitously raise its minimum lending rate (MLR) from 7.5% in June 1973 to 13% in November 1973. Those property developments that were financed by short-term bridge loans (that were susceptible to rate rises) faced liquidity problems and many were unable to meet their debt-service obligations. Simultaneously, property values stalled because of price controls that limited rent increases and a reinstated development tax that curbed profits.   7. Belated strategies to limit the economic and financial fallout
The sudden shocks arising from these simultaneous pressures led to defaults and began a potentially self-reinforcing cycle of capitulation in the property market that resulted in the Bank of England's "Lifeboat" operation. The Bank of England, with the cooperation of UK clearing banks, established a liquidity fund of £2-3 billion to support the banking system in December 1973. Institutional investors (financial, pension and insurance companies, who were often creditors to property companies) were encouraged to take over their collateral, rather than force a distressed asset sale that would further depress values across all other similar assets. Institutional investors thus became increasingly involved in direct ownership of commercial real estate. In a further attempt to limit the "fire sale" of distressed assets, a moratorium of creditors established "Cork's dam" to manage the assets of the failed Stern Group of companies. Also in December 1973 the Bank of England introduced the Supplementary Deposit Scheme (the "corset") that continued until February 1975 and intermittently thereafter.
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Seven factors in the 1970s London office market crash 

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The latest tenant to move into Camberwell is Central Hope Australia Pty Ltd. 
The 180 sqm space of Suite 3 of 321 Camberwell Road was leased at $65,000 per annum over five years, including three car spaces, plus outgoings worth $8,000. 
Fitzroys Huang, who brokered the deal, said there was strong interest for smaller offices in Camberwell with car spaces.
This property was leased within two weeks of coming onto the market.
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Camberwell lease within two weeks of offering

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The Continental Hotel at Sorrento is under offer.
It was listed by the Di Pietro family with $15 million expectations last March.
<a href="https://www.continentalhotel.com.au/History.htm" target="_blank">The "Conti"</a> stands tall at its hillside 1-21 Ocean Beach Road position.
The four storey limestone building sits on a 3,580 square metre holding.
The hotel, freehold and business, was offered through Sothebys International agent Rob Curtain, in conjunction with CBRE.
The pioneer thespian and entrepreneur George Coppin built the mansard-capped hotel in the 1870s. The seaside spruiker shipped wealthy Melburnians to the Mornington Peninsula on his paddle steamers, and then put them on his tramway to stay at his Hotel Continental.
In 1890 the hotel was bought by Isaac Edward Bensilum for £6,000, the original cost of the hotel being £14,000.  
Bensilum who ran the hotel with his wife Nellie, built The Athenaeum in 1894.  
Owners and Licensees:
<table border="4" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" align="center"><tbody>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
1875 – 1890 
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
George Coppin – licensee John Crawford 
</td>
</tr>
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<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
1890 – 1913 
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
Isaac Edward Bensilum 
</td>
</tr>
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<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
1913 – 1921 
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
T E Hawkins 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
1921 – 1923 
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
L Fitzgerald 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
1923 – 1953 
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
L De Vine 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
1953 – 1960? 
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
N &amp; G Fernhead 
</td>
</tr>
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<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
1960 - 1990 
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
tbc 
</td>
</tr>
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<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
1996 - current 
</td>
<td bgcolor="#ffffff">
 Di Pietro Family
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source: The Continental Hotel
It was on the toss of a coin - a choice between Australia and America - that Coppin sailed from Sussex on the Templar, arriving in Sydney in 1843 with his partner, Maria Watkins Burroughs, where he was to perform at the Royal Victoria Theatre on Pitt Street.
Coppin briefly owned the Clown Hotel, directly opposite the theatre, which failed as Sydney's first permanent musical entertainment venue, before he moved south.
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The Continental Hotel at Sorrento under offer

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A commercial property with the possibility of dual income is up for sale in Sydney’s Brookvale. 
The <a href="https://www.raineandhorne.com.au/properties/brookvale-392642" target="_blank">warehouse/office</a>, situated within the “Eastpoint” security development on the corner of Mitchell and Wattle Roads, comes with a price tag of $652,000 ex-GST. 
Brookvale is the Northern Beaches main commercial precinct.
The property occupies 285 sqm, with the warehouse on 144 sqm and the office on 141 sqm. 
Both are tenanted, with the lease for the warehouse for four years expiring in early 2019. The gross rent is $24,324 + GST per annum.
The upstairs office is on a three-year lease till 2019 and the gross rent is $21,500 + GST per annum.
The total gross income thus comes to $45,824 + GST per annum with total outgoings at $4,854.55.
The yield works out to be 6.3%, according to the listing agents Raine and Horne.
Other features of the property are parking space for two cars; the warehouse and office are both self-contained with bathrooms and kitchenettes and two tenants means a less risk.
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Dual income property in Sydney’s Brookvale listed at $652,000

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Theatre Royal Hotel in Hobart, originally built in 1834, is up for sale by tender under instructions from as receivers.
In its current state, the hotel at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-tas-hobart-501812270" target="_blank">31 Campbell Street</a> is a modern property adjacent to Theatre Royal, a historic venue for the performing arts, and opposite the Royal Hobart Hospital.
This area of the Hobart CBD is known as the "Wapping Precinct" and has seen residential units come up in recent years. The hospital is undergoing a $565-million upgrade.
The hotel has a floor area of 500 square metre and includes a public bar, atrium bar, dining room seating 90, function room, commercial kitchen, seven accommodation rooms and a managers residence (10 rooms in all).
Built in 1834 by Peter DeGraves (founder of Cascade Brewery), this two-storey complex is one of the oldest hotels in Australia.
Degraves (1778–1852) was an engineer who also studied architecture, and paid for the entire construction of Theatre Royal (1837) and remained its owner until his death, says the University of Tasmania website <a href="https://www.utas.edu.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
The zoning also allows for other uses such as apartments, retail, offices, education centre, childcare, visitor accommodation, shops etc.
An accommodation property in Hobart, which receives more than 70 percent of all visitors to Tasmania, is a good bet. The number of visitors to Tasmania exceeded 1.1 million for the 12 months to March 2015.
The property is being marketed by John Blacklow of Knight Frank and tenders close tomorrow, on February 11.
The hotel freehold last traded for $1.56 million in 2007, twice what was paid in 2002. 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Hobart's 1830s Cascade Theatre Royal Hotel for sale

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Sax Bar, with its colonial facade and prime location in NSW’s Maitland, is up for sale at a price tag of $550,000.
Last traded for $275,000 in 2004, <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-hotel+leisure-nsw-maitland-501671425" target="_blank">274 High Street</a> is a freehold offering.
It is close to cinemas, art gallery and only 20 minutes from Newcastle and Pokolbin. 
The double-level brick building’s front area has the main bar and seating, which is divided by a double-sided open fire place through then to another room, leading to a back courtyard. This parterre doubles the floor space and facilitates alfresco dining. The courtyard leads to Free Church Street.
The property has been restored fully.
The property is being marketed by Chris Henry of Hunter River Realty Group.
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Colonial retail offering at Maitland for $550,000

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The office sector in Sydney and Melbourne — Australia’s largest markets — is poised for modest improvement in 2016, says the latest Cushman &amp; Wakefield’s Asia Pacific Outlook for the year, after property markets ended 2015 in higher gear even with below-trend economic growth in the region.
Sydney’s CBD is benefitting from ongoing structural changes to the Australian economy, especially with the services sector in New South Wales witnessing a resurgence in employment as the state economy returns to trend growth rates, the research headed by Sigrid Zialcita notes.
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Population growth, retail spending and dwelling construction activity have been the main contributors to the state’s economic growth in recent quarters. 
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Similarly, a revival in Melbourne’s CBD will persist as corporate expansions gain traction and the flight- to-quality sees businesses relocate from the suburbs. As the development cycle ebbs, prime office rents in Melbourne’s CBD are forecast to edge up moderately as vacancies continue to fall. 
That said, expect office prices in both cities to appreciate and spur further compression in cap rates, especially for the highest-grade buildings, although investment volumes are expected to slide due to the lack of stock on the market. 
Another factor driving up prices in both cities is the perpetuation of high yields. Notably, with interest rates forecast to stay at record lows, not to mention that the Reserve Bank of Australia has left the door open to further easing to guard against downside risks, projected yield spreads (320- 340 bps) will remain among the highest in the region.
However, Western Australia, which is disproportionately exposed to mining, will continue to lag behind. As such, the office sector in Perth will continue to be sluggish.
<a href="/images/2016/02/10/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-10%20at%2011.58.49%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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