<p>Melbourne-based property developer ALTA Property has this week achieved planning approval for the adaptive re-use of a former commercial tower into a $200 million, 169-apartment project at 10 Queens Road, one of the last developable sites along the Albert Park Lake-fronting boulevard.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Set within one of Melbourne’s most sought-after precincts and designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser and Partners</a>, the illustrious building will offer unparalleled views across Albert Park Lake, Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne CBD.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mix of 1, 2 and 3-bedroom residences will be complemented by a ground-floor amenity featuring private dining, a lounge bar, gym and wellness spaces, co-working, outdoor communal gardens, and retail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 17-storey building is a masterclass in adaptive re-use, with the existing commercial building’s façade, shell and internal structure to be retained, before high-end residences are built from the ground up in a newly built Albert Park facing addition to the building.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sitting atop the building will be two 320+sqm penthouses with private rooftop terraces, which are expected to be priced between $9 - $11 million.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa11211b-5581-43f9-940c-fc84d30a0e61" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/C_04.png?VersionId=Yhf5p_1EgGDu_zOIMFgvA8Ug8j3sTFQs" /></p>

<p>Architecturally, the building will feature a curved, geometric façade that celebrates and elevates the existing structure, with warm, muted tones which were selected to extend the materiality of the existing building rather than contrast it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Interiors will bring together three metre high ceilings with waffle concrete in some spaces, natural timber, granite and Australian materials, culminating in crafted, generous and considered spaces that are defined by authenticity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The adaptive re-use means that the Queens Road project will be a sustainability led, high-quality finished product, with a 62% saving in carbon emissions by re-using the existing structure rather than knocking it down and rebuilding.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ALTA Property was launched by Nigel Givoni in 2023, bringing over 25 years of experience in multi level residential delivery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Melbourne’s property market growth is currently led by apartments. According to RPM VIC Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report (April 2026), units are outpacing houses, especially in the middle ring suburbs where median prices hit $757,500 – a four-year high that represents 2.9 percent growth quarter-on-quarter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="ALTA Property achieves permit approval for $200 million Queens Road tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="647e13d7-b4bc-433a-9bc9-fe3c3dd4f2ec" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/V_06.png?VersionId=ou4NUCWUgA3NAy.6CQJlEdKX50j3dOk6" /></p>

<p>For ALTA Property Founder Nigel Givoni, this performance speaks to the confidence he has in the Melbourne market.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Queens Road represents a rare opportunity to continue to shape our presence in the Melbourne market.,"&nbsp;Givoni says.</p>

<p>"With a considered project team and a premier site along one of the city’s most sought-after boulevards, we look forward to contributing to the fabric of this established address.</p>

<p>“Other Australian markets are getting a lot of attention, but I believe the depth of value in Melbourne is being overlooked. The fundamentals are strong, population growth is steady and, based on our preliminary conversations with a leading builder, construction costs are beginning to normalise, creating further opportunity."</p>

<p>Givoni says the project is a&nbsp;highly considered example of adaptive re-use, delivering quality, high-end residences, premium hotel-inspired amenities and an architecturally striking façade, all achieved without the need to remove the existing structure.</p>

<p>"We are really looking forward to the market’s response,” he said.&nbsp;</p>


Joel Robinson

ALTA Property to deliver $200 million Queens Road apartment tower

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


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

<p data-end="150" data-start="66">A rare new apartment development has been proposed on the fringe of St Ives Village.</p>

<p data-end="370" data-start="152">Developer Newquest Property has lodged plans for a low-rise apartment project designed by well-regarded architecture firm Warren &amp; Mahoney, which is best known for its work in the multi-residential sector in Melbourne.</p>

<p data-end="370" data-start="152">The building, proposed for a 1,916 sqm site on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/st-ives-residences-3-5-memorial-avenue-nsw-2075">Memorial Avenue</a> opposite St Ives Village Green, has been designed to blend into the surrounding natural environment.</p>

<p data-end="370" data-start="152"><img alt="St Ives" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c1c7437-2fba-4345-a6d7-05321714ad3e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-04%20at%201.28.46%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=KrYyMaJvNqR7vbx0xbB3Ef8sJ6FuHpmn" /></p>

<p data-end="745" data-start="537">“Drawing inspiration from the pale trunks and flowering canopies of the scribbly gums and blue gums prevalent in the area, a considered material palette was developed,” the architectural design report states.</p>

<p data-end="912" data-start="747">“This palette references the established materiality of the suburb while elevating it through refined finishes to achieve a more luxurious architectural expression.”</p>

<p data-end="1185" data-start="914">Of the 33 apartments proposed, 21 will be three-bedroom residences. The remaining mix includes nine two-bedroom apartments, one one-bedroom apartment and two four-bedroom residences. The development will be supported by 62 car parking spaces and 33 secure bicycle spaces.</p>

<p data-end="1270" data-start="1187">The proposal would replace two single-storey brick buildings currently on the site.</p>

<p data-end="1270" data-start="1187"><img alt="St Ives" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21422eaf-09a9-4439-9278-b9bd9daf22a1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-04%20at%201.38.10%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=v.fXSgcUcEscvOZzqcjG5nk3gVqk_Amt" /></p>

<p data-end="1467" data-start="1272">St Ives remains a relatively untapped market for new apartment development. North Shore developer WINIM has a number of projects in the area, while INCA is nearing completion of Ellis Residences.</p>

<p data-end="1635" data-start="1469">More recently, Traders In Purple has lodged plans for one of the denser projects proposed in the suburb, a 75-apartment development on a 5,900 sqm site on Cowan Road.</p>

<p data-end="1635" data-start="1469">NewQuest, a construction, design and development firm, has delivered over 24 projects across commercial, residential, industrial, and lad markets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


First look: NewQuest Property proposes new St Ives apartment development

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


Bilinga House apartments snapped up as Greyburn commences construction

<p>Breaking into the Sydney property market has long felt out of reach for many first home buyers, particularly as median house prices sit above $1.6 million and unit prices push beyond $900,000.</p>

<p>But entry points still exist in pockets of Greater Western Sydney, where pricing, government incentives, and product mix are aligning to make ownership more attainable.</p>

<p>Understanding where those opportunities sit, and how the numbers actually stack up, is becoming increasingly important for buyers weighing up their next move.</p>

<h2>Work out what you can actually afford</h2>

<p>Sydney is expensive, but it isn’t uniformly expensive. The Greater Parramatta region continues to offer comparatively accessible entry points, particularly for buyers open to alternative configurations like studios.</p>

<p>There's an assumption that a first home needs to be a certain size, that anything smaller than a one-bedder is a concession rather than a choice. That assumption doesn't hold up against what well-designed studios in the right location actually offer: immediate liveability, strong urban amenity, and a price point that makes the deposit target realistic rather than theoretical.</p>

<p>At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/mason-main-merrylands-249-259-merrylands-road-merrylands-nsw-2160">Mason &amp; Main</a>, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/coronation-property">Coronation Property</a>'s multi-award winning precinct in Merrylands, studio apartments are unlike the typical studio configuration.</p>

<p>Starting from $498,000, the bedroom is fully enclosed, separated from the living area by a cavity sliding door, creating a genuinely private sleeping space that functions more like a one-bedroom apartment than a traditional open-plan studio.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=31751 project_image_fid=359814]</p>

<p>At 42 sqm internally, with an open-plan kitchen, built-in robes, modern bathroom, and separate laundry, the apartments are designed for everyday liveability rather than short-term use.</p>

<p>With a five per cent deposit under the Federal Government's First Home Guarantee, that equates to a deposit of around $24,200, achievable for many first home buyers without the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance.</p>

<h2>Understand the real cost of renting versus buying</h2>

<p>For buyers weighing up the shift from renting to owning, the numbers are closer than many expect.</p>

<p>Here’s how the numbers stack up for a studio at Mason &amp; Main (based on a $498,000 purchase):</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Purchase price:</strong> $498,000</li>
	<li><strong>Five per cent deposit (First Home Guarantee):</strong> ~$24,900</li>
	<li><strong>Loan amount:</strong> ~$473,100</li>
	<li><strong>Estimated mortgage repayment (6.29% variable, 30-year term):</strong> ~$675–$695/week*</li>
	<li><strong>Estimated rental return:</strong> $590–$620/week*</li>
	<li><strong>Rental yield:</strong> 6.16% - 6.47%</li>
</ul>

<p>At this level, the gap between renting and owning is relatively narrow, particularly when factoring in long-term equity, with rental returns also making the apartments a viable option for investors.</p>

<p>The rental range reflects current asking rents for remaining studio stock in the development and, based on prevailing asking prices, equates to an indicative gross rental yield of up to 6.47 per cent.</p>

<p>For buyers seeking more internal space, Mason &amp; Main also offers a range of one-bedroom apartments from $629,000, alongside larger one-bedroom plus multipurpose room configurations priced from $680,000 - all priced under $800,000 and eligible for first home buyer incentives.</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Purchase price:</strong> $629,000</li>
	<li><strong>20 per cent deposit:</strong> ~$125,800 (5% deposit on exchange: $31,450)</li>
	<li><strong>Loan amount 80%:</strong> ~$503,200</li>
	<li><strong>Estimated mortgage repayment:</strong> ~$720–$740/week*</li>
	<li><strong>Estimated rental return:</strong> $650–$680/week*</li>
	<li><strong>Rental yield:</strong>&nbsp;5.37% - 5.62%</li>
</ul>

<p>One-bedroom apartments continue to present a balanced option for both owner-occupiers and investors, supported by steady rental demand across Western Sydney.<span style="font-size:small"><span style="color:#222222"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-style:normal"><span style="font-variant-ligatures:normal"><span style="font-weight:400"><span style="white-space:normal"><span style="background-color:#ffffff"><span style="text-decoration-thickness:initial"><span style="text-decoration-style:initial"><span style="text-decoration-color:initial">&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=31751 project_image_fid=359812]</p>

<h2>Make sure you're across the government incentives</h2>

<p>Government incentives continue to play a key role in reducing the upfront cost barrier.</p>

<p>At Mason &amp; Main, studio, one, and two-bedroom apartments are priced under $800,000, allowing eligible buyers to access a full stamp duty exemption under the NSW First Home Buyers Assistance Scheme.</p>

<p>On a $498,000 purchase, that represents a saving of roughly $17,900 that would otherwise need to be paid at settlement.</p>

<p>Combined with the First Home Guarantee, which enables purchases with as little as a five per cent deposit, the total capital required to secure a home is significantly reduced compared to traditional lending pathways.</p>

<h2>No waiting, no uncertainty</h2>

<p>For first home buyers who want to move sooner rather than later, Mason &amp; Main removes one of the more common pain points from the purchase process entirely. The development is already complete and move-in ready, meaning buyers can walk through the apartments, inspect the finishes, and have full certainty about what they're purchasing before signing anything.</p>

<p>Coronation brought in renowned architecture firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> to design the development.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The project's design drew inspiration from the area's rich heritage, in particular the nearby brickworks and aqueduct, infusing a contemporary perspective to seamlessly integrate historical influences into the design," Woods Bagot Principal Dom Alvaro says.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=31751 project_image_fid=736]</p>

<h2>Factor in location and lifestyle</h2>

<p>Beyond the apartment itself, the surrounding infrastructure matters, particularly for a first purchase. Merrylands Station sits 350 metres from the development, putting the Parramatta CBD a five-minute drive away and the Sydney CBD roughly 25 minutes via the Western Line. Directly across the road is Stockland <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/merrylands-nsw-2160">Merrylands</a>, one of Greater Western Sydney's major retail centres.</p>

<p>At street level, Mason &amp; Main's own retail and dining precinct has more than 30 tenants trading, including Iftar, Macelleria, Hayat, San Churro, Yuzu, and Fat Jaks. Residents also have access to a resort-style pool, a Technogym-equipped gym, private dining rooms, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views across Parramatta, the Sydney CBD, and the Blue Mountains, all exclusive to the building.</p>

<p>Due to the mix of configurations, including studios which are rarely offered in today's new apartment market, first home buyers and investors have driven Mason &amp; Main to over 90 per cent sold.</p>

<p>Coronation Property Managing Director Joe Nahas says the development is driving a revitalisation of Merrylands, setting a high standard for future developments in the area.</p>

<p>Mason &amp; Main is move-in ready and is the latest in a series of award-winning mixed-use developments by Coronation Property.</p>

<p><em>Disclaimer: Mortgage repayment figures are estimates only, based on a 6.29 per cent variable rate over a 30-year term (Canstar, April 2026). Pricing and rental estimates are indicative and based on current listings and project information. Gross yield figures are indicative and derived from asking prices and estimated rental ranges. Stamp duty savings are indicative only. Buyers should seek independent financial and legal advice before proceeding.</em></p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=31751]</p>


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

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


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

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<p>I almost choked on my fresh brew of coffee as I read what I and the local agents consider to be low rental data reports, shared last week.</p>
<p>I do completely understand that the author is relying on data provided by Domain head-office; nevertheless, the Domain figures are, in my opinion, far from the true reflection of the current rental market.</p>
<p><em>"Poles apart we may say..."</em></p>
<p>Real Data and live data is what is required now and in keeping with property investor demands and the financial institutions that rely on these. Most can’t and don’t have the resources to call and drive around Sydney, nor do they know where to look.</p>
<p><em>"Relying on property portal listings by agencies; is definitely fraught with  danger..."</em> </p>
<p>The following reported numbers are what I believe reflect the true picture, one that will soon be the demise of many want-to-be investors and those that have this fear of missing out. </p>
<p>NORTHMEAD NSW, 2152</p>
<p>Property portal shows: 34 units available for rent (21/6/2016)</p>
<p>Real Data: reveals closer to <strong>260 units available</strong></p>
<p>CANTERBURY NSW, 2193</p>
<p>Property portal showing: 98 units available for lease (21/6/2016)</p>
<p>Real Data: reveals <strong>360 plus units now on the market</strong> for lease. </p>
<p>PARRAMATTA NSW, 2150</p>
<p>Property portal showing: 217 units available for lease (21/6/2016)</p>
<p>* ONLY A WEEK AGO THE PORTAL DATA REFLECTED "156 Vacancies." <em>On their figures alone, this is an increase of approximately 30 percent in only a week.</em><strong><em>   </em></strong></p>
<p>Real Data: reveals an estimated <strong>number closer to 900 units available</strong> for lease.</p>
<p><strong>Warning and Tips</strong></p>
<p><em>There are more apartment blocks under the final stages of completion. These will have occupation certificates within the next 2-3 months.  We estimate another 300-500 properties to roll onto the rental market in Parramatta in this time. </em></p>
<p>The above mentioned manifestation,  is not confined to Western Sydney.  Many suburbs of Sydney are experiencing similar developments...</p>
<p><strong>Real Data</strong></p>
<p>Real Data is a compilation of information gathered from local area real estate agents, knowledge of buildings under construction and communication with the selling agents and property managers.</p>
<p>Real Data should serve as a warning to people looking to enter the property investment market in Sydney. In particular, people that are looking to purchase property off the plan and in newly built apartment blocks.</p>
<p>We recommend that the investor/property buyer, seeks local real estate advice and looks carefully at the local rental market return trends and availability. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><span>EDWIN ALMEIDA</span> is licensee in charge of <a href="https://www.just-think.com.au/" target="_blank">Just Think Real Estate</a>.<a href="https://www.just-thin.com.au/"><br></a></em></p>
<p><em>He is also the creator of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/JustThinkProperty" target="_blank">Oz Real Estate.TV</a> and a presenter for <a href="https://propertyinvestingvault.com/" target="_blank">propertyinvestingvault.com</a>.</em></p>
<p> </p>
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ealmedia-arK4DBYLjS

Data and the demise of many want-to-be investors: Edwin Almeida

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<p><em>Hi Margaret, just wondering if things have changed in the Lockyer Valley and whether it is a growth area and worth looking at from a long term investment perspective?</em></p>
<p>Answer: </p>
<p>When you make that decision to invest in property, there is much more to consider than whether an expert is predicting whether an area will make a good investment, or not.</p>
<p>You see, working out whether an area has the potential to be a good investment is a little like asking how long is a piece of string – that also depends upon the piece of string, and who cut it in the first place. </p>
<p>You must start by establishing a few things about yourself – the time till you will need to realise this investment, the personal cash flows you can afford to support along the way, and how much is your borrowing capacity.  You also need to know whether your immediate reliance will be on growth, giving you equity quickly to be able to buy more property, or on cash flow – providing enough rental return to enable you to stay in the market and make your loan repayments and meet expenses.</p>
<p>Some investors have plenty of equity in their own home which allows them to buy more than one property, and so they can afford to wait for growth and buy in areas which may be a little more speculative or long term.  Such areas, as long as they have the correct growth drivers, will grow in the long term and probably get pretty good rent returns in the short term. </p>
<p>Other investors have no equity or little in the way of deposits, and so each and every purchase must grow immediately, or they won’t be able to add to their portfolio.  Always remember that to make money from property you need to buy more than one, and so it is important to really understand what you can afford both in terms of supporting the property financially in the short term and seeing it grow in the longer term.</p>
<p>Once you know this you can establish what you can afford, whether you need a higher or a lower rental yield and if you can wait until the longer term for that important growth to occur.  Make no mistake, cash flow is important but if the property never grows, it’s most likely not worth the time and effort to buy it.</p>
<p>In terms of the Lockyer Valley, it’s a growing area, but it’s on a very slow burn and, in my opinion, will be so for some time.  Considered the ‘salad bowl’ of Southern Queensland, there’s still quite a way to go until the population mass reaches the critical point where super infrastructure begins to be built, population explodes and the micro economy burgeons.  I have no doubt that, over the longer term this is an area which can deliver some reasonable results, but that term is going to be quite lengthy.</p>
<p>It’s now up to you to determine whether you can speculate long enough and wait for this growth, or whether an area with more assured growth, sooner (albeit one which may have relatively lower yields) is more up your alley.</p>
<p> <span>Have a property question? </span><span><em> </em><a href="mailto:%20&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20/n%20&lt;/script&gt;&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20%20&lt;/script&gt;This%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.%20You%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it.%20&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20%20&lt;/script&gt;" target="_blank"><span><em>Ask Margaret!</em></span></a></span></p>
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Property market in Laidley, Gatton and Lockyer Valley: Ask Margaret 

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<p class="Body">Generalisations about property markets are a major source of misleading information for investors.</p>
<p class="Body">The worst examples usually emanate from economists who speak about “the Australian property market” as a single homogenous entity. </p>
<p class="Body">A statement such as “Australian house prices rose 7 percent last year” implies there was 7 percent growth across the nation, when it reality there were a few locations with double-digit growth, some with minor movement, many where prices hardly moved at all and others where prices went backwards, in some cases a lot.</p>
<p class="Body">We’ve had three years of empty rhetoric about property prices “soaring” and bubbles emerging, all based on a long-overdue revival of the Sydney market and action in some parts of Melbourne.</p>
<p class="Body">Even speaking about what happened or will happen to prices in a single major city is too much generalization to be of any use to buyers and sellers.</p>
<p class="Body">The entity described as “the Sydney property market” is a place with over 700 suburbs, with markets ranging from $370,000 units in Liverpool to $900,000 houses in Rouse Hill to top-end locations like Mosman where the median house price is $3 million.</p>
<p class="Body">Distilling all of that and more into a statement such as “Sydney property prices rose 3.6 percent in May” is the hallmark of lazy, incompetent analysts whose primary interest is publicity rather than being useful to consumers.</p>
<p class="Body">A study of the latest Market Monitor from the Real Estate Institute of Queensland provides plenty of evidence that generalised single-figure numbers to describe a large city are both pointless and misleading.</p>
<p class="Body">The report finds that the median house price in the Brisbane City LGA rose 6.1 percent in the past year. That’s the figure that 99% of media would report, indicating that Brisbane has a solid market but one that isn’t booming the way Sydney did until recently.</p>
<p class="Body">But Market Monitor delves deeper and provides figures for individual suburbs, revealing there are plenty of places which did a lot better than the generalised figure and a few where median prices were in reverse.</p>
<p class="Body">Middle ring areas in the Brisbane Southside precinct did well in the past year, including Coorparoo (up 11 percent), Holland Park West (up 12 percent), Macgregor (up 17 percent), Sunnybank Hills (up 12 percent), Eight Mile Plains (up 10 percent), Mansfield (up 11 percent), Wishart (up 15 percent) and Robertson (up almost 20 percent).</p>
<p class="Body">Similar areas on Brisbane City’s Northside have also out-performed, including Banyo (up 17 percent), Grange (up 16 percent), Hendra (up 13 percent), Wooloowin (up 16 percent), Sandgate (up 17%) and Mitchelton (up 11 percent).</p>
<p class="Body">In contrast, there is evidence of falling values in upmarket areas like Hamilton, Ascot, St Lucia, Teneriffe and Hawthorne, all suburbs with median house prices above $1 million. But the median price for New Farm (median house price $1.5 million) is up 15 percent.</p>
<p class="Body">The report also shows the impact of over-building of inner-city apartments, with the median unit price down 1.4 percent in the CBD, down 4.5 percent in Fortitude Valley and down 1.7 percent in West End. Median weekly rents have fallen in the past year in several of the inner-city unit markets, according to the REIQ data.</p>
<p class="Body">Heading south to the Logan City part of Greater Brisbane, the generalised figure indicates the median house price has risen only 4 percent in 12 months. But suburbs with annual growth above 8 percent include Browns Plains, Heritage Park, Loganlea, Waterford and Waterford West. Logan Central, Forestdale and Woodridge all had annual growth in the 13-15% range.</p>
<p class="Body">Logan City’s opposite number in Brisbane’s far north is the Moreton Bay Region, which has emerged recently as the No.1 rising market in the metropolitan area. Most suburbs in this LGA have median house prices in the $300,000s and $400,000s – and affordability is a major driver here. </p>
<p class="Body">The generalised figure says house prices have risen 5% in 12 months, but many suburbs have done better, including Albany Creek, Banksia Beach, Bongaree, Burpengary East, Caboolture, Clontarf, Ferny Hills, Narangba, Toorbul, Warner and Woody Point - all of which recorded annual growth between 8 percent and 12 percent. Upmarket Newport on the Redcliffe Peninsula also grew 12 percent.</p>
<p class="Body">On the Gold Coast, house prices rose 5.8 percent on average, but there are 20 residential suburbs with growth between 10 percent and 20 percent.</p>
<p class="Body">By contrast, the apartment market is under-performing, with the median unit price in Surfers Paradise largely unchanged, while the medians for Broadbeach, Labrador and Mermaid Beach all dropped 5 percent in the past 12 months.</p>
<p class="Body">Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach all have median unit prices considerably lower than five years ago, while Labrador and Southport are unchanged.</p>
<p class="Body"><em>Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a></em></p>
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Three years of empty rhetoric about property prices “soaring": Terry Ryder

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<p class="Body">There’s been a lot of discussion about a resurgence in Sydney prices, but I’m not believing it.</p>
<p class="Body">The talk is based primarily on one month’s figures from one source, which suggested a significant rise in Sydney house prices in May.</p>
<p class="Body">People are so willing to blindly accept the figures pumped out by research companies. One international ratings agency rushed out a new assessment of the Australian residential market, complete with dire warnings, based on that one figure – apparently oblivious to the frequent statistical aberrations in price data for short time periods. </p>
<p class="Body">Those figures for May presented a large number of very strange results. For example, are we seriously expected to believe that Hobart apartment values rose 8.4% in a single month? Or that Darwin apartment values declined 10 percent in May? Or that, in sharp contrast, Darwin house prices surged 3.5 percent in May? Or that unit prices dropped 6% in a month in both Canberra and Perth? Or that house values in Sydney suddenly turned around and jumped 3.6 percent in May?</p>
<p class="Body">The absurd nature on some of these numbers shows how rubbery real estate figures can be, especially when you’re dealing with month-to-month changes, which are notoriously erratic and essentially meaningless.</p>
<p class="Body">The Sydney figure was particularly strange because there has been a major drop-off in sales activity this year. Sales volumes have been trending steadily downwards since the end of 2014 in fact, but it’s been particularly pronounced in 2016 – and exacerbated recently by the calling of a federal election, which always causes consumers to stop dead with their decision-making and action-taking.</p>
<p class="Body">The thing is: all other price data, including the March Quarter figures from the ABS, has been recording a contraction of Sydney price growth, which is exactly what I would expect. It’s extremely rare in housing markets for prices to keep rising when there’s a significant decline in sales activity.</p>
<p class="Body">Hotspotting research for The Price Predictor Index finds not a single growth market in the Sydney metropolitan area, which contains over 700 suburbs. Many suburbs are in steady decline.</p>
<p class="Body">An example is Auburn (median house price $835,000, down 1.7 percent in the three months to April, according to Australian Property Monitors), where there were over 200 sales per quarter in late 2013, dropping to 170 in late 2014, 100 late in 2015 and now 75 per quarter.</p>
<p class="Body">Likewise, Bankstown ($840,000, down 2.7 percent percent in three months) was recording over 200 sales per quarter late in 2013, but numbers have fallen steadily to 95 per quarter late in 2015 and 80 per quarter in 2016.</p>
<p class="Body">Sales in Breakfast Point (median unit price $1.06 million, down 4.9 percent in three months) have fallen from 110 to 88 to 70 to 43 to 33 to 26 in consecutive quarters. </p>
<p class="Body">In Cammeray (median house price $1.7 million, down 10.6 percent in three months), sales have dropped from 58 to 54 to 46 to 37 to 30 to 26 since late 2014. In Fairfield ($720,000, down 2 percent in three months) sales in the past four quarters have been 107, 77, 56 and 35. In Pymble ($2.05 million, down 3.3 percent in three months) sales levels have dropped from 112 to 99 to 71 to 64 to 39 in the past five quarters.</p>
<p class="Body">Unit sales in CBD fringe suburb of Haymarket (median unit price $895,000, down 1.8 percent in three months) have dropped from 77 to 57 to 39 to 24 to 9.</p>
<p class="Body">In Parramatta ($565,000, down 1 percent) unit sales have declined from 172 to 165 to 107 to 95 in the past four quarters, while in Potts Point ($710,000, down 4.3 percent), unit sales have dropped from 110 to 66 to 47 in consecutive quarters.</p>
<p class="Body">There are myriad other examples, all charting the same pattern of decline in sales volumes, with prices starting to follow.</p>
<p class="Body"><em>Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a></em></p>
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Not a single growth market in the Sydney metropolitan area: Terry Ryder

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<p>We read and hear a lot of comments about how expensive Sydney real estate is, and we have had some very expensive homes sold here plus some exclusive apartments, although we are yet to reach the price levels associated with some high-end apartments in cities like Milan, Dubai, New York and London.</p>
<p>Many of these apartments, designed to appeal to the super-rich and the fashion savvy buyer are promoted with high-end brands like Baccarat, Armani, Moschino, Missoni, Dunhill, Ferrari, Bulgari and Versace</p>
<p>Baccarat Residences in New York is one example where you can buy a pied-a-terre or if you have big bank balance a ‘palace in the sky’. Baccarat offers features like dramatic living spaces with twenty-foot ceilings but it’s the finer details that add up to a mouth-watering selection of features in these stunning apartments.</p>
<p><strong>Designer Interiors</strong></p>
<p>It all starts with interiors by one of New York’s best know interior style whizzes Tony Ingrao who’s an Architectural Digest 100 designer, with touches like floors that are six-inch white oak planks finished with custom-designed ebony-mahogany stain and entry doors with Baccarat crystal handles and Baccarat lighting fittings the foyers.</p>
<p>These apartments come with Siematic Kitchens including granite bench-tops appliances by Sub-Zero (think $7,000 – $10,000 for your basic fridge from these guys) and a local favourite Miele.</p>
<p>However I am keen to share a few of the added features buyers can access here and this starts with the fact that each residence is equipped with specific technology designed to allow convenient access to all of the associated luxury hotel services 24/7.</p>
<p>But there’s lots more, starting with a private residence’s entrance foyer with a dedicated entrance and private concierge desk and there’s the luxury hotel lifestyle services and amenities accessed via your own touch screen or from a tablet and mobile devices from anywhere in the world.</p>
<p>Of course, the concierge, maintenance, room service and security staff is all on call 24/7. And the list goes on to include dedicated residential housekeeping, child care, personal shopping, personal training, pet and plant care, and floral delivery. Plus when it comes to work (necessary I am sure to pay the service charges) we have business support on hand like couriers and postal and package services, newspaper and magazine delivery.</p>
<p>Feeling a bit peckish? Then you will never go hungry and never mind rushing to the local take-away because this building offers a range of catering options, plus event-planning and in-home chefs, and priority access to event spaces and meeting facilities in the adjoining hotel.</p>
<p>The apartments are also designed to allow room service or housing keeping services to be very discrete, with individual service entries so that your personal chef or florist can come and go in the most inconspicuous way, clearly showing great attention to detail at the design stage.</p>
<p>Still the list continues with custom bath and personal care products crafted by Baccarat and priority access to all hotel facilities, like restaurant reservations, sometimes difficult in New York, the Baccarat spa, pool and fitness centre.</p>
<p>And given the luxury of your surroundings, there’s no need to venture outside? Residents also have private shopping, including priority custom design and production of Baccarat products. But if you do venture away from home, possibly by private jet then there are extra hotel privileges waiting for you in Baccarat Hotels worldwide in places like Paris, Moscow and Tokyo.</p>
<p>But tucked away in the marketing material is a little note that ‘some services are available for an additional fee’ and we can only guess what they might be, still if you’re living here in such luxury, who really cares about the occasional service charge even with some annual fees going well beyond $53,000 a year and that’s not including little extras like home dining or spa entry! It will be exciting for local buyers when this style of apartment luxury spreads to Sydney or Melbourne.</p>
<p><em>Peter Chittenden is managing director for residential of Colliers International. He can be contacted <a href="https://www.projectagenda.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p>
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Brand power – luxury apartment living at any price: Peter Chittenden

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<div>The ABS released its all-important Labour Force data for Janaury 2016. It is perhaps the most important of the data releases, so let's take a canter through it in the three short parts.</div>
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<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Part 1 - Employment growth</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>In seasonally adjusted terms, total employment declined by -7,900 in January to 11,894,500. In trend terms, total employment increased by +19,800.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Although this was a decline for the headline result which missed market expecations, given the strength of what has gone before, in context it wasn't too bad a result. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/02/19/A1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2016/02/19/A1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span>In trend terms total employment increased by +302,500 over the past year or +2.6 per cent, which is a high rate of employment growth in historical terms. </span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><span>Click to enlarge</span></div>
<div><span><img src="/images/2016/02/19/A7.jpg" alt=""></span></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div><span>However, the composition of employment does not look quite so pretty, with full time employment decreasing by -40,600 in January, and part time employment increasing by +32,700. </span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/02/19/A2.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></div>
<div><span><img src="/images/2016/02/19/A2.jpg" alt=""></span></div>
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<div> </div>
<div>
<div>While full time jobs growth has been solid over the past year in rising by +2.0 per cent, the rate of part time jobs growth has been exceptionally high at +3.9 per cent. This probably represents a structural shift towards more casual jobs.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Total hours worked increased by a modest +2.0 per cent over the past year, perhaps a rather more realistic indicator of the strength of employment growth. </div>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br>Part 2 - NSW &amp; QLD create the jobs</span></strong><br><div> </div>
<div>After some previously massive months of jobs growth, employment in New South Wales (and Victoria) pulled back in January, while Queensland went on to record further gains. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Over the past six months the economy has created +143,400 jobs, with New South Wales (43 per cent) and Queensland (38 per cent) accounting for more than four-fifths of them.</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2016/02/19/A3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2016/02/19/A3.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span>Over the past year employment growth rates have ranged from an enormous +4.7 per cent in New South Wales and +3.3 per cent in Queensland, to a distinctly uninspiring -0.9 per cent in Tasmania. </span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/02/19/A4.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></div>
<div><span><img src="/images/2016/02/19/A4.jpg" alt=""></span></div>
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<div>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Part 3 - Unemployment rates converge</span></strong><br><br><div>The headline result showed a seasonally adjusted increase in the unemployment rate to 6.0 per cent, which will excite the pessimists. However, the result was probably more middle of the road than anything.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The participation rate has crept up to 65.2 per cent, the highest level in nearly four years, and while the number of unemployed persons recorded is volatile, it was down by 2.6 per cent over the year.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The trend unemployment rate ticked down a notch to 5.8 per cent, for a 27 month low. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/02/19/A5.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2016/02/19/A5.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div><span>At the state level the monthly figures were absolutely wild once again, lurching all over the place. The trend figures point towards convergence rather than divergence between the states, with New South Wales looking to be in the best nick on this measure. </span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/02/19/A6.jpg" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></div>
<div><span><img src="/images/2016/02/19/A6.jpg" alt=""></span></div>
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<div> </div>
<div>
<div class="separator"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The wrap</span></strong></div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
<div class="separator">The 95 per cent confidence interval figures provided by the ABS (which ranged from -66,500 to +55,700 for the month) serve as a reminder that as estimates the monthly data shouldn't be taken too literally.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The big picture suggests that although annual headline employment growth is high by historical standards, the quality of employment growth is underwhelming, with part time work and under-employment aplenty in evidence. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>As a result ongoing low wages growth is likely to be the order of the day due to the inherent level of slack in the workforce.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The employment figures weren't too bad on the whole, but notably Goldman Sachs is now forecasting interest rate cuts of 25 basis points in both May and July, so hold on to your hats.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p><span><em>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>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>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>.</em></p>
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NSW & QLD are creating the jobs: Pete Wargent

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<em>60 Minutes</em> 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".<br><br>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>
<div>
<br>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.<br><br>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>
<div>
<br>Of course, the data sources quoted advertised loans rather than actual loans written, a rookie error that surely wouldn't pass the sniff test.<br><br>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 "<strong>may</strong> be able to borrow". Clickbait ahoy!</div>
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<div><a href="/images/2016/02/25/Mortgage.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2016/02/25/Mortgage.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div> </div>
<div>
<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.<br><br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">APRA exposures data</span></strong>
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<div> </div>
<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>
<div> </div>
<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>
<div> </div>
<div>I'll just clarify that.<br><br>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>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/02/25/APRA2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2016/02/25/APRA2.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<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>
<br><div>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Lending shifts to homebuyers</span></strong><br><br>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>
<div> </div>
<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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<div><a href="/images/2016/02/25/APRA1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div><img src="/images/2016/02/25/APRA1.jpg" alt=""></div>
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<div>
<span>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.</span><br><br><span>The </span><em>60 Minutes</em><span> 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.</span><br><br><span>However, the aggregate of outstanding household debt nearly always rises in an inflationary economy with rising household incomes and a strong population growth.</span><br><br><span>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.</span><br><br><em>60 Minutes</em><span> also claimed that "half" of all loans are interest only.</span><br><br><span>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.</span><br><br><span>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. </span>
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<div><span> </span></div>
<div>
<p><span><em>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>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>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>.</em></p>
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High LVR loans have been declining for years: Pete Wargent

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<p class="BodyA">Our prediction in 3-4 months ago about Melbourne overtaking Sydney has been confirmed by the latest price data.</p>
<p class="BodyA">In one of our November reports we noted: “Melbourne is the new star of Australia’s capital city property markets. It’s only a matter of time before Melbourne overtakes Sydney as the price growth leader in capital city Australia.”</p>
<p class="Body">We reported then that Melbourne continued to deliver a large number of growth markets, while Sydney was steadily waning. In Hotspotting’s latest survey for the Price Predictor Index, Melbourne continues to record strong sales activity, even though the number of rising suburbs is gradually diminishing.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">The number of Melbourne suburbs with rising sales trajectories in the past four quarterly surveys has been 134, 113, 110 and 105. This suggests Melbourne has passed its peak in terms of sales activity, but still has good impetus, while the price peak will probably come later in the year.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">The best of Melbourne’s precincts continue to be a mix of middle and outer-ring suburbs, with growing evidence that the previously-strong markets in the Top End near-city areas have subsided.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">Areas dominated by Top End suburbs – such as the LGAs of Glen Eira (Bentleigh, Caulfield, McKinnon), Boroondara (Balwyn, Ashburton, Glen Iris) and Stonnington (Armadale, Malvern, Prahran) – now have mostly <em>Plateau</em> markets, which are suburbs where sales activity has reached a peak and started to taper off at those levels or slightly lower levels (i.e. no longer rising).<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">But there are numerous strong middle-market areas – notably the municipalities of Whitehorse (Box Hill, Nunawading, Blackburn), Banyule (Macleod, Montmorency, Watsonia), Moreland (the Brunswick and Pascoe Vale suburbs) and Bayside (Beaumaris, Black Rock, Hampton) – with significant numbers of growth suburbs.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">Whitehouse, previously a clear leader in the Melbourne market, has faded a little and is now matched by the LGAs of Banyule, Moreland and outer-ring Casey in terms of suburbs with rising trajectories.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">Other previous contenders Monash (Oakleigh, Mt Waverley, Clayton) and Knox (Wantirna, Boronia, Bayswater) have waned somewhat and, like Whitehorse, now have more <em>Plateau</em> markets than rising ones.</p>
<p class="Body">But there is now considerable energy in markets in the outer ring precincts. Locations likely to attract first-time buyers and others on smaller budgets are really pumping in Melbourne.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">In the far south-east, the Casey LGA (Cranbourne, Doveton, Endeavour Hills) matches those leading middle-market areas for the number of growth suburbs.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">Close behind are Brimbank (Sunshine, Deer Park, Cairnlea) in the western suburbs and Whittlesea (Epping, Thomastown, Mill Park) in the north of the metropolitan area.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">Market up-cycles often start in or near the city centre, with the millionaire suburbs the first to experience a rise in activity. As the cycle progresses, the growth ripples out to the middle-ring areas and latterly to the outer-ring suburbs. It’s common for the cheaper areas to have the greatest growth in the latter stages of the cycle, which often is in the third year of heightened activity.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">Sydney’s recent boom generally followed that pattern and Melbourne’s period of busy market activity (without producing the same high level of price growth across the whole city) has done likewise.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">So the evidence suggests that Melbourne is the leading capital city market - although it has passed or is close to its peak, depending on how you measure these things.</p>
<p class="Body">I note that the latest NAB Quarterly Residential Property Index finds that Victoria (read Melbourne) has replaced NSW (read Sydney) as the state with the most positive market sentiment and is currently the only state tracking above its long-term average.<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">It’s also worth noting that Melbourne is Australia’s leading city for long-term capital growth (the average annual growth in prices over the past 10 years).<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> </span></p>
<p class="Body">Melbourne gets a lot of its impetus from population growth - it’s the leading capital city both for overseas migrants and for net inflow from interstate migration - and many of the leading suburbs for long-term capital growth are those that attract migrant buyers.</p>
<p class="Body"> </p>
<p class="Body"><em>Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a></em></p>
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Where Melbourne is pumping: Terry Ryder

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<p>The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) released its December 2015 quarterly data on property exposures by Australian authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs).</p>
<p>The data is always interesting to analyse in order to get further insight into the current state of the mortgage market.</p>
<p>The first data point is residential term loans to households which have a total outstanding balance of $1.384 trillion which has increase by 8.9% over the past year. The total value of outstanding owner occupier loans is $884 billion having increased by 12.8% over the past year and accounting for 63.9% of all outstanding loans. The remaining 36.1% of outstanding loans are to investors, having increased by 2.6% year-on-year to $500 billion. </p>
<p>Growth in outstanding loans has tilted away from investors to owner occupiers.  After year-on-year growth in investor loans peaked at 18.2% in March 2015 it has slowed to 2.6% growth while owner occupier credit troughed at an annual rate of 2.2% in March 2015, before rebounding to the current annual rate of 12.8% (the fastest annual growth rate since June 2010).</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/03/Chart-1-3-580x204.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/03/Chart-1-3-580x204.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>In terms of the types of loans outstanding, 42.3% have an offset facility, 39.3% are interest-only, 0.2% are reverse mortgages, 2.0% are low documentation loans and 0.1% are other non-standard loans.  The year-on-year change across these loan types has been recorded at: +22.0% for loans with an offset facility, +11.6% for interest-only loans, +1.6% for reverse mortgages, -16.6% for low documentation loans and -5.7% for other non-standard loans.  Importantly, the value of outstanding residential loans for low-documentation loans is now at a record low.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/03/Chart-2-3-580x207.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/03/Chart-2-3-580x207.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>The data highlights that the average outstanding balance on a residential loan is $248,800, up by 1.0% over the quarter and by 4.4% year-on-year.  Reverse mortgages ($95,700), low-documentation loans ($192,800) and other non-standard loans ($195,900) all have much lower outstanding balances.  Meanwhile, loans with offset facilities ($303,700) and interest-only loans ($330,000) have significantly higher outstanding balances. </p>
<p>The year-on-year changes to the outstanding loan balances have been recorded as follows: +7.2% for loans with an offset facility (fastest year-on-year growth since June 2011), +4.9% for interest-only loans, +2.8% for reverse mortgages (slowest year-on-year growth on record), -1.5% for low-documentation loans and -6.8% for other non-standard loans.  The data shows a slowing in the growth of outstanding loan values for reverse mortgages while riskier lending types (low-documentation and other non-standard) have seen an ongoing fall in outstanding loan amounts.</p>
<p>While the previous data looked at the total value of residential mortgages outstanding, the following data focuses on new residential mortgages over the final quarter of 2015.</p>
<p>Over the December 2015 quarter there was a record-high $98.130 billion worth of new residential mortgages approved, $69.091 billion worth were owner occupied with the remaining $29.040 billion being for investment purposes.  Year-on-year the value of new owner occupier loans is 28.8% higher, its greatest change on record, while investor mortgage lending is -24.9% lower, its largest fall on record.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/03/Chart-3-3-580x212.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/03/Chart-3-3-580x212.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Looking at the types of mortgages approved over the quarter: a record low 0.3% were low-documentation, 37.0% were interest only which was its lowest proportion since March 2013, 0.1% were other non-standard loans, 47.4% were originated by third parties and 3.7% were loans approved outside of serviceability.</p>
<p>Focussing on the year-on-year change; low documentation loan approvals are -41.8% lower (their largest year-on-year fall since March 2013), interest-only loan approvals are -11.0% lower (their largest year-on-year fall since March 2009), other non-standard loan approvals are up 28.2% (their largest year-on-year increase since December 2013), third party originated loans are up 6.2% and loans approved outside of serviceability are up 41.3%.  The data indicates there has been a significant pull-back in low-documentation loans and interest-only loans. </p>
<p>At the same time, non-standard and loans approved outside of serviceability are rising significantly which may be a potential point of concern for APRA.  Although they make-up a small overall proportion of lending it will be something to keep a close watch on over the coming quarters especially since both have also recorded a quarterly increase.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/03/Chart-4-3-580x207.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/03/Chart-4-3-580x207.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Finally the data breaks out new lending by loan-to-value-ratio (LVR) bands.  Over the quarter, 23.4% of all new loans had an LVR of less than 60%, 53.4% had an LVR of between 60% and 80%, 14.5% had an LVR of 80% to 90% and 8.7% had an LVR of more than 90% which was its lowest proportion on record. </p>
<p>Looking at the year-on-year changes, the value of lending for LVRs of less than 60% was 16.1% higher, LVRs of between 60% and 80% increased 6.1%, LVRs of 80% to 90% increased 14.3% and LVRs greater than 90% fell by -20.1% which was the largest year-on-year fall June 2010.  Based on the data it is clear that lenders have been tightening lending requirements over recent quarters which has led to a sharp decline in new mortgage lending for LVRs above 90%.</p>
<p>Overall the data indicates that the market is responding to regulatory changes in the lending space implemented over the past year.  There is less new lending to high LVRs, fewer low documentation and interest-only mortgages being written. </p>
<p>On the other-hand some other potentially more risky lending types such as non-standard and outside of serviceability loans are continuing to rise.  It will be interesting to see whether APRA starts to look to crack-down on some of these types of lending in order to ensure stability within the mortgage market.</p>
<p><em>Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/">here</a>.</em></p>
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ckusher-ujnxiKuFQs

APRA data shows a further tightening of lending standards: Cameron Kusher

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<p>Today I met with two of my lovely clients to celebrate the completion of their dual occupancy project. Friends Karen and Katie decided to do a joint venture (JV) with the goal of each ending up with a villa after subdivision.</p>
<p>The ladies were not new to property, they both own their own homes and at times an investment property or two but as corporate business women were understandably time poor.  Their goal was to build their property portfolio and share the experience of their first development.  By working together, they would have each other to bounce off any worries and fears as well as celebrate the major milestones.</p>
<p>Their JV worked like a dream as they each brought a different skill set to the project with Karen being focussed on fine detail and Katie on big picture.</p>
<p>"The one thing we didn't want was the development project and JV to impact on our friendship" Katie explained. </p>
<p>Karen found that it was easier and less stressful going into the JV and her first development project than it was buying her first pre-built investment property.  “Katie and I trusted each other implicitly and we trusted Property Bloom’s experience” Karen said, “and that trust was proven true.  Without exception Property Bloom took care of all the details, keeping everything on track”.</p>
<p>Karen and Katie’s project commenced in October 2014 and was completed within fourteen months.</p>
<p>The moment the land was secured Property Bloom began the DA approval process enabling the DA to be lodged before settlement on the land.  There is a lot of work involved in getting a DA prepared -  detailed survey, geotechnical report and engineering just to get the plans finalised before then organising the Statement of Environmental Effects, Basix report, Bushfire report and plans and external materials and colours to be approved by the land developer. </p>
<p>But that was the easy part.  The bigger challenge was getting the actual approval from Council!</p>
<p>Now, admittedly, Christmas did fall whilst the DA was in council so that didn’t help but we were surprised after so many weeks of processing and with the DA approval just within in our grasp (or so we thought) that the town planner then demanded a change to the entire roof design.  This involved changes to the engineer's drainage plan as well so it was not a small change.  We were furious with the lack of consistency as a previous and very similar DA sailed through council without this change request.</p>
<p>Once we had the DA approval in our hands we handed over the Construction Certificate approval to our private certifier who is markedly faster than council. There was no further hold ups and construction commenced in July 2015.</p>
<p>By Christmas 2015, less than 6 months later, the project was completed!</p>
<p>The villas came up beautifully and were quickly leased at a good rent with the ladies enjoying close to a 7% gross yield and very pleased with the equity created.</p>
<p>But that wasn’t the end of it.  The final, and biggest decision of all was……. how to divide the villas? Who would end up with which one?</p>
<p> The villas were almost identical in size but to keep them unique they had different floor plans, different front facades and internal finishes and slightly different private outdoor space sizes.  After some discussion and internal agonising, it was decided that a flip of a coin would determine the outcome.  Let fate decide!  So in a nail salon Katie and Karen stood watching as a stranger they'd asked, flipped a coin into the air.</p>
<p>The villas will be split by way of a Deed of Partition which is a great way for joint venture partners to work together and then end up with a property each. Talk to your solicitor about how this is managed as you must ensure the Deed is formed before the subdivision of the villas is registered.</p>
<p>“The best things we liked about this project were the ease with which it was executed and the stunning look of the finished villas which we could easily imagine living in ourselves”, said Karen.   “All the details were managed by Property Bloom.  “I was doing an extension on my home at the same time and the stress I went through in organising that project was divorce material…. almost.  In comparison, the development of our villas happened in the background, any stresses and concerns absorbed by Jo and her team.  And the best part is that my friendship with Katie has never been stronger, our trust in each other proven.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.</em></p>
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