Family-owned builder and developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/omaya">Omaya</a> is bringing its 27-storey The Maybelle development to market, with the 229-apartment tower rising alongside Ismay Reserve near North Strathfield.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-maybelle-21-parramatta-road-homebush-nsw-2140">The Maybelle</a> will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with its height providing elevated outlooks towards the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge, while other residences will look across neighbouring Ismay Reserve.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/squillace-architects">Squillace Architects</a>, the tower combines its parkside setting with proximity to the established retail, dining and transport amenity around North Strathfield.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376196]

Residences will feature open-plan living spaces and a choice of two interior schemes, while communal amenity is spread across two elevated levels of the building.

Level 8 will be home to the Garden Pavilion, a full-floor resident space incorporating communal entertaining and breakout areas, seating and recreation spaces. Further up the tower, a landscaped Sky Terrace on Level 14 will provide another communal area with panoramic views towards the Harbour Bridge and Sydney skyline.

At ground level, the development sits directly alongside Ismay Reserve, where lawns, walking paths, children's play areas, picnic spaces and recreational facilities extend the green space available immediately around the project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376194]

The Maybelle is also within walking distance of North Strathfield and the Bakehouse Quarter, which provides a mix of cafés, restaurants, shops and everyday services.

Existing rail and bus services provide connections across Sydney, while the future North Strathfield Metro and access to the M4 will add to the transport options available around the precinct. Walking and cycling routes also extend via Powells Creek towards Sydney Olympic Park and its sporting, entertainment and parkland precincts.

Families are also well positioned for access to a broad selection of established schools and education options across Strathfield and the surrounding Inner West.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134873 project_image_fid=376181]

Omaya has operated in Sydney for more than 35 years, managing projects from acquisition and design through to construction and delivery. The family-owned company is both developer and builder of The Maybelle.

Apartments start from $560,000, with the development protected by 10-year Latent Defects Insurance.

Construction is well underway, with completion expected by the end of 2026 and move-in anticipated from Q1 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134873]

Joel Robinson

The Maybelle brings 27-storey parkside tower to market near North Strathfield

Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pdg-corporation">PDG</a> has unveiled its vision for the former Water Tank Site in Ivanhoe, which would see it transformed into a thriving residential neighbourhood, complete with a 2000 sqm public park.&nbsp;

Delivered in partnership with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/development-victoria">Development Victoria</a>, the proposal would transform the prominent corner of Bell Street and Upper Heidelberg Road into a connected community comprising two residential buildings, generous public open space and shared amenities.&nbsp;

The vision includes 287 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with a minimum of 10 per cent allocated to affordable housing, alongside a 2,000-square-metre publicly accessible park featuring a children's playground, activity lawn, indigenous planting, timber climbing logs, seating areas and a rock gathering circle.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dko-architecture">DKO Architecture</a>, the proposal draws on the site's industrial heritage, using a robust architectural language that references the former water tank through expressive structural elements and durable, self-finished materials.&nbsp;

Extensive landscaping has been woven throughout the development, creating a living landscape that strengthens connections to nature while responding sensitively to the surrounding neighbourhood. Two residential buildings ranging from three to 12 storeys are linked by a landscaped forecourt, creating a welcoming arrival experience and improving pedestrian connections through the site.&nbsp;

Residents would also enjoy more than 1,000 square metres of communal open space, including barbecue and dining facilities, vegetable gardens, landscaped seating pavilions and a dedicated coworking space.&nbsp;

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the vision reflected an opportunity to transform one of Ivanhoe's most recognisable sites into a place that balanced housing, community and landscape.&nbsp;

"This is an opportunity to reimagine an important site and create a neighbourhood that delivers lasting benefits for Ivanhoe," Giuliano said.&nbsp;

"We're creating much more than new homes. The vision brings together affordable housing, quality architecture, meaningful public open space and shared places that encourage people to connect, while respecting the site's history and its place within the local community."&nbsp;

Development Victoria’s Executive General Manager Precincts, Niall Cunningham, said the application is an important step for the government-owned site.&nbsp;

“This is about delivering more homes in a well-connected location, along with public open space that the Ivanhoe community will benefit from for years to come,” Cunningham said.&nbsp;

PDG was selected as development partner in late 2025 following a competitive tender process.&nbsp;

A planning submission for the project is currently being progressed through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with positive early engagement from both Banyule Council and the Department of Transport and Planning.

PDG unveils plans to transform landmark Ivanhoe Water Tank Site

Shane Wilkinson's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pace-development-group">Pace Development Group</a> has lodged plans for a major residential precinct on the former Presentation College site in Windsor, with an eight-building masterplan ultimately rising to 10 storeys.

The proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/167-dandenong-road-windsor-vic-3181">167–187 Dandenong Road</a> spans a substantial 19,027 sqm site and is being progressed across six stages, with the first residential stages comprising 170 homes across four buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>.

Stage Two will deliver the bulk of the initial housing, with Building A comprising 81 apartments and Building B 49 apartments, both rising to six storeys.

Stage Three will deliver a further 40 homes. The heritage Nagel Building, identified as Building C, will be converted to 12 dwellings, while a new five-storey Building D will comprise 28 apartments at the Hornby Street and Dandenong Road corner.

The 170 homes across Stages Two and Three will include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including townhouse-style dwellings.<img alt="First look: Pace plans landscaped housing precinct on former Windsor school site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="83c56e3e-dfb9-4e12-b172-c3f18513ec32" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_9.png?VersionId=xRcRpSZsxX.UX_NDDGcRZktw7HVrzx7u" />

&nbsp;

The longer-term masterplan points to considerably greater density across the site.

Indicative plans show Building E accommodating around 80 dwellings across up to 10 storeys, while Building F is earmarked for around 120 dwellings and also up to 10 storeys. Building G is planned to range between four and 10 storeys, however its apartment yield is yet to be determined. That means the masterplan currently identifies at least 370 dwellings across Buildings A to F before any apartments within Building G are counted.

Across the 1.9-hectare site, that represents an indicative density of at least 194 dwellings per hectare, with the final figure to increase once the yield of Building G is established.

Pace is pursuing the project through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program, with Urbis lodging a combined Section 96A planning scheme amendment and planning application on behalf of the developer, which secured the site earlier this year.

The application seeks detailed approval for Stages One, Two and Three, alongside approval of the broader masterplan framework that will guide the later residential stages. Stage One will see an existing heritage building adaptively reused for a wellness and fitness-related facility, while the broader precinct will retain several significant heritage buildings and established trees as part of the redevelopment.

A minimum 10 per cent affordable housing contribution is proposed across both the initial residential stages and the later masterplan stages, delivered through a discounted rental model.

The project comes immediately after a major change to the site's planning controls.

The site was rezoned to the Housing Choice and Transport Zone through Planning Scheme Amendment GC285, gazetted on July 22, 2026, and now sits within the inner catchment of the Windsor Station precinct under the State Government's Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres Program.

While the new controls identify large sites within the inner catchment for buildings of up to six storeys, Pace's masterplan pushes height to 10 storeys in parts of the site, with the taller buildings concentrated toward the centre and along the Sandringham railway corridor.

Lower-scale built form is proposed toward the site's more sensitive residential and heritage edges, with Buildings A and B generally stepping from three storeys at their interfaces to six storeys at upper levels.

Cera Stribley's masterplan breaks the development into a collection of separate buildings rather than a continuous built form, with landscaped spaces, new pedestrian links and a new publicly accessible road forming part of the precinct.

The planning report says the development will create new pedestrian connections to Elm Place and along the railway corridor, as well as a new publicly accessible road linking Elm Place with Dandenong Road. The proposed buildings will occupy around 54 per cent of the site, leaving a substantial portion available for landscaping, communal areas and permeable surfaces.

Urbis said the scale of the project reflected the site's strategic location close to Windsor Station, tram services and the Chapel Street Activity Centre, with the former school campus identified as a significant opportunity to increase housing supply on an underutilised inner-Melbourne site.

&nbsp;

First look: Pace plans landscaped housing precinct on former Windsor school site

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/jl-place">JL PLACE</a>'s Veil Brighton is approaching its final months of construction, with the nine-townhouse development at 17 Rooding Street expected to complete in December 2026.

The milestone is bringing the boutique project closer to becoming a finished part of the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/brighton-vic-3186">Brighton</a> streetscape, with much of Brighton's everyday amenity within a short walk.

Palace Cinema, Coles Supermarket and North Brighton Station are all around five minutes on foot from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/veil-brighton-17-rooding-street-brighton-vic-3186">Veil</a>, alongside numerous cafés, restaurants and bars. The station provides a direct rail connection toward Melbourne's CBD, while Bay Street and the wider Brighton retail and dining network add to the range of services accessible without relying on a car for every trip.

"The location was fundamental to the project. Brighton is an established suburb where many buyers already have strong connections to the area and want to remain close to the people, places and amenities that form part of their everyday life," the developer said.

"Veil sits in a highly walkable part of Brighton, with a Walk Score of 90/100."

For buyers looking to right-size within Bayside, that level of walkability adds to the appeal of a more manageable way of living. Everyday shopping, dining, entertainment and public transport can be accessed without relying on the car for every trip, while residents remain connected to the places and routines that make Brighton familiar. It allows buyers to simplify day-to-day life without giving up the convenience, amenity and connections they already value.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7877 project_image_fid=355754]

As completion approaches, the architecture, landscaping and material palette are progressively becoming visible on site, giving prospective purchasers a clearer view of the finished development beyond its plans and renders.

Veil comprises nine townhouses, predominantly three-bedroom homes with between 2.5 and 3.5 bathrooms, two car spaces and, depending on the residence, study areas and private outdoor space. Selected homes include a bedroom on the ground floor.

Veil occupies a middle ground between detached housing and apartment living, retaining private gardens, storage and secure parking within a more manageable residential format.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/schmidt-pang-architects">Schmidt &amp; Pang</a> designed the architecture around natural light, ventilation, privacy and practical use of space. From Rooding Street, the façade has been composed to read as a cohesive residential building rather than nine individual townhouses, with landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/john-patrick-landscape-architects">John Patrick Landscape Architects</a> integrated throughout the site.

Inside, natural stone, oak flooring, integrated joinery and brushed nickel finishes establish a restrained material palette, while kitchens include Miele appliances and substantial storage such as pantries. Walk-in robes and dedicated study spaces have also been incorporated across the collection.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7877 project_image_fid=355852]

The project team said the planning of the homes has been informed by how the spaces function for both daily routines and larger gatherings.

"Our new homes owners at Veil have enjoyed the attention to detail in creating efficient layouts that use every space well. Hosting Christmas lunch and large family gatherings is an ease when care is taken to consider how people really live and entertain."

Private landscaped gardens extend the living spaces outdoors, while secure basement parking and bicycle parking are provided below. The homes have also been designed to achieve a 7-star energy rating, supported by double glazing, high-quality insulation, natural ventilation, LED lighting, water tanks and water-efficient fittings. Each residence is backed by a 10-year building guarantee.

Veil is being built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/jeniton">Jeniton</a>.&nbsp;Limited-time stamp duty savings are also currently available on selected purchases at Veil, adding another consideration as the project moves toward completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7877]

Veil Brighton nears completion in one of the suburb's most walkable pockets

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic Property Group</a> has recorded 134 sales worth just over $400 million in two months of pre-release activity at The Riversdale, as the developer brings its $750 million South Brisbane riverfront project to the broader market.

The sales represent more than 60 per cent of the project's 213 apartments, with Mosaic reporting the majority of purchasers have been local owner-occupiers and downsizers.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-riversdale-by-mosaic-south-brisbane-91-montague-road-south-brisbane-qld-4101">The Riversdale</a> will rise 39 storeys from its north-facing site at 91 Montague Road, delivering a mix of two, three and four-bedroom apartments alongside a collection of Mosaic's premium Masterpiece Series Sky Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371872]

The early buyer response comes ahead of the wider evolution of the northern end of Montague Road, where The Riversdale will be one of the first major residential projects delivered within an emerging riverfront precinct.

Directly adjoining the development is a planned 7.1-hectare mixed-use precinct, set to introduce new residences, parkland and public realm along the river's edge. The Riversdale's position directly on the Brisbane River gives it a relationship with the waterfront that Mosaic says cannot be replicated by future buildings within the precinct.

The site is also the result of a years-long pursuit by Mosaic. The developer first earmarked the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/south-brisbane-qld-4101">South Brisbane</a> property in 2018, reflecting what Founder and Managing Director Brook Monahan has described as a deliberately patient approach to acquiring development sites.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=372083]

"We aren't opportunistic," Monahan previously told Apartments.com.au.

"Every site purchase is carefully considered. As seen with Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane, it can take years to eventuate. There are sites we're looking at now that we may not secure for several years."

Designed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bureauproberts">Bureau Proberts</a>, The Riversdale has been shaped around the qualities of the riverfront site, with apartments oriented to capture northern light and uninterrupted Brisbane River views.

Generous floorplans and expansive balconies extend the living spaces towards the river, while natural materials and a restrained interior palette have been selected with longevity in mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371890]

Residents will have access to a level of amenity more commonly associated with world-class hotels and private members' clubs, with almost 3,000 sqm dedicated to wellness, connection, recreation and everyday convenience.

At ground level is a business lounge, private meeting rooms and dedicated workspaces. Mid-tower is a wellness sanctuary featuring magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, sauna, steam room, infrared therapy facilities, a Pilates and yoga studio, and a commercial-grade gymnasium.

Crowning The Riversdale is a rooftop featuring a 35-metre swimming pool with lap lane and spa, outdoor dining and seating terraces, firepit lounges and views of the city, river and Mount Coot-tha.

A private members' club-inspired retreat offers private dining rooms, a whisky lounge, media rooms and immersive entertainment experiences. Completing the amenity offering are two hotel-style guest suites and a resident-exclusive electric vehicle fleet and car-share program.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151614 project_image_fid=371877]

The Riversdale sits at the northern end of Montague Road between South Bank and West End, around 1.3 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, providing access to the city's major cultural, dining and recreation precincts.

It becomes Mosaic's largest Brisbane project to date and adds to a pipeline already under construction across the city.

In Brisbane, the developer is currently delivering The Bedford and The Carter at Kangaroo Point, both of which are approaching sell-out, with a further four projects being delivered on the Gold Coast. Mosaic has completed more than $2 billion in projects since 2012 and has a further development pipeline exceeding $2 billion across South East Queensland.

Early works are underway at The Riversdale, which will be delivered by Mosaic's in-house construction division. Completion is anticipated in late 2029, with remaining apartments priced from $1.98 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151614]

Mosaic records more than $400m in two months at South Brisbane's The Riversdale

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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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Returns on commercial property in Melbourne and Sydney exceeded those in Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra, according to the Property Council/IPD Australia All Property Index for the year to March 31.
The average total return was 10.7% – 6.9% in income and 3.5% in capital growth, the Australian Financial Review noted.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">
It was up from 10.4% in the year to December 2014, with an improvement in capital return due to ongoing compression in cap rates.
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">
Industrial real estate had the best annual return, up to 12.4% with NSW having the highest 13.9% return with Queensland next with 11.7%. 
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<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">Retail property showed the next best return, up 10.9%. </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Office property returns were up 10.2%. 
The Property Council/IPD Australia All Property Index was prepared by MSCI based on the performance of more than 1200 properties with a combined value of $137 billion.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Industrial has best annual return with NSW strongest: PCA/IPD Australia

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A US investor is undertaking due diligence on the T&amp;G Building at 161 Collins Street, Melbourne.
The US property giant Pembroke Real Estate is reportedly eyeing the 12-storey office tower at the Paris end of Collins Street.
The property is expected to fetch about $250 million.
It is being sold by Germany-based SachsenFonds, which acquired the building's leasehold in 2006.
The Liberman family's JGL Investments owns the freehold of the property previously known as KPMG House, but in 2013 KPMG agreed to shift 30,000 square metre into Lang Walker’s Collins Square development in Docklands..
<div>
The 99-year leasehold expires in 2105 for the landmark site built in the 1930s, with SachsenFonds paying $258 million for the control of the leasehold in 2006.
</div>
Indonesia’s Halim Group is marketing a $40 million ­heritage office building at 425 Collins Street.
The 5,350 square metre building, formally known as AMP House, is located at the corner of Market Street
The building is being offered for sale through CBRE with an annual passing income of circa $2 million, derived from a range of tenants, including law firm Wisewould Mahony. 
On a fully leased basis the property is forecast to generate annual income of $2.3 million.
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Collins Street T&G Building for sale

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The Aspen Parks Property Fund (APPF) has bought the Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park on the New South Wales north coast.
It was bought for $16.5 million on a 10% yield.
It is a mixed-use property which includes 83 permanent residential sites and 144 short stay sites.
The 5.44 hectare property is about 500 metres from the beach and is part freehold and part leasehold.
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Ballina Lakeside Holiday Park sells for $16.5 million

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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
North Queensland hotel, the Pullman Cairns International, has been sold for $75.08 million. 
Robert Magid's TMG Developments and its partner, the Singapore-based Ascendas Hospitality Trust, sold the hotel to the Melbourne-based Shakespeare Property Group, which is headed by private investor Yong Quek.
The landmark Accor-managed 321 room property overlooks Cairns Harbour.
It hosted the G20 finance ministers and Central Bank governors last year.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">The sale includes the adjoining Village Lane Retail Centre and an underground commercial car park.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
<h2>The sale equates to a rate of $223,000 a key and a yield of around 8%.
</h2>
<h2>Magid told the Australian Financial Review the sale gave the opportunity both build a "bit of a war chest" and to focus on his three "strongly trading" boutique properties – the Pier One Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Rocks Hotel and, in Melbourne, the Hotel Lindrum.</h2>
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Pullman Cairns sold by Robert Magid

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One of Adelaide's oldest family companies, J &amp; AG Johnston, has listed the Galbraith vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.
<a href="https://www.johnston-oakbank.com.au/#!vineyards/cllq" target="_blank">The vineyard</a> has been listed through winebrokers Gaetjens Langley.
The 23 hectare vineyard overlooks the town of Oakbank and the local racecourse.
It was established in 1993.
<a href="https://webhost-18.adam.com.au/~johnston/about_history.php" target="_blank">William and Janet Johnston</a> migrated from Campbelltown, Scotland to South Australia in 1839, when the British colony was two years old. 
They arrived with their daughter and five of six sons and, like many early settlers, became farmers.
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Adelaide Hills vineyard Galbraith listed 

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WA residential and commercial property investors are budgeted to pay an extra $826 million in property taxes over the next four years.
It follows State Treasurer Mike Nahan introducing the state's second consecutive land tax increases in last week’s State Budget.
This year’s move follows a 10% increase in land tax rates in last year's budget.
Commercial property and residential investors face a $300 flat tax for land with an unimproved value of between $300,000 and $420,000, and the raising of land tax rates on most properties valued above those levels.
Currently investment property is taxed at a rate of 0.11% of its value above $300,000, at 0.58% above $1 million and at 1.51% above $2.2 million.
Property with an unimproved value of less than $300,000 will remain free from land tax.
Only the top rate of the current land tax scale, the 2.67% levied on the value of land above $11 million remains unchanged in the State Budget.
The State Government now expects to collect $939 million in land tax with next financial year, it is expected to be 26% higher.
Mr Nahan says WA’s land tax regime remained “competitive” with other states citing a landholding with an unimproved value of $1 million being levied $1750 in land tax next year, up from $770 currently.
That compares to $9188 in NSW, $2975 in Victoria and $4500 in Queensland, he said.
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Land tax hike for WA property investors

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Confidence in the commercial property industry is at a four-year high, especially in NSW and Victoria.
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The latest quarterly survey of the property industry by NAB shows confidence has risen nationally, although it is down in the resources-based economies of Queensland and Western Australia.
“The lift in sentiment was most notable in CBD hotels after a surprising fall in (the December quarter), but also improved in office and industrial markets. Sentiment was a touch weaker in retail, but is still higher than the broader market average,” said NAB chief economist Alan Oster.
Confidence in the office markets was high in NSW and Victoria but lower in the mining states.
Growth in retail turnover has revised expectations to the upside, the survey noted.
“In contrast, expectations in industrial markets have weakened, mirroring a pullback in business confidence also seen in mining and manufacturing,” Mr Oster said
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Commercial property confidence rises in latest quarter: NAB 

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Savills have listed a Melbourne CBD development site with a permit for a twin tower project incorporating 400 apartments.
It is likely to fetch more than $20 million. The 212-222 La Trobe Street property, comprising a large 942 square metre site zoned Capital City 1 with five street frontages, is located directly opposite Melbourne Central shopping centre. The recently approved permit would see the construction of connecting Jackson Clements Burrows-designed towers of 39 and 54 levels on the site which stretches through to a second frontage on Little La Trobe Street. According to Savills agent Nick Peden and Clinton Baxter, the property offers the single best redevelopment opportunity to be offered to the Melbourne market this year.
The property, which has been privately owned for 31 years.
Expressions of interest close June 10.
Last year $14.1 million was paid for the Duke of Kent hotel with the Singaporean developer then quietly acquiring the neighbouring office building and applied to replace both sites with a 67-level apartment tower.
Fig Tree Holdings' super-thin proposal, which aims to fit 370 flats on a 663-square-metre site, needs approval from Planning Minister Richard Wynne before proceeding at 293-303 La Trobe Street.
On 502 square metres at 293-299 La Trobe Street, the hotel was held as an investment by the Yankos​ family for 50 years.
<div>The Coptic Orthodox Church is developing a 43-level, 307-unit apartment building, Eporo Tower, on an 831-square-metre La Trobe Street block.</div>
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La Trobe Street high-rise development opportunities

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The Australian Prudential and Regulatory Authority will embark on further enforcement of banks to cut back on current lending levels of property investor loans.
Available funds will be cut back "by at least a third" within weeks, John Symond, the founder and chairman of Aussie Home Loans believes.
"Banks are going to be knocking back a lot of investor applications," he told Ross Greenwood on the 2GB Money News program last night.
It will be because there will be less money available for loans under this macro prudential reform.
"If you are in the process of looking to borrow get in now because rules are going to come in sooner than later, so it going to make it a lot harder to find a lender on an investment property," he said.
The heat of the lending really centres on Sydney and Melbourne and the inner suburbs, he noted.
"At least half of Australia that hasn't seen significant house price rises."
The renewed APRA tightening comes as it appears investor borrowings may already be trending down.
<div id="articlebody">Activity across CoreLogic RP Data’s mortgage platforms during April - a difficult month from which to draw too many observations given Easter and Anzac Day - seemed to pause with average working day volumes dropping three per cent over the March numbers, although up 13 per cent over the corresponding month in 2014.  Melbourne stands out in terms of softness in the month of April, Craig MacKenzie of CoreLogic RP Data told the BankingDay website.</div>
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<div id="articlebody">According to the Bloomberg Business news, the Australian banking regulator expects to see slower growth in investor mortgages that have helped drive a housing boom in Sydney and Melbourne and warned it will continue to monitor lending standards.</div>
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Banks have had long enough to “revise their ambitions” and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority will “be watching carefully to see a moderation in growth in investor lending in the second half of the year,” APRA chair Wayne Byres said in a speech last week. The regulator has agreed plans with banks and will be “monitoring closely to see that they kick into effect,” he said.
“Given the importance of housing-related lending, it should not be surprising that APRA supervisors are increasingly vigilant on the risks this lending presents,” Byres said.
“Put simply, if all our eggs are increasingly being placed in one basket, we need to make sure the basket isn’t dropped.”
The Australian Prudential and Regulatory Authority in December wrote to all deposit-taking institutions setting out "sound lending standards" including a benchmark for the 10% maximum growth of residential investment mortgages.
Wayne Byres told a Senate committee the move was made "against a backdrop of historically low interest rates, high household debt, subdued income growth and rising unemployment, significant house-price growth, and strong competitive pressures."
The focus was on high loan-to-value, and high loan-to-income, lending, the growth in investor lending and serviceability.
"Our objective is not to target a particular level of house prices," Mr Byres said.
"That is not a task that is within our mandate. Our goal is more modest – to make sure that, however the housing market evolves, housing finance remains sensibly founded on sound lending standards."
Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens says his bank is working with other regulators to assess and contain risks that may arise from the housing market.
Recently addressing the Housing of Representative standing committee on economics, Glenn Stevens said it involved more intense scrutiny of investor loan portfolios growing at over 10 per cent per year, with the possibility, ultimately, of additional capital being required if APRA deems it necessary.
ASIC has begun a review of interest-only lending in the context of consumer protection legislation.
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Tougher APRA set to restrict property investor lending by at least a third: John Symond

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GUEST OBSERVER
The Inner Brisbane Apartment (IBA) market has experienced a surge in demand for off the plan apartments since 2013/14, which will result in record new apartment supply in 2014/15, with completions set to escalate further in 2015/16 and 2016/17.
In particular, development in Inner Brisbane has been dominated by large scale and high rise development in the following locations (shown on map):
<ul>
<li>CBD/Spring Hill </li>
<li>Inner East </li>
<li>Inner North </li>
<li>West End </li>
<li>Toowong </li>
<li>Woolloongabba </li>
<li>Hamilton </li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/2015/05/20/Screen%20Shot%202015-05-20%20at%2010.04.08%20AM.png" alt=""> 
Rental Vacancy Rates
Vacancy rates in Inner Brisbane remained below the balanced market rate of 3% from June 2004 through to June 2013, except at June 2009, when a rapid reduction in standard variable rates and the introduction of boosted incentives to first home buyers during 2008/09 encouraged existing and potential tenants to become owner occupiers.
Unlike Middle and Outer Brisbane, vacancy rates inInner Brisbane have increased since 2013/14, reaching 3.8% at December 2014. While some of thisrise may reflect the rate of new stock coming to the market and the time required to fill the stock, the steady rise in vacancy rates through 2014 nevertheless suggests that an excess of rental stock is emerging within Inner Brisbane.
<img src="/images/2015/05/20/vacancy%20rates.png" alt="">
Rents, Prices and Yields
Table 2 outlines the weighted median two bedroom (the most common type of unit) rent and weighted median unit price of the IBA area post codes, along with an indicative yield representing the rent divided by the price.
Unit rental yields increased to a peak of 5.52% at June 2012, and remained at a similar high level over the following year. Combined with the low interest rate environment, investor demand strengthened and drove solid unit price growth of 6.8% in 2013/14.
Relatively low borrowing costs also reduced cash outflows for investors and diminished the necessity for landlords to increase asking rents, in particular with subsequent attractive affordability encouraging tenant demand to shift to owner occupation. As a result, rental growth remained below 1% in 2013/14 and unit yields eased to 5.15% at June 2014.
Rising vacancy rates will limit rental growth in 2014/15 to an estimated 1.7%. Moreover, momentum in unit prices is expected to come to a halt, as the record level of apartment completions in 2014/15 creates increased competition from new apartments and has a negative impacted prices. The indicative yield for a two bedroom apartment in the IBA area will subsequently improve to 5.25% at June 2015.
<img src="/images/2015/05/20/table%202.png" alt="">
SUPPLY PIPELINE
Apartment demand within the IBA area has escalated from 2013, attributed to improving economic conditions, attractive yields and low interest rates. The subsequent boost to off–the–plan sales allowed a greater number of projects to reach sufficient pre–commitment levels to obtain finance and begin construction. As a result, the IBA area experienced relatively high completions in 2013/14, and new supply will reach a record level in 2014/15, at approximately 2,880 apartments.
Demand for Inner City apartments from investors currently shows little signs of abating despite the potential impact on rents and prices of further sizeable new additions to the rental stock across Inner Brisbane. Relatively less expensive apartment prices, and more attractive rental yields compared to their respective home markets, is likely to lead to heightened demand for Inner Brisbane apartments from Sydney and Melbourne investors.
Moreover, this should also see overseas investors increasingly favour the Inner Brisbane apartment market over Sydney and Melbourne, with demand from these investors also being underpinned by low borrowing costs, buoyant economic conditions locally in their home country, a preference to invest in a more transparent and stable political environment, and recent falls in the Australian dollar making apartment prices more attractive.
Consequently, IBA area completions are on track to surpass their record level in 2014/15, increasing to 3,610 apartments in 2015/16 and peaking at 4,040 apartments in 2016/17.
An estimated 81% of apartments expected to be completed in 2015/16 and 2016/17 are in buildings currently under construction, with the remainder currently pre-selling and likely to shortly achieve a sufficient level of pre–sales to begin construction.
Within the IBA area precincts, during the three years to 2016/17:
The Inner North precinct will be the main source of new apartments in the IBA area, accounting for 43% of total new apartment supply, followed by the West End precinct with a 26% share.
Toowong precinct is projected to account for 13% of new apartment supply in the IBA area, with a further 7% occurring in the Hamilton precinct and 6% in the Inner East precinct.
Apartment completions as a proportion of the total IBA area is expected to be minimal in the Woolloongabba (3%) and CBD/Spring Hill (2%) precincts.
<img src="/images/2015/05/20/chart%207.png" alt="">
 
 Angie Zigomanis is Senior Manager of Residential Property for BIS Shrapnel. You can contact Angie <a href="https://www.bis.com.au/bis_shrapnel_blog" target="_blank">here</a>.
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