<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Canberra

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EXPERT OBSERVER
This week I’m speaking at a seminar for real estate consumers in Canberra to talk about opportunities in the national capital.
I’ve just completed a suburb-by-suburb analysis on Canberra for the Price Predictor Index and have found that this market is strengthening. 
I’ve examined price data since the start of this century and I note that while Canberra is only a short distance from Sydney, usually its property market is doing something quite different to Sydney’s.
Canberra didn’t follow Sydney into a major property boom and now that Sydney is falling, Canberra is steadily on the rise. This, my research tells me, is situation normal.
Right now, Canberra has more growth markets than at any time since Hotspotting began its quarterly location-by-location surveys four years ago. The norm now in Canberra is suburbs where median prices have grown by more than 5% in the past 12 months, while only a handful have falling prices.
In this latest survey, I’ve have identified 26 suburbs where demand is rising, as well as 37 others where demand is steady and consistent. Unlike Sydney, the Canberra market has no suburbs classified as declining markets or as danger markets.
It is undoubtedly one of the steadiest markets in the nation. Indeed, I regard Canberra as the strongest real estate economy in capital city Australia. 
The ACT is consistently ranked No.3 by CommSec in its quarterly State of the States report, which means that as an economy it ranks ahead of all states/territories except Victoria and NSW. It ranks first in several areas, including dwelling construction and housing finance. 
The latest ABS data shows the ACT ranks first in the nation on population (jointly with Victoria), rising 2.2% in FY2018. Vacancies are around 0.9% (only Hobart has lower vacancies among the capital cities), rents are rising faster than anywhere else and there is evidence of solid price growth. Many suburbs have recorded double-digit growth in their median house prices in the past 12 months and others have grown 7-8-9%.
Some of the recent forecasts from credible analysts suggest Canberra will lead the capital cities on property price growth. Moody’s Analytics, for example, is predicting solid price growth for Canberra this year and in 2020, both for houses and for apartments.
The results of our Autumn 2019 survey support that optimism. Since the start of 2015, demand has been trending upwards in Canberra. It hasn’t been a dramatic rise but over four years the graph depicting demand in the market has trended north – to the point where there is now a record number of suburbs with rising sales activity.
And the price data supports that. Our suburb-by-suburb analysis has identified 31 suburbs where median prices have risen by at least 5% in the past 12 months, and 22 others where prices are growing but by less than 5%. But there are only six suburbs where median prices have fallen by more than 5%.
There are 13 suburbs which have recorded double-digit growth in their median prices and these market leaders are spread across the Canberra metro area. 
But the Inner North precinct is the market leader on price growth. The median house price for Ainslie is up 34%, the median unit price for Watson has risen 30%, the unit median for Dickson is up 21%, while the median house price for O’Connor is up 20%.
The upper end of the Canberra market is going well. Markets with double-digit price growth in the past 12 months include Ainslie (up 34%), Dickson (up 10%), Garran (up 13%), Lyons (up 10%) and O’Connor (up 20%) – all suburbs with median house prices above $850,000. Suburbs in that market with price rises between 5% and 10% include Curtin, Deakin, Hughes, Narrabunda and Nicholls. 
In terms of sales activity, strong markets are found right across the ACT. As we often find, the strongest demand is in the northern suburbs, with Belconnen the leading district with six growth suburbs, followed closely by nearby Gungahlin which has five suburbs with rising demand.
 
 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Canberra the strongest real estate economy in capital city Australia: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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The Mantra MacArthur hotel and adjacent midtown parking station situated on Northbourne Avenue in Canberra has been listed for sale.
The Mantra MacArthur is one of Canberra's newest accommodation offerings, providing 176 guest rooms with a restaurant and bar, conference, gym, retail tenancies and 62 underground car parking spaces.
Located adjacent to the new MacArthur light rail stop, the hotel is currently leased to Mantra Group, a subsidiary of AccorHotels, providing a secure income stream, with opportunity for trading upside through additional turnover rent.
The Canberra accommodation market has seen growth in both occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) over the previous four years, with full year revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth of over 4% in 2018 compared to 2017, according to the listing agents, JJL Hotels &amp; Hospitality Group and Savills Hotels.
"With excellent real estate fundamentals, certainty of income and several value-add opportunities, the sale of the Mantra MacArthur and Midtown Parking Station presents a coveted investment opportunity in one of Australia's best performing markets," said Andrew Langsford, Vice President of JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group.
"Canberra's outlook for continued economic growth, together with the ability to acquire an asset with diversified income streams in a strategic location amongst Canberra's best demand drivers will attract stong interest from both domestic and international investors," said Michael Simpson, Managing Director of Savills Hotels.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mantra MacArthur hotel in Canberra for sale

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Canberra's house and unit market continue to operate at different wavelengths as house prices shifted slightly higher over the quarter and unit prices recorded the steepest annual fall in more than two decades, according to Domain's latest House Price Report.
The report found, heightened development has weighed heavily on unit prices.
Canberra house prices grew 0.1% over the quarter and held flat over the year at $738,933.
Canberra unit prices fell 3.6% over the quarter and 6.1% over the year to $412,718.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/1/1/Strip%20ad%20keep%20up%20in%202019.jpg" alt=""></a>
Domain Senior Research Analyst, Dr Nicola Powell said: “Canberra continues to defy the national downward trend, with house prices nudging marginally higher over the December quarter. Canberra is the third strongest Australian capital city, behind Hobart and Adelaide. Steam has slowly dissipated from the nation’s capital throughout 2018, the year closed with flat annual house price growth. Canberra, like all other cities, is being restricted by credit flows, although to a lesser extent than Sydney and Melbourne.
“However, new stamp duty exemptions to come into play in the second half of the year will likely increase demand from first-home buyers in the territory.
“Despite a diversifying economy, the public sector still accounts for a large employment base in the nation's capital. It is therefore likely that local consumer confidence will be dampened in the lead up to the federal election, with buyers and sellers holding tight.
“The prospect of an uncertain political landscape looming, and particularly if a change in government ensues, the demand for housing could be impacted in the short-term. However, house prices are unlikely to go backwards given the ongoing controlled supply of residential land, positive economic outlook and predicted population growth,” she concluded.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/23/Domain%20Q4%20Can.jpeg" alt="">
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Canberra unit prices record the steepest annual fall in more than 20 years: Domain

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For the first time in 11 years the cost of renting a house in Canberra is now higher than Sydney, according to the latest data from Domain.
The difference in weekly house rents between Canberra and Sydney has jumped to $20.
Canberra house rents increased 1.8 per cent over the quarter and 3.7 per cent over the year to $560 per week, while rental yields improved 1.4 per cent over the quarter and 0.6 per cent over the year to 4.36 per cent. 
Unit rents increased 3.3 per cent over the quarter and 8.1 per cent over the year to $465 per week.
Rental yields also improved 1.3 per cent over the quarter and 6.9 per cent over the year to 6.02 per cent. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
Domain Senior Research Analyst, Dr Nicola Powell said, “the nation's capital provided the second strongest annual growth of all the capital cities, although the pace has eased from the double-digit growth recorded mid-year. Unit rental prices have not been hit by the record levels of new development, experiencing the strongest annual growth the city has seen in almost two years.
“House rental listings have been shrinking for three years and unit listings have declined for just over a year on an annual basis. This has resulted in a five-year low of advertised rentals for a December quarter, a concerning scenario given we’ve now entered the peak rental period."
“A number of factors have contributed to Canberra’s rental boiling point. New residents continue to be lured from interstate and overseas by greater job prospects and the city’s growing and reputable university sector, while, transient contract workers are attracted by the major infrastructure projects underway. The high-income earning workforce has also helped to drive rents higher, making it increasingly unaffordable for lower income households.
"Investors are being slugged with higher rates and land taxes, and it is likely landlords are passing on the additional costs to tenants, or opting for high yielding short-term leases in order to recover costs. Rental yields may appear to be the highest in the nation, however, landlords are faced with higher holding costs compared to other jurisdictions,” she concluded.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/1/10/Domain%20Rent%20Can.JPG" alt="">
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Canberra now the most expensive capital city to rent a house: Domain

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Canberra is set to see its record broken with Woodleigh, the vast garden estate in the Old Red Hill heritage precinct on Canberra's Golden Mile.
It's on the pricey Mugga Way, Canberra's most sought after street. The only two homes to clear $7 million are on the same strip.
Berkely Residential agent Bill Lyristakis is marketing the home.
Woodleigh was previously a record setter when it sold for $2 million in 2000, topping the previous $1.79 million high.
It was sold by Gordon and Doreen Smith, the owners of Discount Tyre Service, to the current vendors, economist Clive Rodger and wife Lynlea.
Woodleigh has hosted the Open Gardens scheme and a number of musical events have been held on the sweeping front lawns of the 7,965 square metre grounds.
Built in the 1980s, the two storey home with over 500 square metres of floor space has four bedrooms, a games room and an underground cellar and home office.
In the gardens there's a 13 metre heated salt-water swimming pool and cabana, international sized floodlit tennis court and adjacent barbecue area and a koi pond.
This article was first published in the Weekend Australian.
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

 Woodleigh at Old Red Hill listed with record price hopes

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Construction of new dwellings in established areas in the ACT has been very active over the last one to three years, owing heavily to the Mr. Fluffy buyback scheme, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The report suggests that the scheme has forced many properties to be demolished, and as a result the land is resold on the market.
"The vacant blocks are incentivised by having increased development potential, where planning will allow multiple dwellings that can be unit titled and sold individually," the valuer said.
The fluffy vacant lands are being purchased by a mix of developers, investors and owner- occupiers who are looking to build.
Most developers are purchasing the land to utilise the increased development potential and constructing two dwellings on the blocks.
There are also multiple owner-occupiers who are purchasing the blocks to build single owner-occupied dwellings.
Most of these sales are in the older established areas of Canberra constructed between 1960 and 1980, such as Belconnen, Woden Valley, Tuggeranong, Inner North and Inner South.
"If a prospective purchaser were to buy one of these blocks, they could expect to pay between $350,000 and $1.5 million, depending on the location and specifications of the block," HTW said.
"If a prospective purchaser were to purchase an established, unrenovated dwelling in a similar area, they could expect to pay between $450,000 and $1.6 million."
Renovations are also common within these older established areas due to ageing improvements (kitchens and bathrooms) and larger blocks which provide the opportunity for property extensions.
A renovated three bedroom house in Nicholls has been sold for $615,000 (pictured above).
The home situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-nicholls-129467038" target="_blank">9/123 Kelleway Avenue</a> comes with three bedrooms, spacious lounge and dining area, and rear yard.
It situated close to the Gold Creek Country Club with easy access to the relaxing walking tracks and close to local schools, public transport and playing fields.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/11/1/ainsilie%20.jpg" alt=""> 
Another three bedroom Ainslie house has been sold for $1.385 million (pictured above).
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-ainslie-129504650" target="_blank">5 Fisher Street</a>, the extensively renovated home comprises of three bedrooms, open plan living/dining, marble-finished kitchen and large timber deck.
It is close to schools, parkland, shopping and transport.
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Canberra sees active property renovating success: HTW

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Penthouses in the new Cirrus development in Canberra’s Belconnen have sold out.
There will be eight penthouses at the 167 Emu Bank project and they will range from 200 to 300 square metres.
The project is expected to be completed in mid-2020.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/10/22/Cirrus-Penthouse-Terrace.jpg" alt="">
Colliers International Project Marketing Executive, Grace Wang said that the penthouses benefited from north facing views, outdoor terraces, spa-like bathrooms and a town centre location.
 “It has been painstakingly designed so every apartment faces north, which in our city is the perfect orientation for sunlight and warmth, and looks out toward Lake Ginninderra,” Wang said.
“Each apartment has been designed with attention to detail, such as custom joinery, and share beautiful public spaces inspired by resort amenities including a pool and gym floor and grand entrance lobbies.
“The quality and thought that has gone into the Cirrus penthouses reflects that of the whole development.
“They have expansive outdoor spaces flowing from the living areas where views of the lake and lush surrounds can be enjoyed, at least three bathrooms and bedrooms, and floor to ceiling windows, all perched atop one of Belconnen’s tallest residential buildings.”
Colliers International Project Marketing Executive, Richard Moses said the project has attracted downsizers from nearby suburbs as well as couples and families.
“Proximity to Emu Bank, lake walking paths, and the popular Belconnen Shopping Centre as well as the fact residents won’t even have to leave the building to access fine restaurants and commercial spaces on the ground floor, all make Cirrus a development to be excited about,” Moses said.
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Penthouses at Cirrus in Canberra's Belconnen sell out

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Canberra’s median weekly house rent held steady at the record high of $550, which was first reached in the June quarter, according to the latest rental report from Domain.
The report found that Canberra remains the most expensive city to rent a house, along with Sydney.
House rents increased by 8.4% over the year, the second highest jump of all capital cities.
Unit rents in Canberra were flat at $450 per week, a record that has been maintained for the entire calendar year.
With an annual increase of 7.1%, Canberra achieved the second highest growth in unit rents of all capital cities year-on-year.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/10/10/canberra.jpg" alt=""> Domain Senior Research Analyst, Dr Nicola Powell noted: "Rental prices may not have risen further over the quarter, but Canberra has experienced one of the strongest annual growth rates of all the capital cities.
"Supply continues to tighten with house rental numbers now at a five year low and unit rental supply hitting a two-year low.
"Rising rates and investor land tax are likely weighing heavily on some investors - this could be driving some to sell, raise asking rents or opt for higher yielding options such as short-term leases.
"Canberra has seen a rise in short-term rental demand, with recent tourism data revealing overnight accommodation has risen in the past year.
"All these factors are placing additional pressure on the rental market."
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Canberra's tightening rental supply leading to rate rises: Domain

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<div>EXPERT OBSERVER</div>
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<div>Despite a record investor boom since 2013 vacancy rates are now falling as investment loans are squeezed harder, with the national rental vacancy rate down from 2.3 per cent to 2.1 per cent over the year to September 2018 according to SQM's latest release. </div>
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<div>In absolute terms, that represents a decrease from 72,955 to 70,172 rentals. </div>
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Every month I'm bombarded with theoretical constructs about how Canberra's land tax experiment won't impact the rental market...and every month the rental vacancy rate falls further, now down from about 2½ per cent to just 0.6 per cent since taxes were initially all but doubled. 
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 I guess the idea was that people in the ACT earn high incomes so homeowners can afford to pay exorbitant taxes, but unfortunately ludicrously high taxes don't discriminate and it's turning out to be a disaster (especially for asset-rich but income-poor homeowners, and now for renters too).  
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<div>The ABS rental CPI index has more lag than my nanna's boiler, but more timely industry asking rents indices are now pointing to double-digit rental price increases for the nation's capital. </div>
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<div>Indeed, SQM Research's asking rents index shows the median asking rent for houses increasing by 31½ per cent over the past three years.</div>
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Plotted below are the capital city vacancy rates reported by SQM Research on a 6mMA basis so that you can see the trends. 
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<div>Click here <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3RxbEjERnck/W8X2yGCInEI/AAAAAAAAsZY/f4GIMl4KzdAZAGf9ItxZ555CwkI0nYt8wCLcBGAs/s1600/SQM1.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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<div class="separator"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3RxbEjERnck/W8X2yGCInEI/AAAAAAAAsZY/f4GIMl4KzdAZAGf9ItxZ555CwkI0nYt8wCLcBGAs/s640/SQM1.jpg" width="640" height="358"></div>
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Ouch.
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Hobart rentals evaporate Hobart has increased in popularity over the past few years, but with banks either dithering or knocking back investor loans the rental stock has now totally evaporated.
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<div>With median asking rents in in the Tasmania capital city already up by 29 per cent over the past 3 years new rental supply should be abounding.</div>
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<div>But instead it has completely crashed to sit close to the lowest level on record for any Australian capital city at just 0.4 per cent. </div>
<div> Asking rents for houses in Hobart were up by more than 6½ per cent over the past quarter alone. </div>
<div>
 With only 108 (!) rental vacancies now remaining - please see the definition of a rental vacancy before emailing me - Hobart rents are now destined to increase by more than 50 per cent through this cycle. Meanwhile kamikaze commentators continue to call for tighter lending criteria for investors and scrapping negative gearing. Before you pile in to Hobart real estate too late in the cycle remember that small markets can be more volatile and building approvals in Hobart are just coming off <a id="LPlnk756867" class="OWAAutoLink" href="http://petewargent.blogspot.com/2018/08/hobart-building-boom" target="_blank">99-month highs</a>.  I suppose a supply shock is one way to get consumer price inflation somewhere closer to the target range, with some forecasters already anticipating another dismal 1¾ per cent CPI print next time around. 
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<div>Adelaide is heading in a similar direction, with the vacancy rate now down to just 1.1 per cent. </div>
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<div>
Brisbane has considerably more breathing space following its preceding record apartment construction boom, with the vacancy rate down far more comfortably from 3½ per cent to 2.9 per cent over the past year.  As an interesting aside, check out how seasonal Melbourne's rental market these days as population flows become more fluid, partly due to more international students.
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<div>Click here <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0PuL9sCcSUw/W8YW5Itzm4I/AAAAAAAAsZw/NyweL3IoJ1sg6G74P5mzonQMXxuV8F6FwCLcBGAs/s1600/MEL.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a> 
<div class="separator"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0PuL9sCcSUw/W8YW5Itzm4I/AAAAAAAAsZw/NyweL3IoJ1sg6G74P5mzonQMXxuV8F6FwCLcBGAs/s640/MEL.jpg" width="640" height="380"></div>
 
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Christmas could be interesting this year. 
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<div>Sydney elevated</div>
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<div>The only major city that's seen a meaningful increase in rental vacancies over the past year is Sydney at 19,469 or 2.8 per cent (largely due to investors that bought off the plan a couple of years ago). </div>
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<div>Unfortunately for these investors that bought new at inflated prices they'll probably be in negative equity as they settle. </div>
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<div>While most of the city doesn't have especially high vacancy rates - for example, the Canterbury-Bankstown region sits only at 2.2 per cent - some parts are experiencing a surge of completions, and thus very high rates of vacancy, including most notably the Hills District.</div>
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<div>Click here <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02AnfdeLLGU/W8X2yCqKNjI/AAAAAAAAsZU/DdtwNEpHYrE30_SiNlu0DAQzbAHF-bGdwCLcBGAs/s1600/SQM2.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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<div class="separator"><img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-02AnfdeLLGU/W8X2yCqKNjI/AAAAAAAAsZU/DdtwNEpHYrE30_SiNlu0DAQzbAHF-bGdwCLcBGAs/s640/SQM2.jpg" width="640" height="372"></div>
 
<div>19,469 sounds like a lot for Sydney vacancies, and it sort of is - arguably about 16,000 would be a rental market in balance - but let's face it, at the present rate of population growth this could turn around into a rental shortage on a dime if investors pull up stumps. The summer months tend to be much busier in Sydney and Melbourne these days, so let's see what happens over the festive period. Finally, the coal price bust and subsequent super-boom has seen the vacancy rate in the Hunter Valley tumble from sky-high levels in 2015 to just 1.3 per cent. There could be an interesting twist in the tail for the coal-mining towns that took such a hit in the aftermath of the resources construction boom. The coking coal price has burned up into the stratosphere at $215/tonne (or about A$300/tonne) which is huge for Queensland. </div>
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<div class="separator">PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.</div>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Canberra and Hobart are turning into rental disaster zones

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Spring fever in the ACT residential housing market is hitting, according to the lastest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report.
The housing market in the ACT is somewhat driven by seasons as the winters are historically harsh. When winter begins, cold temperatures cause buyers to lose inspection motivation and as a result, sellers feel less inclined to list their properties.
The transition from winter to spring always occurs quickly in the ACT, with temperatures going from cold to warm in a short period of time.
"Once spring begins and the weather becomes warmer, buyers are motivated to inspect properties and the cycle picks up. The warm weather and blossoming of plants increases the marketability of properties. Houses generally look more spectacular and inviting to buyers," noted by the valuer. 
The spring cycle is typically short and usually begins in late August and stretches to November/early December. Given the employment profile of the ACT, December and January are quiet in the property market given that many employees choose this as the best time to take time off work, which results in lower market activity.
Overall housing market activity throughout winter 2018 has been steady to strong, which is expected to continue into the spring and summer.
A recent sale was a Forde four bedroom house situated at the base of Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve.
The single level residence at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-forde-129061242" target="_blank"> 99 Blizzard Circuit</a> was sold at $745,000 on September 5 (picture above).
Built in 2012, the house comes with four bedrooms, multiple living areas, kitchen and established gardens.
It is close to Forde local schooling and shops. 
The valuation firm suggests that units in Canberra generally follow a different pattern to the housing market. Units usually don’t have as many marketable features that have an advantage in spring over winter.
The ACT still has an underlying problem with unit supply, so it is hard to judge the market activity increase from winter to spring.
Overall market activity over winter has been on a slight decline owing to the construction of multiple new residential complexes, which is expected to continue into the spring and summer.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/9/6/franklyn%20.jpg" alt="">
A Franklin two bedroom apartment has been recently sold for $401,000 (pictured above).
Situated opposite parkland, the northeast oriented apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-act-franklin-129048134" target="_blank">93/329 Flemington Road</a> comes with two bedrooms, open plan living and meals area, well-designed kitchen and large secure rear courtyard.
Additional features include the reverse cycle split system, family size laundry and linen cupboard to hallway.
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