For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=1979]

Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Canberra

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Canberra was the weekend's strongest auction capital cities with 75.6% of listings finding buyers.
Brisbane was the weekend weakest capital city sitting at around 44%, according to CoreLogic.
Geelong was the strongest region with a 77.8% auction clearance rate.
Canberra's prices ranged from $385,000 for a two bedroom villa at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-melba-126968946" target="_blank">44 Goldner Circuit, Melba</a> (pictured above) to $2.12 million for a three bedroom home at 58 Leichhardt Street, Griffith.
 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/4/capital%20city%20auction%20statistics%20preliminary.png" alt="" width="568" height="271">
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/4/Sydney%20sub%20regions.png" alt="" width="561" height="832">
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Canberra emerges as summer's strongest capital city property market

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An out of tune estate agent in Canberra has used a rather unusual marketing ploy to advertise one of his recent listings.
Ben Lewis is no Rock n' Roll Star but is an agent at LJ Hooker Kaleen.
He has tried his hand at the former and <a href="https://kaleen.ljhooker.com.au/house-in-ngunnawal-act-2913-au-1se4f9q#.Wh7i4vll-00" target="_blank">used the tune</a> of Oasis' world hit Wonderwall to describe the house.
He opens with: "Today is gonna be the day that I'm gonna show this home to you. By now, you should have some how realised that its right for you." 
The home in Ngunnawal, a suburb in the district of Gungahlin in Canberra, is also advertised on its listing as 'Wonderwall in Ngunnawal'.
Again with a nod to the famous Manchester band, the home was described as being located in "Ngunnawal's oasis".
The three bedroom home has two living areas, a garage and a backyard.
Property Observer is not sure if the trend of appropriating Oasis tunes to spruik houses will catch on All Around the World, if it will Live Forever or simply Slide Away. 
Some Might Say  to Ben: Hey Now, we'll Roll With It. 
Don't Look Back in Anger, we appreciate the effort.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Off-key marketing for ACT home sees agent singing Oasis' Wonderwall to home features

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Canberra houses are selling in just 23 days, according to recent data from CoreLogic. 
It is the fastest selling capital city.
Meanwhile, Hobart lurks just behind with an average 24 days on market, with Melbourne (28 days) and Sydney (29 days) not far behind. 
Darwin is the slowest for both its private treaty house listings and apartment listings at 76 and 114 days respectively. 
<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/2017/11/29/Capital%20city%20time%20on%20market.jpg" alt="">
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Canberra the fastest selling capital for houses: CoreLogic

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A growing appetite for Canberra’s office market has prompted the Willemsen Group to list Belconnen’s Northpoint Plaza for sale.
The family group has owned the office investment property since it was developed in 1987.
The listing comes as investors are turning their sights to Canberra’s secondary office market, with a series of transactions completed or in the offing in the lead up to 2018.
The trend is being driven by the anticipation of strong rental growth and a pickup in tenant demand in the short to medium term. 
Canberra Times added that the building's agent suggested a buyer could use the block for apartments or a hotel, leaving the future for its tenants unclear. 
Centrelink leases about 16 per cent of the building, which also houses Quest Training, Sonic Healthcare, Marist Youth Care, medical and other offices. 
CBRE Research highlights that secondary grade net effective rents recorded a 6% annual increase in the period to Q3 2017. Meanwhile, white collar employment grew 3.1% over the year to March 2017, with the business services sector adding 5,300 employees during that time-frame.
The Belconnen listing is being handled by CBRE’s Michael Heather.
“Northpoint Plaza presents a compelling value-add opportunity that will be acquired at below replacement cost, yet is 75% occupied and provides substantial passing income,” Heather said, adding that there was also the opportunity to increase the returns through a refurbishment and releasing strategy.
“Given its strategic location in the Belconnen Town Centre opposite Westfield Belconnen, the site would also suit future residential redevelopment or conversion to hotel or serviced apartments to capitalise on its park frontage and upper level lake views.”
Recent transactions of value-add office assets include 39 Brisbane Avenue, Barton, which was purchased by boutique fund manager Quintessential Equity for $16.5 million. Another Barton property at 42 Macquarie Street is currently in due diligence with a Sydney-based investment group.
Heather noted that Belconnen was also on investors’ radars as one of the better performing secondary office markets in the ACT.
Belconnen’s secondary vacancy rate is currently 5%, comparing favourably to Tuggeranong (23%), Woden (21%) and Civic (15%).
 
 
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Office investment property in Canberra’s Belconnen listed

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Adelaide's landmark 1880 water tower offering certainly stood out among the weekend auctions.
The seven level Semaphore property had been been listed for sale by the Stibr family for the first time in four decades.
Set 14 kilometres north west of Adelaide, the water tower home is currently three bedrooms and two separate self-contained units.
The expansive top floor takes in 360 degree views over the whole of the city, beach and hills.
It sold for $1.2 million at weekend auction. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-semaphore-126567366" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The tower</a> (picture above) was knocked down to a Sydney insurance broker, Daniel Johnson and wife, Virginia who haven’t made any firm decision on what they will do with the property.
“We want to make it the amazing place it could be,’’ Mr Johnson said.
"It could be an art gallery with a restaurant. It could be accommodation," they told the Adelaide Advertiser.
Adelaide had a 65 percent success rate across its 126 auctions, virtually unchanged from the prior weekend's 64.1 percent across 129 auctions, and pretty much the same as this time last year.
But with the weakening in Sydney and to a lesser extent in Melbourne, Adelaide's weekend success rate sat third among the capitals, behind Canberra's 72.9 percent success rate with Melbourne in second place with 71.4 percent of its auctions finding buyers.
Adelaide had the nation's cheapest sale when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-hackham-126682466" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">29 Grenache Road, Hackham</a> sold for $239,000.
The 1970s sandstone brick house was offered with $225,000 price guidance having last traded in 2000 at $85,000. It had been listed as a $295 a week rental earlier this year.
In Canberra, 125 auctions were held with prices ranging from $348,000 at Bruce to $1.73 million at Red Hill.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-act-bruce-126777590" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The low rise two bedroom Bruce apartment</a> was set in The Hub complex.
The Red Hill sale was a four bedroom renovated cottage on 1155 sqm at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-red+hill-126722730" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">246 La Perouse Street</a> that had traded at $985,000 in original 1960s condition.
There were 2,894 auctions held across the combined capital cities returning a preliminary national auction clearance rate of 66.5 per cent.
Clearance rates have continued to track below 70 per cent since June the year, CoreLogic's auction analyst Kevin Brogan noted.
Brisbane, with only 45.7 per cent of auctions cleared, was the weakest capital city. Its sale ranged between $295,000 at Woody Point and $1.1 million at Kedron.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-woody+point-126649278" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The two bedroom 1960s Woody Point offering</a>, set 500 metres from the beach in the Redcliffe district, had sold at $200,000 in 2013.
The Kedron sale was a 2015-built five bedroom Amelia Lee-designed home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-kedron-126687578" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">18 Thirteenth Avenue</a>.
Melbourne's 71.4 per cent success rate was recorded across 1,299 auctions this week, down from last week’s final clearance rate of 74.3 per cent across just 318 auctions.
Melbourne's strongest clearance rate was recorded across the West region with an 82.2 per cent success rate across 189 auctions.
Melbourne had the nation's top sale when $6.4 million was paid for a Toorak offering through RT Edgar.
The likely knock-down at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-126537138" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">22 Lansell Road</a> had $5.5 million to $6 million pre-auction price guidance.
It last sold at $160,000 in 1979 on its 600 sqm corner block.
Sydney returned a preliminary auction clearance rate of 64.4 per cent this week, rising from last week’s revised final 59.8 per cent result, while one year ago 81.4 per cent of Sydney homes taken to auction were successful.
Auction volumes decreased week-on-week, with 1,089 auctions held this week, down from the 1,232 held last week.
The Ryde sub-region of Sydney recorded the highest preliminary clearance rate this week, with 88.6 per cent of the 49 auctions held reporting as sold.
Sydney's cheapest sale was a one bedroom, one bathroom duplex villa at Bexley when $411,000 was paid for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-villa-nsw-bexley-126680462" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2/15 Caledonian Street</a>. There had been $400,000 to $440,000 price guidance.  Offered previously as a $370 a week rental, it had traded in 2013 at $305,000.
It's LJ Hooker agent Vesna Apoleska marketed it as "the best buy in town."
Perth’s clearance rate of 61.9 per cent across 39 auctions was amongst its highest recorded this year. Over the same week last year, the Perth clearance rate was a lower 37.5 per cent, and 43 auctions were held.
Perth's top notified result was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-victoria+park-126677750" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">$1 million at Victoria Park</a> when a four bedroom renovated house sold through Boston &amp; Co.
The late 1920s home had last sold at $965,000 in 2009.
"30 Mackie Street taps into the easy Western Australian way of life with seamless indoor outdoor living," the marketing advised.
"It's a healthy walk to the exciting new Perth Stadium," it also suggested.
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Canberra towers over other capitals with late spring auction success rate

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Canberra’s top weekend auction sale was a Forrest house designed in 1927 by Oakley &amp; Parkes, who had previously designed The Lodge.
The home (above) on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-forrest-126638310" target="_blank">its 1500 sqm Barkly Crescent block</a> last sold in 1997 at $525,000.
Luton Properties sold another Oakley &amp; Parkes designed home in Forrest earlier this year.
Owned by the same family for more than 40 years, the residence was marketed as of 1925 origin.
"A traditional Oakley and Parkes design; privately hedged on this superb 2006 sqm came with high ceilings, cornices and large portrait windows.," the marketing advised.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-forrest-125703758" target="_blank">Dominion Circuit hom</a>e fetched $2.25 million (below).
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The Lodge, a fine example of the Inter-War Georgian Revival style of architecture, was designed by architects Oakley and Parkes, who played a key role in the design of Canberra's permanent housing in its initial phase.
Architects suggest The Lodge is the Canberra residence which demonstrates best their architectural expertise. 
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The designers of The Lodge were Melbourne architects, Percy Oakley and Stanley Parkes.
 Work was begun on the residence in 1926, before the Federal Parliament moved to Canberra from Melbourne. 
The design was illustrated in the 7 June 1926 issue of Australian Home Beautiful after it was built by James G. Taylor of Glebe, NSW, at a total cost of £28,319, which included furnishings, decoration and landscaping, with a tennis court and a croquet lawn. 
Mrs Ruth Lane-Poole supervised the interior decoration of the house and the purchase of fashionable, late 1920s furnishings.
The first occupants were S. M. Bruce and his wife, in May 1927. 
In 1929 his Labor successor, J. M. Scullin refused to live there, declaring that it was "too grand".  
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Oakley & Parkes-designed Forrest home sold

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Canberra's iconic Westridge House in Yarralumla, one of the capital's oldest homes, has been listed for sale.
The property dates back to 1928 when Harold Desbrowe-Annear designed it for Charles Lane-Poole, the founding principal of the Australian Forestry School.
In 1975, federal agency CSIRO became the new tenant of the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-yarralumla-126783138" target="_blank">community-zoned mansion</a> and it was used as the residence for the chief officer.
Westridge House had been in government hands since its construction before it sold for $3.2 million at auction in late 2010.
The buyer was Dr Vincent John Adams Flynn, an heir to the Tattersalls gambling fortune, who died last year.
The expansive two hectare grounds back on to Royal Canberra Golf Course.
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A 50 sqm reception room with antique fireplace, solid timber floors and high ceilings open onto a sandstone terrace.
There's five bedrooms, three bathrooms and two sitting rooms.
Peter Blackshaw Real Estate agent Mario Sanfrancesco is marketing the home for a November 26 auction.
This article was first published in The Weekend Australian property section.
 
  
 
 
 
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Westridge House, one of Canberra's oldest homes, hits the market

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First home buyers, downsizers and families looking to upgrade have all been active in the property market as well as those who are new to Canberra, according to the valuation firm Herron Todd White.
First home buyers have affordable detached housing options in the outer suburbs of Belconnen and Tuggeranong, while Gungahlin provides newer detached housing at more of a premium.
"Alternatively, there are affordable unit options available throughout the Canberra region with new developments being completed in the city and town centres," HTW added.
There is also a large supply of older units close to the city and in the suburbs that would be suitably priced for first home buyers, the report advised.
The strong detached housing market has forced most first home buyers to look to apartments to climb onto the property ladder.
New Canberra residents have been active mainly in the Gungahlin market where they can buy new homes in a newly established suburb.
"Demand has been very strong from these buyers with land selling at a similar rate per square meter to land in established inner suburbs.
"This demographic has also been active in the new apartment market especially dwellings in close proximity to universities and town centres," HTW said.
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Canberra first home buyers have been active: HTW

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The QBE Australian Housing Outlook Report has added weight to other forecasts of a strong market in Canberra next year and beyond.
Its growth forecast for Canberra over the next three years is the highest among the state and territory capital cities.
The Housing Boom and Bust Report by SQM’s Louis Christopher also has a bullish prediction for Canberra. It suggests dwelling values in Canberra will increase by up to 9% in 2018. The only capital cities tipped to do better are Hobart and Melbourne, with Sydney growth waning. 
This follows a strong period for the Canberra market over the past 12 months, although it’s difficult to know exactly how much house prices have increased. 
The latest figures on price growth in Canberra show how difficult it is for consumers to make sense of the price data published in mainstream media. CoreLogic says Canberra house values are up 9% in the past 12 months, but Domain says 10.5% and SQM Research records a rise of 16%. 
In the apartment market, SQM says Canberra is up 7%, CoreLogic says just 3% and Domain reports a small decline in prices. It’s difficult for consumers to get any direction from such conflicting information. 
My assessment - based on all available data including sales volumes, vacancies and rental growth figures - is that the ACT housing market is strong and rising, but the unit market is less bullish, having been through a period of oversupply in the recent past. 
The quarterly surveys of sales by Hotspotting show that the Canberra market has been upwardly-mobile for the past two years and this is now showing up in price growth data for the housing market.
Meanwhile the QBE report, which is fairly cautious and conservative in its overall predictions for the next three years, has Canberra leading on price growth up to 2020.
“With Federal Government employment being the key driver of economic growth, the outlook for Canberra will be closely linked with public sector employment growth,” it says. “Conditions in the house market are expected to remain largely positive, driven by population growth, an under-supply of houses and strong employment prospects. 
“The median house price in Canberra is forecast to increase a cumulative 16% over the forecast period to $750,000 at June 2020. Canberra is forecast to have the strongest growing market of all the cities over this period.”
By way of background, it says: “Underlying demand for dwellings has been largely supported by population growth. The net interstate outflow has been shrinking over the past four years, with the 2016-17 period resulting in an estimated net inflow of 800 persons. The net overseas migration inflow has also increased to an estimated 2,200 over 2016-17 and appears to be largely related to growth in overseas students.
“The Australian Capital Territory unemployment rate is tightening, indicating an improvement in local economic conditions. At March 2017, unemployment was 3.7% compared to 4.5% in December 2015. Improved demand has led to a tighter vacancy rate of 1.3% in June 2017.”
The report’s comments reinforce my viewsabout the fundamental importance to property markets of events in the local economy, rather than national factors such as the level of interest rates.
Investors looking to capitalise on Canberra’s rising market should be focusing their attention in the north.
A regular feature of Hotspotting’s sales activity surveys is that the busiest markets in Canberra are in the northern suburbs. 
Our Spring survey for The Price Predictor Index confirms that, while there are now growth suburbs across the Canberra metropolitan area, the strongest precincts once again are the Belconnen and Gungahlin districts. 
Suburbs with rising markets in the Belconnen District include Florey, Flynn, Holt and Evatt. Buoyant markets in the Gungahlin precinct include Casey, Ngunnawal, Crace and Palmerston. 
The Inner North precinct is also solid, led by good sales activity in Lyneham and Ainslie. 
Overall, as I have often commented, the stand-out characteristic of Canberra is the steadiness of its performance. 
That, plus the low vacancies and the growth numbers now emerging (including with rentals), make the national capital increasingly appealing for investors. 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">twitter.com/hotspotting</a>
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Canberra forecasts strong next year and beyond: Terry Ryder

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Canberra has seen a steady increase in A-Grade office stock since the move to more environment-friendly buildings started in 2000 and as businesses focus more on lessening their impact on the environment.
This demand for quality space has meant a decline in vacancies and an increase in building refurbishments,  according to Colliers International.
According to PCA data, A-Grade vacancy in Canberra CBD has more than halved in the past 24 months, decreasing from 8% to just 3.2%. 
The Parliamentary Precinct has experienced an even bigger drop over the same period, from 13.1% to just 1%. This is resulting in rental rate increases and a decline in incentives.
A younger generation joining the workforce also means changing needs and is also impacting tenants’ choice of office location and quality.
Michael Ceacis, director of Office Leasing at Colliers International said that with tenants seeking better offices but with limited new supply, there has been a spike in the number of buildings being refurbished. 
“Landlords are looking to attract tenants to older buildings by undertaking extensive building refurbishments. Building upgrades are not limited to modernising their buildings, but focus on improving building amenity, increasing building performance to make tenants more comfortable, lowering tenancy costs and decreasing a building’s environmental footprint.”
“Where this is most evident is in the CBD and Parliamentary Precinct,” he added.
Colliers International data shows that by 2020, Canberra’s CBD will have two new office buildings completed, injecting a total of approximately 30,000 sqm of A-Grade office space into the market. 
“We have no doubt that these new buildings will quickly attract quality tenants seeking to upgrade from lower grade office accommodation,” Michael said.
“We’ve seen a significant drop in A-Grade vacancy over the past couple of years and with limited stock coming to market, we expect this to have greater impact on B-Grade stock levels over the next couple of years.”
PCA data reveals only a slight drop in Canberra vacancy in the past 24 months from 13.4% to 12.8% in the CBD and 15.3% to 12.3% respectively in the Parliamentary Precinct. 
“The trends we’re seeing in the market, combined with our knowledge of stock being refurbished and new buildings being built, we expect to see an increase in overall vacancy in the Canberra market by 2020.” 
According to Colliers, A-Grade stock will still be in high demand and with vacancies remaining low, tenants will either be forced to stay put or look to occupy higher quality or refurbished B-Grade stock.   
“Majority of vacancy will be in B-Grade or lower, and this is partly due to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection vacating space buildings in the CBD,” he said.
The Parliamentary Precinct A-Grade vacancy is expected to tighten even further and the impact on overall vacancy in the precinct could reach as low as 5%, says Colliers.
“The outlook for the Belconnen Town Centre is not expected to change with larger tenants likely to remain. Conversely, some work needs to be done to make Woden and Tuggeranong more attractive to tenants which will benefit businesses located in those town centres,” said Michael.
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