The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <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> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

China

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Developer Greenland has named its mixed-use development in Sydney's Macquarie Park, ‘nbh at Lachlan’s Line’.
The one-and-a-half hectare site comprises the first two lots to be developed within UrbanGrowth NSW’s nine hectare Lachlan’s Line precinct.
According to Greenland, ‘nbh at Lachlan’s Line’ is an abbreviation of ‘neighbourhood’ and speaks directly to Greenland’s key target audience for the project, Macquarie Park’s growing millennial market.
nbh will comprise almost 900 apartments across six buildings ranging in height from two to 17 storeys, and 6,200 sqm of ground floor retail.
Greenland Australia managing director Sherwood Luo said the contemporary abbreviated name was chosen for its youthful energy.
“Our project is set to appeal to young, savvy first home buyers and investors of the millennial generation due to its sophisticated urban lifestyle offering, extensive shopping and amenity, excellent transport links and its proximity to some of the country’s largest universities and employers,” Luo said.
Designed by acclaimed local architects Bates Smart, nbh will have rooftop courtyard gardens connecting apartments. 
“Greenland, in conjunction with our architects Bates Smart, has looked at some of the best examples around the world of vibrant, mixed-use urban villages,” Luo said.
Greenland expects to launch the first stage of nbh at Lachlan’s Line in June 2016.
nbh will have a supermarket, health club and medical centre as well as a cafes and restaurants.
The development is well connected by train with Sydney CBD, North Sydney and Parramatta.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Greenland names flagship project in Sydney' Lachlan’s Line

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China's state-backed property firm Greenland Group has entered into a joint venture with another Chinese developer Golden Horse for its proposed $1.6 billion residential project in Erskineville's Ashmore precinct in inner Sydney, according to a media report. 
Greenland will take a 60 per cent stake in the project, while Golden Horse, the original purchaser of the $380 million, seven-hectare site in Ashmore, will retain 40 per cent, the Australian Financial Review reported citing industry sources. 
Golden Horse snapped up the site from Goodman Group in 2014, beating other bidders and raising eyebrows for the premium paid on it. It was the largest Chinese real estate acquisition at the time. 
Golden Horse and Greenland will now settle the purchase together at the end of June, after which construction for 1,600 apartments on the site will commence, the report said.  Greenland, Golden Horse and Goodman all declined to comment, said the AFR report.
There was market talk late last year that Golden Horse was searching for a joint venture partner to share the risks of the project and provide much-needed building and development expertise to its construction. 
While Golden Horse is a well-known and established developer in China, it was new to Australia, and Greenland already had a foothold in the Australian property scene. 
Greenland is building Greenland Centre – made up of the five-star Primus Hotel and Sydney's tallest residential tower at 77 levels – as well as apartments in North Sydney, Leichhardt, Macquarie Park and Potts Point. All of which are underway. 
The group recently ended its Greenland Centre apartment building contract with Brookfield Multiplex due to commercial differences but said it would continue to deliver all apartments on time. Primus Hotel has already completed, just before Christmas last year. 
Golden Horse and Greenland will now develop Ashmore precinct together with Greenland in the driver's seat. 
Golden Horse submitted a stage 1 development application last year but it has not been approved. 
Plans indicate there will be several buildings up to eight storeys on the site bordered by Mitchell Road and Ashmore Street. A new supermarket, gym and possible childcare centres are also expected to be part of the project.  
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Chinese developers partner to build 1,600 apartments in Sydney's Erskineville

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As if the negative gearing debate wasn't enough before the election, on July 1, there is another shocker waiting for real estate agents and property owners around Australia trying to transact in property exceeding $2 million.
According to a new ATO rule that comes into effect July 1, all Australian sellers of $2 million-plus properties will be classified as overseas investors unless they get a special tax clearance. That means that all buyers of $2 million-plus properties must deduct 10 per cent from the purchase price and pay that amount to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) unless the seller can furnish a tax clearance, according to a recent report in The Australian. 
While the move will affect everyone, including Australians, Chinese investors will be impacted more, especially when taken together with steps taken to squeeze Chinese buying in residential property. 
Chinese and Asian buying of Sydney apartments has already fallen 50 per cent in recent weeks and the trend is spreading to other markets, particularly Melbourne. 
The current measure can be traced back to the days when former treasurer Joe Hockey caved into pressures to curb Chinese investment in Australian residential property in 2015. In the process, the treasurer was convinced by the Australian Taxation Office to widen the net to cover local residents, says the report in The Australian.
According to an ATO fact sheet, in May 2013, the government announced that it would introduce a 10% non-final withholding tax on payments made to foreign residents who dispose of certain taxable Australian property with a market value above a specified threshold. The new legislation for this measure became law in February 2016.
The $2 million rule applies to vacant land, buildings, residential and commercial property, leaseholds and strata title schemes.
The ATO website says, "The government is strengthening our foreign resident capital gains tax (CGT) regime to assist in the collection of foreign residents' liabilities."
The definition of property is very wide and includes leaseholds but does not include stock exchange investments. A purchaser who does not receive a “clearance certificate” from the vendor and does not send 10 per cent of the purchase price off to the ATO will still be liable to pay that 10 per cent to the ATO plus, almost certainly, will have to pay severe additional penalties and interest. The economics of buying the property will be severely damaged, says the media report.
It suggests that real estate agents selling $2 million plus properties should study how this new tax regime would impact their business.
For example, banks and other financiers may be affected where their secured debt exceeds 90 per cent of the value of the selling price. In a situation where the owner is being forced to sell, the banks will be better to take possession and sell themselves rather than being caught in the “tax clearance” delays.
In the majority of cases, local resident vendors will have no problem obtaining a clearance certificate, but it might increase the risk of a tax audit for property sellers who:
<ul>
<li>Have not filed tax returns for many years;</li>
<li>Have filed tax returns, which would indicate they could not afford such a property;</li>
<li>Are selling their residential house at the same time as their neighbours to a single developer, which may give rise to a profit making scheme (such that the principal residence capital gains tax exemption may not apply to the value uplift generated by selling the properties together); or</li>
<li>Where the ATO has gathered information that indicates the vendor is in the business of developing property, which means that the principal residence capital gains tax exemption may not apply.</li>
</ul>
The post by Robert Gottliebsen says this might lead to a rush to sell before July 1 and might create some property bargains for buyers.
Another implication is that as property prices rise, more vendors will fall into the $2 million plus category. Over time, the ATO may shift their audit target identification processes to $2 million-plus property vendors and away from other areas.
Additionally, if the vendor has a tax debt, the application for a “clearance certificate” may in some circumstances involve the ATO seeking to recover some or all of that tax debt from the purchaser by way of a garnishee notice. 
While the report argues that the ATO's new rule will only help recover tax legitimately owed, the danger is in the complexity. 
The legislation is yet another blow for Asian investors in Australian property. Banks have already imposed a credit squeeze on Chinese property buyers.
On July 1, the Victorian state government is set to raise the levy on foreign purchases of apartments from 3 percent to 7 percent 
For a Chinese investor, getting a tax clearance would be tough, or else they would have to give off 10 percent off the transaction price.
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

New ATO rule on property deals over $2 million will hurt Chinese buyers even more

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GUEST OBSERVER
In April, Chinese house prices data showed a further broadening of momentum across the 70 major cities that report.
For new housing, 65 cities reported price gains in April relative to March; that compares to 62, 47, and 38 respectively in March, February and January.
In contrast, momentum in the existing market failed to improve: at 51, the number of cities reporting gains was marginally down on March’s 54, but up from around 35 in January and February.
Relative to a year ago, new and existing housing price growth improved in April, albeit only at the margin. For tier-1 cities, prices for new and existing houses are up 31.5 percent yr (from 29.4 percent yr in March) and 36.1 percent yr (from 35.6 percentyr). Within tier-1, Shenzhen remains the clear leader, with new house prices there up 62.5 percentyr versus the next-best (Shanghai) at 28.6 percent yr. Shenzhen also has the strongest performing existing market, although the divergence is less obvious: 56.2 percent yr against 37.3 percent yr in Beijing and 30.1 percent yr for Shanghai.
Price growth in tier-2 and tier-3 cities remains a striking contrast against tier-1. For tier-2, new and existing house prices have risen 5.0 percent yr and 5.5 percent yr respectively (up from 3.6 percent yr and 4.4 percent yr). And in tier-3, prices are up just 1.6 percent yr and 1.3 percent yr (0.5 percent yr and 0.8 percent yr).
It is certainly a positive that prices are growing in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, but the uptrend is hardly robust. The divergence across the three tiers continues to suggest that, while established wealth is being put to use in the most-developed cities, conditions remain quite subdued elsewhere, with easier policy only having an impact at the margin.
So as to give longevity to the burgeoning upturn in residential activity, there is a need to limit speculative excess at the top while maintaining accommodation to other regional markets.
Clearly there is more work to do in this area.
 
‎Elliot Clarke is director and Senior Economist, Westpac, and can be contacted <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Chinese 70-city property prices: Westpac's Elliot Clarke 

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An outcry in Australia against property buying by Chinese investors and tightening of lending by banks has caused them to shift focus to the US residential market, says a recent media report. 
Purchases of residential properties in the US by Chinese investors rose to US$28.6 billion last year from US$11.2 billion in 2010, said a report in The Australian based on figures from the study by the Asia Society and Rosen Consulting Group.
The report looked at how Chinese buying in Sydney and Melbourne had sparked a “public outcry” because of concerns about “speculative real ­estate investment ... that is contributing to bubble like conditions of inflated home prices and pricing out many local residents”.
The shift to the US has also been fuelled by Australian banks tightening lending criteria to Chinese. 
The report said China’s investment in overseas property would slow.
“We believe China’s economic turbulence will create a short-term speed bump for real estate investment overseas,” it stated.
The study also predicted a ­period of increased capital controls, either formally through policy announcements or informally through administrative processing — until the Chinese currency was realigned.
It said those concerns would not spill over into the local real estate market, with key executives arguing that any restrictions would likely lead to a regulation of capital inflows into Australia, and not dry up.
Cushman and Wakefield's head of capital markets for Australia and New Zealand, James Quigley, however had a contrarian view, saying a new wave of Chinese investors would be undeterred by such measures.
Quigley cited moves by large Chinese institutions, including ­insu­rance and asset man­age­ment companies, as well as high-profile developers who dominated initial investing. Their activities would be supported by lesser known, small to mid-cap companies and developers, private equity funds and wealthy individuals, he said
He also noted the number of investment approvals granted over the past three years to Chinese groups had jumped by 416 percent.
“This is a good indication that the Australian government is quite supportive of Chinese capital entering and making investments in Australia,” he said.
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Chinese look to US real estate after bank loan impositions in Australia 

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Robert Gottliebsen, the Business Spectator columnist says the Chinese have suddenly turned their back on the Sydney apartment market, with Melbourne and other markets set to follow.
"We are hitting our largest trading partner with an unprecedented series of blows at a time when they are undergoing fundamental change.
"We had better brace ourselves for the consequences because they will not be pleasant."
The new foreign capital restrictions in China, will effectively block them completing their Australian off the plan purchases.
"Vast numbers of Chinese purchases are in danger of lapsing.
"If that happens, it will send property developers to the wall," he wrote.
<a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/opinion/robert-gottliebsen/dramatic-shifts-herald-a-new-era-in-residential-property/news-story/da9146edc2ade0b8fbc3d5cf0af714a1" target="_blank">A halving in Chinese and other foreign buyers in the Sydney apartment market was suggested last week </a>by Sydney’s largest apartment developer Meriton’s Harry Triguboff.
As Harry Triguboff has repaid all his debts, he is still able to fun the Chinese “off the plan” purchases, but few other developers have such a balance sheet to fund the purchases.
Gottliebsen noted Chinese buying of apartments was one of the biggest forces that enabled Australia to avoid going into recession following the dramatic decline in mining investment.
"If the current dramatic decline in Chinese apartment buying continues, in the absence of some other offsetting factor, it could easily lead to a recession in Australia.
"Australian bank profits are not in the front line of vulnerability but they will be hit."
He also noted the Chinese are now making it much harder for their nationals to take money out of China.
"Nevertheless, Chinese nationals can normally get a 10 per cent deposit on an apartment out of the country — although sometimes it can take credit card gymnastics.
"That means they have the required deposit for an ‘off the plan’ purchase and they can normally get another 20 per cent out of China on settlement so that they have a 30 per cent deposit when the apartment is completed.
"Previously, they could get the remaining 70 per cent required on settlement out of China.
"Now that’s much harder.
"Just when the Chinese are under pressure, at the urging of APRA, the big Australian banks have lowered their loan to valuation ratio from 70 per cent to 60 per cent and have stated that they will no longer recognise self-employed income from overseas."
He suggested that the Chinese have been wonderful borrowers.
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The unpleasant fallout from hitting the wonderful Chinese apartment buyers who could fail to settle

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Chinese buyers are pushing up property prices in Brisbane's suburbs that have a significant Chinese presence, according to new research by real estate firm PRDnationwide.
Brisbane suburbs with a large number of Chinese are experiencing higher property price growths relative to the average growth of the Brisbane South and Greater Brisbane areas, the data shows.
“In the past 5 years Robertson’s property price growth was over double the Greater Brisbane average,” said PRDnationwide national research manager Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo.
“A likely cause is the well documented tendency of the Chinese community to gather together,” said Dr Mardiasmo.
“The increasing number of Chinese buyers, including local, interstate, and overseas buyers has meant that there is a high level of demand for houses in these areas, pushing prices up.”
In 2014, the Financial Investments Review Board reported $12.4 billion in approvals for real estate from Chinese investors.
Seven suburbs, all located within Brisbane’s Southern area,  with an average Chinese population of 18.7 percent were found to have an average house price growth of 11.5 percent over the past 12 months, well above the average house price growth in Brisbane South and Greater Brisbane, at 5.9 percent and 4.4 percent respectively.
Mardiasmo said a large Chinese population could be taken as an indicator that a suburb would see high levels of price growth. 
The average house price growth in the suburbs surveyed over the past 5 years is 30.8 percent compared to Brisbane’s Southern area and Greater Brisbane, which sat at 22.8 percent and 18.5 percent respectively. 
“This trend seems to be relatively sustainable, as we have noted significant differences over both the short and median terms.”  
Growth also seems to be proportional to the Chinese population in an area.
Robertson, which has the highest percentage of Chinese residents at 25.3 percent, also experienced the highest property price growth, rising 38.6 percent in the last five years and 19.3 percent in the last year alone.
Eight Mile Plains had the lowest Chinese population surveyed at 11.8%. Its property price growth was 27.6% and 9.4% in the past five years and 12 months respectively.
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Brisbane's suburbs with major Chinese presence show higher home price growth: PRDnationwide

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ANZ Banking Group and Westpac Banking Corp have discovered they have each approved "hundreds" of home loans backed by fraudulent Chinese income documents, the Australian Financial Review has claimed.
They were allegedly manufactured with the help of dodgy mortgage brokers.
"Westpac staff undertake verification for foreign income including obtaining pay slips and bank statements in both the relevant foreign language as well as getting those documents translated," Westpac  spokesman David Lording said in response to inquiries from The Australian Financial Review.
"We have identified an issue with some loans that we are currently investigating." 
ANZ spokesman Paul Edwards confirmed the bank had experienced problems "with the income documentation of a small percentage of borrowers who rely on foreign income".
"Policy changes have been made to address this and we are also reviewing a number of brokers," Mr Edwards said.
ANZ and Westpac have also informed regulators and the police.
Asked whether the Chinese frauds had influenced Westpac's decision to withdraw from foreign lending, Mr Lording said "while foreign income verification is more operationally difficult, the primary driver of our decision was the changes in capital and funding requirements".
The paper advised today the lending boom to Chinese nationals for residential and commercial property in Australia was always "a little fraught."
"We never knew where the money was coming from," says the insider, who asked not to be named.
The unfettered lending to Chinese nationals for residential property came to a halt this week as the National Australia Bank followed its peers in tightening lending restrictions for foreign buyers.
"NAB has limited appetite for this segment which comprises less than two per cent of the NAB book," a spokesperson said advised The Australian Financial Review.
NAB's new rules, which will see increased loan to value ratios and the recognition of just 60 per cent of foreign earnings, will come into effect on Saturday.
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Fraudulent Chinese income documents discovered in big 4 bank home loans

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Toorak ought have secured the weekend's top two sales but the interest was not there, with the Chinese influence now just an undercurrent.
There were no bidders when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-122376458" target="_blank">23 Montalto Avenue, Toorak</a> (above) was offered. The vendor bid was $7.75 million for the Rodney Alsop designed family residence on 1146 sqm with pool and courtyard designed by gardening guru Edna Walling.
Another Toorak offering at 10 Cole Court was passed in on a $6.75 million vendor bid through RT Edgar after rejecting the only buyer bid of $5 million.
The home was converted in the 1950s by Sir Roy Grounds out of stables for the now razed Southdean estate.
It was offered by the Cecil family, the fourth generation owners of menswear retailer Henry Bucks.
Melbourne buyers agent Mal James said the market was missing the Chinese buying interest at prior levels.
He advised that any claims by agents that “we’ve got loads of Chinese interest from overseas” was now "drivel."
"It's not there like it was in most cases," he said.
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Chinese losing buying interest in Melbourne's top end property

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The Chinese-led consortium still wants to buy the S.Kidman &amp; Co properties.
It is tipped to pull its recent $370 million bid which will then be resubmitted after the Federal election.
The consortium includes the listed Australian Rural Capital and Chinese group Dakang, which is owned by Pengxin and Shangahai CRED.
S.Kidman &amp; Co, which covers almost 11 million hectares of cattle stations.
The Northern Territory Chief Minister Adam Giles says the federal government needs a consistent policy on foreign investment or it risks missing "opportunities" for the country.
The Country Liberal Parry leader said he understood the reasons for the decision, but stressed the need to ensure there's consistency in how these matters are determined.
"I want to see a food policy developed for Australia that ensures Australia's food security and recognises the opportunities that exist to meet emerging demand from Asia's growing middle class," Mr Giles said in a statement.
 
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