Iwan Sunito's vision for a landmark mixed-use precinct in Sydney's Inner West has taken a major step forward, with approval granted for the $1.9 billion Five Dock development first unveiled earlier this year.

The approved scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/one-global-capital">One Global Capital</a> will deliver an 80,500 sqm mixed-use precinct comprising 840 apartments, integrated hotel accommodation, commercial and retail space, alongside publicly accessible open space designed to create a new destination for the growing suburb.

"This is a significant milestone for One Global Capital and for the future of housing delivery in Sydney," Sunito said.

"The Housing Delivery Authority was established to identify major housing projects capable of delivering meaningful supply more efficiently, and we are delighted that Spencer Street has been recognised as one of those projects.”

He said the declaration reflected the rapid progress achieved since acquiring control of the site.

"In less than seven months we have progressed from taking control of the site to securing entry into one of the NSW Government's most important planning pathways. It reflects the experience of our team, the strength of our consultant group led by Urbis, and our long-term commitment to delivering transformational projects that contribute to Sydney's future."

When the project was revealed earlier this year, Sunito described the opportunity as one of the strongest development sites he had worked on.

"I probably hadn't appreciated the uniqueness of the site until more recently when putting together the concept plans," Sunito said.

"The proximity to the water, and the golf course opposite, is unlike any other part of Parramatta Road. We have a unique position and view corridors over the water that makes this one of the best sites I've worked on."

The development has evolved since its initial announcement, with the approved plans increasing the residential component from the originally proposed 750 apartments to 840 homes while retaining the project's focus on creating an integrated neighbourhood rather than a standalone residential development.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/a-city-within-a-city-iwan-sunito-flags-1-5-billion-mixed-use-precinct-in-five-dock">"A city within a city": Iwan Sunito flags $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct in Five Dock</a>

The precinct will combine apartments with hotel accommodation, commercial workplaces, retail offerings and public spaces, creating a mixed-use environment intended to serve both residents and the broader Five Dock community. The proposal also continues the collaboration between One Global Capital and internationally recognised architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/koichi-takada-architects">Koichi Takada</a>, whose previous work with Sunito includes Infinity, Arc and Skye North Sydney.

Takada previously said the design was driven by a philosophy of integrating nature into the built environment.

"The concept for this development is born from our design approach to naturalising architecture," Takada said.

"The public realm benefits from biophilic design that integrates generous landscaping, and the development is optimised for natural daylight, airflow and water views to foster wellbeing, sustainability and spaces that foster community interaction."

Sunito has consistently described the project as a "city within a city", with a strong emphasis on creating a destination that extends beyond housing.

"We want to create a development that's not only to be seen, but to be experienced by the whole local community," he said.

The approval comes as Five Dock continues its transformation ahead of the opening of the Sydney Metro West line, with the new Five Dock station set to significantly improve connections between the Inner West, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.&nbsp;

The precinct will also benefit from its proximity to the Parramatta Road corridor, nearby waterfront parklands and established retail and dining offerings that have made Five Dock one of Sydney's most tightly held Inner West suburbs.

Joel Robinson

Iwan Sunito secures approval for $1.9 billion Five Dock mixed-use precinct

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]

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

China

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A partnership between Connect MyProperty and E-House (China) Holdings Limited will allow the Australian company to access 80 million Chinese buyers registered with E-House.
Connect MyProperty, headquartered in South East Queensland, markets Australian real estate offshore and offers services for international buyers, including assistance with Foreign Investment Review Board regulation processes. According to Connect MyProperty, the company converts online listings for "premier" properties to secured sales.
E-House (China) Holdings Limited is listed on the New York stock exchange.
The Australian property section of SINA Haiwai, E-House's international subsidiary real estate site, may now be used exclusively by Connect MyProperty for listings. The wider SINA Leju property portal, of which SINA Haiwai is a part, records about 40 million hits per month.
Last month, SINA Haiwai and Connect MyProperty began conducting tours of Australian properties and developments, beginning at the Foreign Investment Review Board-approved Sanctuary Cove development.
SINA Haiwai real estate general manager Irene Zheng said the company was pleased to be working with its new Australian partner.
"We've always viewed Australia as an attractive place to do business given it is the 12th largest economy globally, it is in close proximity to China, and has a transparent and well-regulated business environment that is the envy of many countries around the world," said Zheng.
"We have been looking for an independent partner in Australia for some time that could help bridge the gap between Australia and China such as language, cultural customs, and regulations in both countries.
"Connect MyProperty's mutual desire for an online-to-offline model and a strong focus on direct, face-to-face communication provides a truly effective and integrated offer for the 80 million members of our Property Buyers Club."
Preston Richardson, Connect MyProperty Director, said the partnership would strengthen Australian-Asian economic ties.
"In particular, the indirect flow-on effects of our partnership have the strong potential to increase the productivity of the construction industry by creating more infrastructure investment opportunities, more developments, and more construction jobs for Australians," says Richardson.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Deal delivers Chinese buyers club to Australian industry

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China is seeking Australia's help to track down corrupt officials and funds they have hidden in its escalating corruption crackdown.
Its corruption-busters running Operation Fox Hunt have suggested Australia had been a popular safe haven for the funds of the fraudsters.
At the very tip of the epidemic, the Australian Financial Review Weekend has pin-pointed a Sydney couple, Su Guanlin and Qian Yi, the son and daughter in law of a powerful Chinese railway official, Su Shunhu, who was ­sentenced for corruption by a Beijing court last Friday.
The AFR special investigation of the money transfers between China and Australia cited court documents from the trial, along with property and company searches in Australia, providing the alleged signs of Australia’s status as a favoured destination for the funds of corrupt Chinese officials.
Court documents obtained by the AFR correspondents Angus Grigg and Lisa Murray in China revealed that $1.19 million was transferred to the local couple's Australian bank accounts between 2008 and early 2010.
The money was wired to Australia from mainland China and Hong Kong in ­16 instalments.
The AFR reported the Sydney couple have since bought an extensive property portfolio. 
The elder Su's trial concluded when the Secondnd Beijing Intermediate People’s Court sentenced the former deputy director of the transport department within the ­Ministry of Railways to life in prison after finding him guilty of receiving 25 million yuan ($4.7 million) in bribes.
He was providing preferential access to the rail freight network where demand vastly ­outstripped supply, leaving loads of coal stranded.
His Sydney-based son and daughter in law paid $1.35 million for a 1950s house in Killara in April last year. The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-killara-105679852" target="_blank">38 Cook Road, Killara</a> house (pictured above) has remained empty, set for ­demolition and a $500,000 rebuild.
Property records show the couple also owned a townhouse in Breakfast Point bought for $2.2 million off the plan in 2008 and sold for $2.46 million in April last year.
They are also linked to a $550,000 apartment in Rhodes, which is the registered address for their company, and another $400,000 apartment in the Proximity complex at Wolli Creek, bought off the plan in 2006 for $400,000.
The couple told the AFR Weekend, they were confident the couple’s assets could not be targeted under proceeds of crime laws.
“I don’t think so, because everything we own is in our name,” she said. “Because everything we own here isn’t associated with him, and it’s ours, it has nothing to do with him. He has no ­association with our home.”
Qian said she worked as an accountant and her husband was employed by wholesale trading company. 
The list that Chinese officials are seeking assistance on is topped by Gao Yan, a former provincial governor of Jilin, party secretary of Yunan and former chief executive of State Grid Corp, who is thought to be in Australia.
Caijing, a Chinese business magazine, recently identified Gao has having fled to Australia in 2002 after allegations that he and his son, Gao Xinyuan, reaped millions from a rigged electricity transmission building program.
Caijing’s report also identified Lan Pu, a former deputy mayor of Xiamen, and Tong Yanbai, a former head of the highway bureau in Hunan province, as having fled to Australia in 1999 and 2004 respectively. Their whereabouts are not known. 
Liu Tienan, a former vice-minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, was arrested last year with a fake Australian passport and $2 million.
The Washington-based ­Global Financial Integrity group has estimated that US$2.8 trillion flowed out of China illegally between 2005 and 2011.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, China’s top corruption fighting body, estimates as much as US$1.5 trillion may have been funnelled just this year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s crackdown on corruption began in ­late 2012, with some 180,000 party cadres having been sanctioned, some by execution.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Chinese corruption busters set sights on Sydney's Killara, despite the denials

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China's slowing growth has many wondering whether there will be a knock-on effect on Australia's property markets.
Last week, China reported 7.3% year-on-year growth in gross domestic product (GDP) for quarter three, its lowest economic growth rate posted since the first quarter of 2009.
China's domestic property market, including construction and development, is big business, making up an estimated 20% of its GDP. But now, a combination of misplaced property development and unregulated lending have lead to oversupply and so-called "ghost cities", where new developments sit empty, despite a strong demand for housing.
In the minutes of the Reserve Bank's October Monetary Policy Meeting, board members noted that "conditions had continued to soften" in China's property markets.
Many are blaming the poor performance of the Chinese property for its slowing economy. Others are asking how China's slowing economy will affect Australian property.
According to AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver, the state of China's economy will impact Australian national income. However, he believes China's recent slow down has been somewhat overstated.
"So far it's been relatively modest," says Oliver. "The sharp slow down really occurred earlier this decade."
Oliver notes the average 10% annual growth that China enjoyed in the 30 years to 2010 wasn't sustainable in the long-term.
He says the affect of China's slowing economy is "probably already having some impact on Australia, with softer commodity prices".
"That's most obviously reflected in the weakness in iron ore prices."
<blockquote>
"If we went back to 10% plus growth out of China, we could kiss low interest rates goodbye."
</blockquote>
Iron ore is now priced at about US$80 per tonne, after peaking at US$187 per tonne in February 2011. Oliver explains that slower demand from China can also lead to slower export volumes, saying the resulting downturn in national income will have an impact on our property market.
However, he notes that China's long term economic performance should be taken into account.
"Even though the economy has slowed down, it's still twice the size it was 10 years ago," says Oliver.
"The real risk would be is if China's growth slows down a lot."
If Chinese economic growth takes a sharp downturn, Australia's national income would take a hit, and we would see higher rates of unemployment, he explains.
"The Chinese government probably don't want the economy to slow down dramatically," says Oliver, in part due to the huge urban migration movement as people seek employment in the major cities.
"If it doesn't maintain decent growth, they could end up with social unrest."
There is also an argument, Oliver says, that when commodity prices were peaking, "we had too much of a good thing".
"It was very good for the Australian economy initially, but actually had a dampening effect on property.
"The mining boom meant the non-mining part of the economy had to make room, and we saw high interest rates."
Now, the downturn in China-related growth, particularly in the mining sector, has resulted in lower interest rates, fuelling demand in domestic property.
"If we went back to 10% plus growth out of China, we could kiss low interest rates goodbye," says Oliver.
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How will a slowing Chinese economy impact our property markets?

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Since the year 2010, the Chinese property developer Vanke has been the largest residential property developer on planet Earth by annual sales volume.
From a sales revenue of ‘only’  RMB 1.2 billion (equivalent to A$207 million) per annum in 1998, to a staggering revenue of RMB  170.9 Billion (A$29.4 billion) in 2013, Vanke has surely created history in the world of property development. But the Chinese publicly listed company is not the only one that made big profit. In fact, since 1998, the fast pace of property development industry in China has made a large number of billionaire and multimillionaire developers. While at the same time, the term “property developers” in China has been associated with terminologies such as “corruption”, “astronomical price”, “ridiculously huge profit”, it seems Chinese developers are among one of the most negatively seen groups in China.
ZhiQiang Ren, Chairman of HuaYuan Developments Ltd, one of China’s four largest property developers, says he is almost the third most hated person in China – after Junichiro Koizumi (former prime minister of Japan) and Chen Shui-bian (a former Taiwanese politician who was president from 2000 to 2008 and is imprisoned in 2008 for corruption and money laundry).
“And that’s purely because I am seen as the most active and publicised developer in China, where developers are known to be associated with the “dark side” of business making so much profit,” he laughs.
But is property development really a profitable business China-wide?
The answer is no, and there are good reasons – the same reasons that lead to the fact that a wave of Chinese developers are acquiring land overseas, including Australia.
The first reason is simply because it is too expensive to acquire land in China, in comparison to countries such as Australia. Chinese buyers blame Chinese developers for irregularly increasing the property prices, without realising that the Chinese local government is doing the same on land prices to developers. “If you buy a property in China, say if it costs RMB 30,000 (A$5,172) per square metre which is about average price in Beijing,” says XianPing Lang, one of China’s most well known economists, “20,000 of this RMB 30,000 goes to paying for the land component, which means most of the profit gets pocketed by the government.” “In the recent years, there has been an average of RMB 1.69 trillion (equivalent to A$290 billion) of land transactions every year from land sales to developers,” says XianPing, “which equates to almost 48% of total fiscal revenue of the Chinese local government.” My view is that in any country, if the land acquisition component is as high as 66% of the sales revenue, any developer would struggle with making a profit.
In our dealings with Chinese developers, particularly those who recently came from China, they seem to be impressed with the price value ratio of the land, and how “clean” or straight forward a transaction could be.  Plus, there is so much land available in Australia, comparing with China, and most land is privately owned. The second biggest reason is exactly that – the availability of land in countries overseas, in comparison to China.
“In recent years, China’s Department of Land Resources plan to have approximately 185,000 – 200,000 hectares of land per year made available for development, but according to figures by developers, only less than 50,000 hectares were released per year,” says ZhiQiang.
In Australia, where land transactions mostly take place between private owners and buyers, more and more small to medium Chinese developers have taken the opportunity to acquire land. Most focus on inner city locations such as Melbourne, Southbank, South Yarra and St Kilda, as well as areas popular for Chinese residents such as Doncaster, Box Hill, Glen Waverley of Victoria and Hurstville, Chatswood and Epping of New South Wales. “Many Chinese developers are venturing into the medium density sites with developments ranging from four townhouses up to 20 apartments” comments Tim Heavyside, Director of Fletchers Real Estate. “These properties tend to sell quickly and allow developers a speedy turnaround for their investment.  “Some of these developers have also commented on the availability of these sites being many more than currently being offered in China.”
Michael Yang is CEO of <a href="https://www.GiFang.com" target="_blank">GiFang.com</a>, Australia’s leading property portal open for high networth Chinese investors.
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MichaelYang-M4BCtFfzCh

Why Chinese property developers are targeting sites outside of China

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GUEST OBSERVATION
"The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home" - Confucius.
Wise words indeed, and ones that are especially apt at present. Australia is not the only country that finds itself having to come to terms with a rapidly changing economic landscape. More importantly – for the world, at least – so does China. One of the key indicators for both countries is the performance of their respective real estate sectors. Like so much these days, they are intertwined and sending out ominous signals.
China’s problems have been a long-time in the making and are of a different order to Australia’s. In some ways China’s problems are far from unique and are simply replicating a long-running story that is as old as human civilisation: over time people move off the land and into cities. This is still the case in China but, like everything else in that remarkable country, it is happening on an epic and unprecedented scale.
To the central government’s credit, it has tried to manage this process and in many ways it has been remarkably successful. However, there are limits to what even the most authoritarian and interventionist of states can do in managing economies, much less the people that make them up. Bad decisions can have monumental consequences. The collective response to the misnamed global financial crisis now looks like a quintessential case in point.
China was largely unaffected by the GFC thanks to a massive government-ordered domestic stimulus package. Unfortunately, much of the subsequent investment ended up in the hands of property developers and speculators. A nexus of local governments keen to sell land for development, so-called “shadow banks” <a href="https://theconversation.com/columns/mark-beeson-60300" target="_blank">keen to lend</a>, and a growing class of wealthy investors looking for high returns on investment, fuelled a surge in apartment-building across China.
China’s notorious “ghost cities” are the most graphic illustration of massive, unconstrained construction that is surplus to the needs of the population – or that part of the population with lots of money, at least. By some estimates there are something like 50 million empty properties in China, or a vacancy rate of nearly 25%. Unsurprisingly prices are steadily declining despite the efforts of state and provincial governments to prop them up. Prices fell by an average of 10% in the first half of this year, and new construction starts have fallen by something like 25%.
While this may look like a necessary and overdue return to economic reality, the consequences for China’s numerous, increasingly exposed and over-reliant trade partners are potentially grim. For example, China has the capacity to produce 1 billion tonnes of steel each year; now however, a third of this capacity is unused. The implications for Australia are all too predictable and manifest primarily in the plunging price of iron ore.
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It’s important to recognise that Australia – or more accurately, the mainly foreign-owned resource companies that dominate production in this country – has contributed mightily to this problem.
The massive increase in investment over the last few years has had its intended consequence: an equally massive expansion in production. It’s hard to believe that the lavishly rewarded captains of industry who run these companies can have been entirely surprised that an increase in supply would have an impact on prices, with or without China’s domestic problems.
Apparently they are. Unfortunately the resource sector may not be alone in succumbing to short-term and wishful thinking. Real estate in Melbourne and Sydney looks wildly overvalued in historical and comparative perspectives and yet the property bubble continues to inflate. We might do well to remember another timeless piece of wisdom: things that look like they cannot go on forever usually don’t.
There may be further to go before real estate in Australia takes a similar hit, however, and China is playing a part in this too. A lot of the smart money is fleeing China as investment yields decline, the local environment deteriorates, and the political situation remains unpredictable. Rising real estate prices in Australia look like a good bet and also have the additional benefit of providing a potential bolt hole if things go wrong in the People’s Republic.
Rather worryingly, Australian officials have little understanding of the impact of Chinese money on real estate prices here, or little capacity (or desire?) to do much about it. The rules designed to regulate the foreign purchase of domestic real estate are notoriously easy to get around and the Foreign Investment Review Board seems to have little capacity to enforce them or detailed understanding of what is happening on the ground. According to a <a href="https://www.afr.com/p/business/property/agencies_in_the_dark_on_extent_of_gQh7McPHXam68NO16GyekL">recent report in the AFR</a>, though "foreign investment in real estate surged to $24.8 billion in the first nine months of 2013-14, an increase of 93% on the previous year".
There are few subjects about which people get more excited than real estate. It would be unfortunate if the idea took hold that foreigners were pricing the locals out of the market, especially as the forces driving house price rises are complex and still largely domestic, it is <a href="https://theconversation.com/seven-things-keeping-house-prices-high-and-foreign-investment-isnt-one-of-them-31345" target="_blank">argued</a>.
Nevertheless, the possible export and influence of China’s property problems could add an unwelcome and possibly avoidable additional complication to what is an especially important, but occasionally fraught, relationship between Australia and China.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/31479/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Mark Beeson is professor of international politics at <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-universityhttps://www.murdoch.edu.au/" target="_blank">Murdoch University</a>.
This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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MarkBeeson-yMCRHrkkic

China's property crisis is coming to Australia and we've only got ourselves to blame 

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Chinese developers are making their presence increasingly felt in Australia and it doesn’t seem that they’re set to slow down.
While Sydney and Melbourne has typically been a popular spot for Chinese apartment developers, it appears that larger companies are looking far and wide across Australia’s market for opportunities.
Here are eight you should know about.
<ul>
<li>Zone Q Investments Pty Ltd</li>
</ul>
Just this week, a $70 million residential tower Pinnacle in South Perth was announced by developer Zone Q as the project that will mark their entry into the Australian market. Zone Q, whose parent company is a privately-owned group with a presence in South China’s apartment market and a focus on Shenzhen, has also earmarked two other Western Australia sites for development.
Zone Q is the Australian arm of mainland Chinese developer JiaHe JianAn Group.
This South Perth, Labouchere Road apartment project will be 20-storeys of luxury dwellings, overlooking Perth Zoo, and will include a $30 million seven-storey commercial tower with retail ground floor.
The entire development, totaling $100 million, will be complete in late-2016. It also marks the tallest tower receiving approval in the City of South Perth in 45 years.
The two lots that form the site for Pinnacle were purchase in late-2013 for $10.7 million, and will soon house the 60 two-bedroom apartments, 40 one-bedroom apartments and two three-bedroom penthouses.
<ul>
<li>Country Garden Australia</li>
</ul>
Country Garden, the Hong Kong-listed development company, has recently <a href="/expert-insights/buying/ryde-garden-debut-for-country-garden-australia">been named as one of the interested parties in purchasing Harry Triguboff’s Meriton</a>.
Country Garden are the developers behind <a href="/expert-insights/buying/strong-off-the-plan-sales-at-country-gardens-ryde-garden-project">North Ryde development Ryde Garden</a> that saw 296 sales in six hours of its launch. This was their first Australian development site, which they purchased in late-2013 for $73 million.
They're a high-end focused developer, and Ryde Garden was notable for being part of one of the biggest urban renewal projects in the history of the state.
<ul>
<li>Wanda Group and Ridong Group</li>
</ul>
The chairman of Dalian Wanda Group is Wang Jianlin – the richest man in China, and recently decided to buy into a Surfers Paradise hotel development site in a joint venture of the $1 billion project.
Known as the Jewel development, it includes 1.13 hectares, set to span three-towers and covers 110 metres of beachfront.
We’ve put Ridong Group in the same entry as Wanda Group as they listed the Broadbeach opportunity seeking equity partners.
Sydney has also reportedly been on the Wanda radar, and for the meantime <a href="/news/chinas-richest-man-wang-jianlin-close-to-buying-into-surfers-paradise-development-site">we’re likely to hear a lot more about Jewel, with construction to start in 2015</a> and scheduled to be completed in 2018.
<ul>
<li>Greenland Group</li>
</ul>
Launching a new North Sydney development called Lucent late next month. With a display suite opening this weekend, they’re also behind what is set to be Sydney’s tallest residential tower Greenland Centre.
Greenland Centre, at 115 Bathurst Street and 339 Pitt Street,
The new North Sydney development will include 211 apartments, from studios to three-bedroom residences. Pricing is as yet unavailable, other than studios – which will start from $528,000. The state-owned Shanghai based group is positioned 87th among the top 500 China enterprises since 1992, and has construction projects in 65 cities in 24 provinces of China.
Their aim is reportedly to enter the Fortune 200 list by 2015.
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<ul>
<li>Harman Global Holdings</li>
</ul>
This Chinese-backed group has made the list for being one of the few to offer house and land packages, with a particular focus on the north-west suburbs of Sydney, the Hills District.
An $80 million Castle Hill development and a $5 million Kellyville site have both been purchased for house and land packages.
The Australian Financial Review reports that the majority of the purchasers into these house and land estates are Chinese.
They also recently spent $33 million purchasing the Kooindah Waters Residential Golf and Spa Resort on the Central Coast, which is set to remain operating, including a hotel and house and land offerings.
<ul>
<li>Bridgehill Group</li>
</ul>
Notably more quiet with their developments, Bridgehill Group hasn’t been any less successful. With their Milsons Point, Arthur Street apartment development – which began construction in December – it was an office block that they have been converting into apartments.
More recently, they spent more than $90 million for an ex-council depot in Zetland. The intention is to built a $500 million apartment development.
They were previously the developers of Azure and Monaco at Rhodes, and are notable for the currently selling Esprit by Bridgehill in Mascot.
<ul>
<li>Starryland Australia</li>
</ul>
Fuxing Huiyu Real Estate Co Ltd, the 23rd largest publicly-listed company in China, is making waves. Their first Australian foray has been the much-publicised $550 million spend across 11 apartment towers in <a href="/expert-insights/buying/chinese-developer-taking-550-million-step-into-sydney-with-11-towers-in-parramatta">Sydney’s Parramatta through newly created Starryland Australia</a>.
Promenade Parramatta, their creation, saw the land for the development bought in September last year by Starryland after their June 2013 formation. They are, however, Melbourne-based.
<ul>
<li>Ausbao</li>
</ul>
Recently dipping their toes into the residential market, Ausbao is looking to redevelop a Sydney CBD office building into apartments at 286 Sussex Street. In June this year they lodged a development application for a 26-storey creation on the site.
The company, a subsidiary of Beijing Capital Development Holdings, are known for Chinatown’s The Quay, a mixed-use development with 270 apartments. The site had been long dormant due to the effects of the GFC.
Honourable mentions go to Marine Parade Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese-based Sunbano Group, for their $85 million Coolangatta development Sanbano Coolangatta, which their marketeers where calling the <a href="/expert-insights/buying/chinese-developer-creates-the-palazzo-versace-of-the-southern-gold-coast">"Palazzo Versace of the southern Gold Coast".</a>
Hengyi, an affiliate of Shandong HYI, also narrowly missed our top eight – recently bringing Light House and The William to market, although remaining quiet about their future plans.
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

The eight Chinese property developers to watch emerging across Australia

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The Ausin Group, which specialises in offering residential and commercial property to the mainland Chinese market, has sold over 1,200 new properties across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and New Zealand in the past year.
The annual sales totalled over $800 million with Ausin Group selling over 450 Melbourne properties to Chinese buyers valued at over $260 million within the last three months.
It is now expanding four of its major offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai and Beijing to meet strong demand from Chinese investors seeking Australian and New Zealand properties.
Ausin Group’s buyers are mostly from Southern China, Beijing and Shanghai.
The company now employs over 300 people across 13 offices in Australia and China, with offices at Shanghai, Beijing, Kunming, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Wuxi, Suzhou in China.
Joseph Zaja, general manager of Ausin Group said the demand had been driven by several factors including the Chinese property market being currently soft and "will continue to be so for a number of years".
"Australia is considered a safe property investment haven with solid returns and is a preferred immigration destination. 
"The Australian standard of education, safety and low pollution levels are all appealing to Chinese immigrants seeking a new place to call home.”
Ausin Group expects to double the number of properties the company sells to Chinese investors over the next year.
Ausin Group was established in 2009.
It sells properties for private and ASX listed companies in Australia and New Zealand.
Property sales included a mix of inner city apartments and house and land packages. 
Mr Zaja said sales included inner city apartments within a two kilometre radius from the CBD to residential communities situated between 20 to 40 kilometres from the CBD. 
"<a href="/news">South Yarra</a>, <a href="/news">St Kilda</a> and <a href="/news">Toorak</a> are some of the areas attracting Chinese buyers.”
He said Chinese purchasers in Melbourne were seeking properties which have good infrastructure links, are close to major universities and are easily accessible to the CBD.
Joseph Zaja is a panellist at the upcoming Property Observer webinar on Off the Plan Marketing and Sales Masterclass.
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Ausin expects doubling in mainland Chinese property purchases in Australia

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The rapid rise in Chinese listings portals in Australia has many unaware as to what is now on the market, and which ones they should be keeping a close eye on.
In fact, the topic of technology and <a href="/expert-insights/buying/one-in-six-property-sales-to-an-asian-buyer-re-max">online portals to tap into the Asian buyer market was high on RE/MAX’s radar at their Asia-Pacific Rim Summit</a> held in Hong Kong late last year.
Property Observer has compiled the sites that are becoming movers and shakers in the Australian market, and have used Traffic Estimate to provide information around the number of ‘visits’ each site manages to achieve.
We note that a number of these sites have multiple portals, and therefore their total traffic figure may be substantially higher. The algorithm used by TrafficEstimate works best on sites with more than 20,000 visitors per month.
<a href="https://soufun.com/" target="_blank">SouFun</a> and <a href="https://www.myfun.com/au-cn/buy" target="_blank">MyFun</a>
First up, is SouFun.com and MyFun.com. We have put these two together due to their relationship with realestate.com.au or REA Group.
SouFun is the largest property portal in China, and a new partnership with realestate.com.au will see their myfun.com listings added to SouFun and REA Group owned squarefoot.hk in Hong Kong.
Myfun.com was launched by REAGroup as their property portal for Chinese consumers interested in Australian properties.
The SouFun site reportedly has a strong presence in the United States, Asia and Europe, and claims 30 million visits per month across their network. They also note that they have 15 million SouFun card holders. Their listings cover 30 countries, including the US, Canada, UK, Thailand, Malaysia and Greece.
Myfun looks to provide manual translations into Mandarin, including a property liaison specialist who can deliver enquiries in English to Australian agents and developers.
SOUFUN.COM CURRENT ESTIMATED MONTHLY TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR LAST 30 DAYS: 9,073,100 (Source: TrafficEstimate)
MYFUN.COM CURRENT ESTIMATED TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR LAST 30 DAYS: 87,000 (Source: TrafficEstimate)
 
<a href="https://www.iproperty-group.com/" target="_blank">iProperty Group</a>
Recently snapping up ex-LJ Hooker CEO, George Chmiel, after 18 months with the real estate company, iProperty Group also claims themselves to be Asia’s number one property portal site. It was established in 2003, and also as a commercial property site CommercialAsia.com.
They have received a number of awards, and their portals include Iproperty.com.my, the Malaysian branch (which we have ranked below), as well as portals for the Philippines, India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
The company was recording significant growth over the first quarter of 2014.
IPROPERTY.COM.MY CURRENT ESTIMATED TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR LAST 30 DAYS: 2,190,000 (Source: TrafficEstimate)
Their annual report notes that total site visitors peaked at almost 1.6 million during the year for iProperty Malaysia. Hong Kong recorded total site visitors over 850,000 for the year.
 
<a href="https://www.juwai.com.au/" target="_blank">Juwai</a>
Juwai was founded by <a href="/expert-insights/investing/four-tips-to-help-you-sell-australian-property-to-chinese-buyers">Andrew Taylor, who has often written columns for</a> Property Observer.
This Chinese listing site has been <a href="/expert-insights/investing/chinese-real-estate-listings-portal-juwai-com-expands-european-property-coverage">expanding into Europe as of early last year</a> and it promotes itself as the largest international property search and information platform for Mandarin-speaking Chinese consumers.
Juwai.com search figures show that European properties were viewed over 882,000 times by Chinese investors in January 2013.
They’ve had LJ Hooker using the site, announcing a partnership back in 2012. They have noted that 32% of their visitors actually live outside of China.
Some of their other customers include McGrath, Lend Lease, Knight Frank, Jones Lang LeSalle, Richardson &amp; Wrench, Raine&amp;Horne, Savills, RE/MAX, Sotheby's and Ray White.
Juwai.com promotes itself as the largest international property search and information platform for Mandarin-speaking Chinese consumers and says that 84% of its traffic comes from high-net-worth Chinese buyers. They note that they have over 2.4 million property listings across 53 countries, and note that they have 1.5 million high net work Chinese consumers.
They run events a number of events including Juwai China Agent Summit 2014.
JUWAI.COM CURRENT ESTIMATED MONTHLY TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR LAST 30 DAYS 2014: 1,195,700 (Source: TrafficEstimate)
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<a href="https://gifang.com/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">GiFang</a>
Headed up by Michael Yang it’s said to be <a href="/news/china-based-estate-agencies-selling-australian-properties-through-inflated-two-tiered-pricing-schemes">the largest Chinese language property site in Australia</a> offering international properties in Mandarin.
The site claims that it has partners including SouFun, Migration Institute, the Australian Government, Westpac, RealEstateView, REIV, Sydney Property, Sydney Today, 21CN, HK Property, BaoMoney, Pacific House, Wenzhou property, Sina property, Ifeng.com and ChinaProperty Institute
Established in August 2010, previously with the name YBI Group, the English version is called OurProperties.com.au.
They run a number of property events and seminars and have won a number of awards.
In late-2013, the expectation was that they would reach 1,000,000 unique visitors every month by the end of 2013.
They host data from Residex, who they list as a third party partner.
GIFANG.COM CURRENT ESTIMATED TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR MAY 2014: 532,900 (Source: TrafficEstimate)
OURPROPERTIES.COM.AU CURRENT ESTIMATED TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR LAST 30 DAYS: 376,400 (Source: TrafficEstimate)
 
The last few spots will be contentious. Here are some of the up and comers, and some that showed early promise.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/acproperty.com.au" target="_blank">AC Property</a>
Smaller cousin, AC Property, is an Australian-based Chinese language portal that aims to provide a ‘one stop’ solution.
They translate the advertisements for the real estate agents and provide online promotion through Google, Baidu, local Chinese forums, advertisements in major Chinese property newspapers and posters.
AC Property <a href="/news/acproperty-com-au-representing-the-australian-market-in-china">regularly exhibits in China</a>.
NAB and Ray White currently has advertisements on the website.
ACPROPERTY.COM.AU CURRENT ESTIMATED MONTHLY TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR LAST 30 DAYS 2014: 16,500 (Source: TrafficEstimate)
 
<a href="https://www.thehomepage.com.au/" target="_blank">Thehomepage</a>
Taking an <a href="/expert-insights/investing/property-portal-thehomepage-now-offers-chinese-language-listings">early leap and putting Chinese language listings on the site in mid-2012</a>, at the time saying it was the only portal in Australia to have yet done so. At the time it was all off the plan product, and appeared popular with developers. Founded by Morry Schwartz, they also place listings on juwai.com.
It includes listings from Ray White, LJ Hooker, Acton, Raine&amp;Horne, Hocking Stuart, Roberts, Barry Plant and Richardson &amp; Wrench.
It appears, however, that they have taken down their Chinese language off the plan portal. Whether they'll look to step again into this market using their own site remains to be seen.
THEHOMEPAGE.COM.AU ESTIMATED MONTHLY TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR LAST 30 DAYS 2014: 145,700 (Source: Traffic Estimate)
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/Century21global.com" target="_blank">Century21global</a>
Also taking an early leap, <a href="/news/century-21-launches-global-real-estate-portal">Century 21 has used the strength of having offices across the world to launch Century 21 Global</a>, that focuses across the world and not just on China, sharing the properties from all of Century 21’s offices.
It covers 74 countries and 16 languages on their new website, and includes automatic translation services.
CENTURY21GLOBAL.COM ESTIMATED MONTHLY TRAFFIC (VISITS) FOR LAST 30 DAYS 2014: 74,600 (Source: Traffic Estimate)
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The top Chinese investment portals you need to know about

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I was asked this week if I could remember the last time we saw such a hostile response to a federal budget. I responded ‘no’ – as it would have been well before we had access to the internet.
When the world moved into the online space, the internet always appeared with a capital I, which has been replaced with a lower case 'i'. So what happened to the capital “I” one might ask? Well the “I” became you – the consumer, where through this very process (for better or worse) this online revolution has changed how we do business in the modern age.
When one looks at the problems facing the budget, it’s quite clear that Australia has a massive productivity problem. Wages have flat lined which has seen living standards rise just 2.6% over the last five years. The modern day terminology is “on hold”, which is exactly what the Reserve Bank of Australia is doing with the cash rate given our labour market is, best case scenario, neutral and employment growth won’t exceed population growth.
When you’re paying (an estimated) $1 billion just in interest each month, it’s time for any responsible government to say ‘enough is enough’. Just like our neighbours across the ditch did in recent years when they too had to re-calibrate their economy and today, are predicting a $370.5 million surplus with 4% growth.
Unfortunately in Australia’s modern day political arena, there is no room for compromise given the central influence is to play populist politics, not policy. We see differing opinions on how Australia will create a sustainable budget that successfully negotiates a path into the future. If Australia was to continue on the current path without significant change, the present budget would be seen as a soft – touch.
<img src="/images/2014/05/27/simeon%20may%2027%20one.png" alt="">
Source: <a href="https://www.treasury.gov.au/PublicationsAndMedia/Speeches/2014/Fiscal_sustainability" target="_blank">Department of the Treasury</a>
For arguments sake, this is the <a href="https://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2014/5/22/politics/budget-graph-brought-stunned-silence-coalition" target="_blank" title="budget graph that brought a ‘stunned silence’ to the Coalition">budget graph that brought a ‘stunned silence’ to the Coalition</a> where Secretary of Treasury described it as “the most alarming single piece of information” he had seen about Australia’s future economic prospects, adding that it created a “stunned silence” when he presented it to both the state treasurers and cabinet. Again the significant point to be drawn from this graph is that with our declining terms of trade and an ageing population, our productivity needs a complete ‘about–turn’.
I wouldn’t hold your breath on that because, when one looks at <a href="https://www.ami.org.au/imis15/News_2013_May/Default/Australia_s_Top_100_Brands_2013__/News_2013_May/Australias_Top_100_Brands_2013.aspx?hkey=7621e19d-3bb4-4c3a-b08c-af2b0a18073d" target="_blank" title="Australia’s Top 20 Brands">Australia’s top 20 brands</a> not one is directly involved in technology. On the other hand when one looks at <a href="https://www.brandz100.com/site/reports/global/2014/report/download-report.pdf" target="_blank" title="2014 BrandZ Top 100">2014 BrandZ Top 100 </a>(this is a PDF file so takes a little while to download but well worth the read) we get a pretty good idea of how bad we are performing on a global stage.
Following three years at the top, Google has bumped Apple from the number one position when, in 2014, Google’s brand shot up 40% in a year to US$158.84 billion (A$171.86 billion). All up The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2014 added $310 billion to reach $2.9 trillion in brand value. Prior to the BrandZ Global 2014 results, the Top 100 had increased an average of about 6%, $125 billion annually, since the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009. This year, led by apparel, with a 29% overall increase, all categories rose in brand value. And 10 of 14 categories experienced double-digit growth, indicating that brands across the economy have moved beyond recovery into a period of new growth. In the meantime, Australia sits in a mental void trying to work out what to do following the mining downturn.
<blockquote>
The rise of China as a superpower could see it control as much as half the world’s financial assets by 2030.
</blockquote>
For those who recently raised concerns about China’s attraction to Australian property, Secretary of Treasury, Martin Parkinson, told a forum this week in Hong Kong that China’s foreign exchange reserves now approach $4 trillion. Today, China now accounts for around 11% of both world trade and global GDP but only accounts for 3% of gross holdings of overseas assets and liabilities. He went on to say that this figure, which includes foreign exchange reserves, could triple to $16 trillion. The rise of China as a superpower could see it control as much as half the world’s financial assets by 2030.
Puts the Australian budget into a different perspective, especially when you read how China is preparing for its ageing population – <a href="https://www.economist.com/news/china/21600160-pensions-crisis-looms-china-looks-raising-retirement-age-paying-grey" target="_blank" title="Paying for the grey.">paying for the grey.</a> Although Australia is a long way off telling families they have a limit of just one child.
For the second time in 2014 Mosman houses for sale managed to stay above the 100 mark which either tells us more people are selling or houses are not selling as fast. It will be interesting to see in coming weeks, what the correct reason is, although we should note that clearance rates have dropped significantly. Sceptics no doubt, will attribute that to the federal budget!
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robertsimeon-hRNTwJyXkQ

Australia has one almighty brand problem

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The Urban Taskforce has said the federal government's review of foreign investment in residential real estate must be blind to the nationality of the foreign investor.
"While this review is said to consider foreign investment in residential real estate, we fear that the review will focus on Chinese investment. 
"Focusing on a particular country’s investment is counterproductive and dare we say, xenophobic," Urban Taskforce Australia chief, Chris Johnson warned.
He said the Urban Taskforce urges the standing committee to consider foreign investment generally.
"It must resist pressure from those who would have us believe that it is simply Chinese investment in real estate that is driving increases in the cost of housing.
"Media coverage on this matter has been one- sided, suggesting that there is a flood of unregulated money from China causing real estate prices, especially in Sydney, to soar. 
"The claims are that foreign investment, in residential real estate, particularly from China is on the increase," he said.
Their submission said foreign investment in residential real estate was on the decline.
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"The evidence provided in the recent Foreign Investment Review Board Annual Report 2012-13 does not support claims of ever increasing foreign investment.
"For instance, total foreign investment in residential property in Australia has actually been falling from a high of $20.92 billion in 2010-11 to $19.7 billion in 2011-12 to $17.2 billion in 2012-131.
"Reports based on the Foreign Investment Board and Australian Bureau of Statistics data suggest that the Chinese contribution of the total foreign investment in residential real estate to be approximately $5 billion per annum.
"However this is in a market that saw $250 billion in residential property being sold.
"While 2% of the market is a worthy contribution to new housing, it is not considered to be at a level to warrant the community concerns and intense media scrutiny of late.
"There is no doubt that residential property investment from China is the highest with Chinese investors purchasing $5.9 billion in all real estate, which includes commercial real estate.
"It should be noted that commercial real estate is almost twice that of foreign investment in residential real estate.
"Other countries invest in Australian real estate.
"Canada invested just under $5 billion in Australian real estate and the Americans invested $4.4 billion.
"Based on these figures alone, the focus on Chinese investment is not warranted," Chris Johnson suggested.
"Notwithstanding any of the above, the overarching principle of Australia's foreign investment policy, as it applies to residential property, is that the investment should increase Australia's housing stock.
"We support such a policy and agree that it brings benefits to the local building industry and its suppliers.
"The data provided in the Foreign Investment Review Board Annual Report 2012-13 shows this. 
"In the 2010-11 reporting period only $3.77 billion of foreign investment went to existing housing while $12.54 billion went to new developments."
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