<p data-end="256" data-start="0"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.</p>

<p data-end="446" data-start="258">The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.</p>

<p data-end="645" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="448">Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" /></p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.</p>

<p>The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.</p>

<p>The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”</p>

<p data-end="626" data-start="350">Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.</p>

<p data-end="928" data-start="628">“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”</p>

<p data-end="1147" data-start="930">Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.</p>

<p data-end="1510" data-start="1149">“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”</p>

<p data-end="1510" data-start="1149"><img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" /></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.</p>

<p>Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.</p>

<p>The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.</p>

<p>The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.</p>

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
<p data-end="305" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="0">The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.</p>
</section>


Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

<p style="text-align:start">The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.</p>

<p>The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.</p>

<p>Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.</p>

<p>The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.</p>

<p>As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.</p>

<p><img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" /></p>

<p>The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.</p>

<p>An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.</p>

<p>The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.</p>

<p>Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.</p>

<p>“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.</p>

<p>“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.</p>

<p>“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.</p>

<p>“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”</p>


Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

<p>Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.</p>

<p>A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.</p>

<p>Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.</p>

<p>“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.</p>

<p>Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.</p>

<p>“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.</p>

<p>The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.</p>

<p>It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.</p>

<p>The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.</p>

<p>One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.</p>

<p>Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.</p>

<p>The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.</p>

<p>Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.</p>

<p>Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.</p>

<p>Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.</p>

<p>“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”</p>

<p>Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.</p>

<p>Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.</p>

<p>Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.</p>


400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

<p>Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.</p>

<p>The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.</p>

<p>Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" /></p>

<p>“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.</p>

<p>The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”</p>

<p>The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" /></p>

<p>The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.</p>

<p>According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.</p>

<p>“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.</p>

<p>A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.</p>

<p>Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.</p>

<p><img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" /></p>

<p>All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.</p>

<p>The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.</p>


Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

<p>Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.</p>

<p>The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.</p>

<p>Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" /></p>

<p>Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.</p>

<p>The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.</p>

<p>"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.</p>

<p>The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.</p>

<p>The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" /></p>

<p>Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.</p>

<p>Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.</p>


First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

First Home Buyers

<html><body>
<p>Fixed rate home loan deals are on the way up.</p>
<p>New data released by financial comparison firm Canstar has revealed 14 lenders have increased fixed-rate loan offers across dozens of products by an average 0.18 percent.</p>
<p>On a typical $300,000 30-year home loan, the average three-year fixed rate is 4.08 percent and monthly repayments are $1,446.</p>
<p>It is compared to the average SVR rate of 4.45 percent and monthly repayments are $1511.</p>
<p>Lenders to introduce small hikes include Westpac, ING Direct, Suncorp, ME, Bank of Queensland, Bank of Sydney and RAMS.</p>
<p>Canstar’s group executive of financial services Steve Mickenbecker said he expected more movement in the short term.</p>
<p>The rises to fixed rates have been blamed on the policies of the President-elect Donald Trump which could lead to bigger deficits and result in the US cash rate going up, experts say.</p>
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Fixed rates rising to average 4.08 percent

<html><body>
<p class="first-para">First home buyer activity in New South Wales is at the lowest on record for the state according to Domain Group chief economist Andrew Wilson.</p>
<p class="first-para">He said latest ABS data reveals that just 1284 loans were approved for NSW first home buyers over September which is the smallest September total recorded in the series since the all-time low recorded over September 1991.</p>
<p>"First home buyer loans in NSW accounted for a record low 4.5 percent of all lending approved for housing purchases over September," he said.</p>
<p>"This is well below the long-term market share for this group of 13.0 percent and is clearly the lowest proportion of all the state markets – well below the next lowest state South Australia with a 9.7 percent loan market share.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/11/24/FHBSep16.png" target="_blank"></a>First home buyer residential loan market share September 16</p>
<p>NSW   4.5 percent</p>
<p>VIC   10.5 percent</p>
<p>QLD  12.9 percent</p>
<p>SA      9.7 percent</p>
<p>WA    19.7 percent</p>
<p>TAS    13.2 percent</p>
<p><em>Source: ABS, Dr Andrew Wilson</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Although activity levels are low and falling, the average loan approved for a first home buyer in NSW increased by 2.9 percent to $376,700 over the month and was clearly the highest of all the states with next highest Victoria at $325,100.</p>
<p>"First home buyer activity in NSW is set to remain at historically low levels, particularly with home prices rising sharply in the Sydney market over recent months.</p>
<p>"The recent surge in investor activity is also clearly a factor in sidelining NSW first home buyers and will continue to contribute significantly to prices growth."</p>
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

First home buyer fallout in New South Wales

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<p>Property expert John McGrath has encouraged first home buyers to look deeper into the grants and stamp duty concessions available to them. </p>
<p>In his latest his latest Switzer blog he says with first home buying across Australia at its lowest level in more than a decade he wants to encourage young people to re-think their position, adding every single state and territory in Australia is currently offering assistance to first home buyers – and not just on new property purchases either.</p>
<p>"Every now and then the rules change and young people need to keep abreast of these changes so they can best take advantage of them," he said.</p>
<p>"For example, did you know the Queensland Government has introduced a $5,000 boost to their First Home Owners’ Grant for this financial year only? This is a one-off, one-year boost to the grant from $15,000 to $20,000 that will end on June 30, 2017.</p>
<p>"While it’s true that all grants are limited to newly-built, off-the-plan or substantially renovated properties, some stamp duty concessions apply to both new and established homes.</p>
<p>"It’s really worth taking the time to check out exactly what assistance is available to you, especially with interest rates at such record lows and likely to stay this way indefinitely. If you put these two factors together, motivated first home buyers can do very well right now.</p>
<p>"Although affordability is a big hurdle in cities like Sydney, I see a major opportunity ahead for young buyers in prime east coast markets.</p>
<p>"That opportunity is the impending oversupply of new apartment stock in Melbourne, Brisbane and to a slightly lesser extent, Sydney. Where a market is oversupplied, prices fall. It’s that simple and that means opportunities for buyers.</p>
<p>"The impending apartment oversupply means first home buyers will be able to:</p>
<ul>
<li>    Buy for a better price</li>
<li>    Have more negotiating power</li>
<li>    Have more choice of property available to them</li>
<li>    Have more time on their side to choose their next home</li>
<li>    Get tens of thousands of dollars in grants and duty concessions to assist them</li>
</ul>
<p>He gave a few few words of caution for potential buyers to heed when buying in an oversupplied market.</p>
<p>"You have to be careful in your choice of location. Pick a desirable area close to amenities with easy access to major employment hubs. Once the oversupply has been absorbed (which might take a few years), prices will begin rising again in good quality suburbs.</p>
<p>"Be careful in your choice of product. Focus on good quality developments and choose an apartment that has some unique features, such as a particularly large floor plan, generous balconies or courtyards, great privacy, views or a north aspect. Avoid small uninspiring apartments in developments where every property is the same.</p>
<p>"Shop around for finance. Some lenders are avoiding certain postcodes (primarily central CBD areas) not because they’re bad areas to buy in, but because the oversupply creates too much short-term risk for the banks. So you’ll need to talk to a broker to find out which lenders are appropriate for you if you want to buy in these areas.</p>
<p>"Buy for the long term. I can’t stress this enough. The oversupply will take some time to run its course. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you need to sell during the oversupply period. Oversupplies are only advantageous to buyers.</p>
<p>"Here is a brief overview of the grants and stamp duty concessions available in each state and territory. For more comprehensive information, go to <a href="https://www.firsthome.gov.au" target="_blank">www.firsthome.gov.au</a>."</p>
<p><strong>New South Wales</strong></p>
<p><strong>Grants</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Grant (New Homes) scheme</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $750,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Amount: $10,000</p>
<p><strong>Stamp duty concessions</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home – New Home scheme</p>
<p>Eligible price point: Full exemption up to $550,000, concessional rates for new homes valued between $550,000 and $650,000</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p><strong>Victoria</strong></p>
<p><strong>Grants</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Grant</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $750,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Amount: $10,000</p>
<p><strong>Stamp duty concessions</strong></p>
<p>Name: First home buyer duty reduction</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $600,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: All properties</p>
<p>Amount: Up to 50% discount on stamp duty</p>
<p>Note: A second scheme called the Off-the-Plan Concession provides a further discount specifically for off-the-plan purchases</p>
<p><strong>Queensland</strong></p>
<p><strong>Grants</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owners’ Grant</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $750,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Amount: $20,000 until June 30, 2017</p>
<p><strong>Stamp duty concessions</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Concession</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $550,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: All properties</p>
<p>Amount: Stamp duty exempt to $500,000, sliding scale from $500,000 - $549,000 </p>
<p>Note: A second scheme called the Home Concession provides stamp duty concessions on all properties at any price point purchased for owner-occupation. If your first home is above $550,000, you can apply for a concession through this scheme</p>
<p><strong>Australian Capital Territory</strong></p>
<p><strong>Grants</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Grant</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $750,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Amount: $10,000</p>
<p><strong>Stamp duty concessions</strong></p>
<p>Name: Home Buyer Concession Scheme</p>
<p>Eligible price point: Full concession up to $455,000; sliding scale to $585,000</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Other criteria: Gross income thresholds apply. For example, the threshold for applicants without children is $160,000. You do not need to be a first home buyer but you cannot have owned property for the past two years</p>
<p>Amount: Stamp duty reduced to just $20 on properties worth $455,000 or less</p>
<p><strong>Western Australia</strong></p>
<p><strong>Grants</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Grant</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $750,000 cap on properties south of the 26th parallel (i.e. Perth metropolitan areas) and $1 million cap on homes north of the 26th parallel</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Amount: $10,000</p>
<p><strong>Stamp duty concessions</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Rate of Duty</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $530,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: All properties</p>
<p>Amount: Stamp duty exempt on homes worth $430,000 or less. Sliding scale of concessions on homes valued $431,000 - $530,000</p>
<p><strong>South Australia</strong></p>
<p><strong>Grants</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Grant</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $575,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Amount: $15,000</p>
<p><strong>Stamp duty concessions</strong></p>
<p>Name: Off-the-Plan Apartment Concession</p>
<p>Eligible price point: No threshold</p>
<p>Eligible properties: Off-the-plan apartments</p>
<p>Amount: Partial concessions available until June 30, 2017. Amount depends on the stage of construction at the time of purchase</p>
<p><strong>Northern Territory</strong></p>
<p><strong>Grants</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Grant</p>
<p>Eligible price point: No threshold</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Amount: $26,000 plus a further grant of up to $2,000 under the Household Goods Grant Scheme</p>
<p><strong>Stamp duty concessions</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Discount</p>
<p>Eligible price point: $650,000 or less</p>
<p>Eligible properties: Established properties</p>
<p>Amount: Stamp duty exempt up to $500,000; sliding scale to $650,000. Flat $10,000 duty discount for homes worth more than $650,000</p>
<p><strong>Tasmania</strong></p>
<p><strong>Grants</strong></p>
<p>Name: First Home Owner Grant</p>
<p>Eligible price point: No threshold</p>
<p>Eligible properties: New homes</p>
<p>Amount: $20,000 until June 30, 2017 and $10,000 from July 1, 2017</p>
<p><strong>Stamp duty concessions</strong></p>
<p>None available</p>
</body></html>

John McGrath sees big opportunities for first home buyers

<html><body>
<p>A survey of first home buyers has found most would not consider asking parents to go guarantor on their home loan</p>
<p>The annual First Home Buyer survey from Mortgage Choice found Victoria had highest proportion of first home buyers who would not ask parents for help.</p>
<p>Mortgage Choice chief executive officer John Flavell said 59.7 percent of respondents to the survey would not consider asking their parents to go guarantor on their home loan and one reason is because they don’t understand what guarantor loans are and how they work. </p>
<p>“While guarantor loans have been around for a while, they have only enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent times," he said.</p>
<p>"As such, many first home buyers may not even be aware that guarantor loans exist.</p>
<p>“In addition, some first home buyers may feel as though they need to be able to prove they can buy a home on their own and don’t want to burden their parents by asking them to go guarantor on their loan.</p>
<p>“Nearly 65 percent of Victorian-based first home buyers said they would not consider asking their parents to go guarantor on their loan.</p>
<p>"With home prices rising month after month, many first home buyers were finding it increasingly difficult to get their foot onto the property ladder without some form of financial assistance.</p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="198">
<p class="ColorfulList-Accent11"><strong>Would you consider asking your parents to go guarantor on your loan?</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="44">
<p class="ColorfulList-Accent11" align="center"><strong>National</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="44">
<p class="ColorfulList-Accent11" align="center"><strong>NSW</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="44">
<p class="ColorfulList-Accent11" align="center"><strong>VIC</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="44">
<p class="ColorfulList-Accent11" align="center"><strong>QLD</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="44">
<p class="ColorfulList-Accent11" align="center"><strong>SA</strong></p>
</td>
<td width="44">
<p class="ColorfulList-Accent11" align="center"><strong>WA</strong></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="198">
<p>Yes</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>35.7%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>43.8%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>32.5%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>37.5%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>31.9%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>33.7%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="198">
<p>No</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>59.7%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>52.7%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>64.9%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>59.2%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>58.5%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>62.9%</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="198">
<p>My parents and I don't know/ understand what guarantor is</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>4.6%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>3.5%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>2.6%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>3.3%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>9.6%</p>
</td>
<td valign="top" width="44">
<p>3.4%</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p>“Not only are property prices rising across most capital cities, but all of the states have now removed the first home buyer grant for those wishing to purchase an established dwelling.</p>
<p>He said according to Mortgage Choice data more than 80 percent of first home buyers will look to purchase an established dwelling, meaning the vast majority of first timers will not receive any type of government financial incentive.</p>
<p>“With that in mind, there are plenty of reasons why a first home buyer may need financial assistance from their family. And while it is clear the majority of first home buyers are uncomfortable about asking a parent to go guarantor on their loan, there is a lot of benefits associated with this type of loan structure.   </p>
<p>“A guarantor can not only help first home buyers get their foot on the property ladder sooner rather than later, but they can also help them to avoid paying potentially costly Lenders Mortgage Insurance.</p>
<p>He stressed it was important to speak to a mortgage professional.</p>
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

First home buyers reluctant to ask parents for help

<html><body>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>We traded in a car this week for about a twentieth of what it was bought for when new.</p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Not so keen so reproduce this underwhelming result, in its stead I bought a 2012 Ford with 36,000 clicks on the clock, for around half of its 'as new' price. A bit more palatable.  </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Being no spring chicken any longer, I could obviously afford to buy new, but it's only a runabout and buying second hand simply offers far superior value. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Besides, I feel I should practice what I preach: when compounded over a couple of decades, $20,000 could be worth quite a lot in the future. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Of course, someone must buy all the new vehicles, else they'd never be sold. But who?</p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Well, some people just like the 'feel' of driving something brand new. And it sometimes makes sense for some company car drivers. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Other people just have money burning a hole in their pocket, I guess, and more power to them...</p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Who buys new dwellings?</p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>In a similar vein, buying new property tends to incur quite a hefty price premium, and for those buying 'off the plan' there is always that nagging risk that the final product doesn't much resemble what was breezily sketched in the brochure (those busy main roads just never seem to feature, hey!). </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Some speculators go down this path anyway, hoping to make a fast capital gain before the property is even constructed. I've seen this work very well (e.g. Barangaroo), but have seen it go wrong more often (too may places to mention).  </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>I must confess I've bought new property in Sydney before, and I'm even considering doing so elsewhere again right now, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone looking for a bargain.</p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Why?</p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>In fact, why would anyone buy new property? It's a bit like buying a new car in many ways. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Well, firstly, some people just like the undeniably fresh feel of an unused dwelling. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Secondly, downsizing Baby Boomers can comfortably afford to buy new for cash using the proceeds from their home sale - so they may elect to buy new, as indeed they have earned the right to. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Thirdly, and unfortunately, some would-be investors attend 'educational' courses which convince them that there are great benefits to buying new, often not realising that the apparent white knights doing the educating are actually salesmen (sometimes egregiously posing as psuedo-financial advisors).  </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>The middlemen/salesmen may secure up to a 6 percent or greater commission from the developer, unbeknownst to the unsuspecting buyer. Goodness knows how this is still allowed to happen, but nevertheless it does. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Nascent self-managed super-funds (SMSFs) and inexperienced investors are key target groups for this type of salesman. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>In truth, there actually are tempting depreciation and other deductions available to investors in new properties, since policy makers know that they must attempt to incentivise investors to buy new dwellings in order to stimulate construction. </p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> </h3>
<p>Strangely these generous benefits are rarely mentioned in the now-traditional annual negative gearing debate.</p>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="/images/2016/10/20/ATO.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></span></h3>
<div id="post-body-4869361016050785926" class="post-body entry-content">
<div>
<div class="separator">
<img src="/images/2016/10/20/ATO.jpg" alt=""> </div>
<div class="separator"> </div>
</div>
<div>That said, if anyone ever throws you this sales pitch in order to flog you a new property, tell them you're considering buying a one-year-old dwelling for the same benefits and gauge their reaction (if they're dead set against the idea, you'll know why: obviously they are angling for a sales commission from the developer). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Fourthly, a high percentage share of the new dwelling stock in Australia is bought by non-residents, a cohort typically restricted from buying established stock (except in certain circumstances, such as for development purposes). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) typically restricts non-residents to new properties or development projects in order to encourage construction, and by and large this policy works. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>For this reason - especially with lenders less than keen to extend finance to offshore buyers of late - non-settlements on new apartments will be one of the most keenly observed market metrics over the next two years. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>And fifthly, purchasing new just suits some buying demographics. It is frequently said that Chinese buyers like unused property to the extent that some don't even let out their new dwellings, in order to keep them in a pristine condition.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div><strong><span>Incentives for first homebuyers</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>For first homebuyers, there are typically incentives available to buy or construct new homes.<br><br>These tend to vary over time, and by state and territory. The available incentives as at September 2016 are summarised in the table below. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/20/INCENTIVES2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/20/INCENTIVES2.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br><div>In the same way that I wouldn't buy a new investment property for the depreciation benefits due to the purchase price premium, first homebuyers should be wary of buying new solely to get their hands on cash grants. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Fortunately, most young people are quite wise to this, and a larger cash grant doesn't necessarily equate to more buyers. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>In August, for example, the housing finance figures recorded only 6 (six!) owner-occupier commitments for the purchase of new dwellings in the Northern Territory, despite a lavish cash grant of $26,000 being available for first-timers!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>That said, well-targeted grants do tend to be effective, as the recently revised first homebuyer statistics showed. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/20/FHB.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/20/FHB.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><span>New dwelling purchases</span></strong></div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div>With such a high share of new dwellings being bought by offshore buyers, particularly from mainland China these days, the domestic housing finance figures only show a part of the story. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Overall, the August housing finance commitments figures showed domestic transaction volumes for new builds holding up well, which is good news for the economy given that there is a record number of completions due over the next two years. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/20/A1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/20/A1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br><div>At the state level, when the original data is plotted in rolling annual terms, it appears that volumes began to increase steadily in each of the most populous states from around 2012 when the interest rate easing cycle commenced in earnest.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/20/A2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/20/A2.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stay and renovate</span></strong><br><div> </div>
<div>Finally for today, various forecasters have long predicted a boom in major renovations.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Generally this makes sense as a concept, for the stamp duty thresholds for the two largest cities were originally designed with much lower purchase prices in mind.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>As such, from the sublime to the ridiculous, stamp duty collection in Sydney has risen to what would previously have been thought of as absurd heights - the state's coffers are literally overflowing!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Homeowners should therefore be incentivised to stay put and renovate rather than incur the punitive transaction costs of moving. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>In the event there has indeed been a decent boom in major renovations activity in Sydney, but to date this has not been replicated elsewhere, and the anticipated contribution to GDP has not yet materialised.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/20/A3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/20/A3.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br><p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
<br><div> </div>
</div>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Five reasons buyers seek new dwellings: Pete Wargent

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<p>The expiry of Tasmania's first home buyer incentives for purchasers of established dwellings in 2014 saw first home buyer demand decline, according to QBE’s latest housing report.</p>
<p>First home buyer demand in the state has since bottomed out and is now in a recovery phase, the report said.</p>
<p>Loans to first home buyers increased by an annual 6% in 2015/16 and the rising trend has been accelerating, with loans to first home buyers in June quarter 2016 being 24% higher than the same period a year earlier.</p>
<p>It is likely that some of this demand stems from increased interstate migration. In contrast, purchase activity by upgraders and downsizers has been easing, with loans to non–first home buyers having fallen by 4% in 2015/16.</p>
<p>Demand from investors has also been decreasing, with the total value of loans to investors having fallen by an annual 13% in 2015/16. As with the other states, tightened lending policy by the banks is containing investor demand, although the decline in 2015/16 has been lower than the national decline.</p>
<p>Rental growth has been largely flat and vacancy rates are close to balance at just under 3% through 2015/16.</p>
<p>House prices in Hobart were flat in 2014/15, but picked up in 2015/16, with the median house price increasing by 5.2%. Tasmania’s net interstate migration outflow has been steadily declining since peaking in 2011/12, and interstate migration is on track to record a net inflow in 2015/16.</p>
<p>Part of the driver of this recovery is likely to be increased “tree changers” downsizing from the more expensive mainland capitals, while there are also likely to be many returnees from the mining states who contributed to the higher net interstate migration outflows of recent years.</p>
<p>House price growth has been unevenly spread across the Local Government Areas of Hobart. Median house price growth has been particularly strong in Hobart (10.1%), Clarence (8.4%) and Kingborough (6.9%). Glenorchy (1.1%) and Brighton (2.8%) saw more moderate house price growth while Sorell (–3.3%) experienced a decline in its median house price. The overall Greater Hobart median grew 5.2% over 2015/16.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/14/Table%2012.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/14/Table%2012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2016/10/14/Table%2012.jpg" alt=""></a></p>
<p>The Tasmanian economy has been weak in recent years. A high Australian dollar and slow population growth have added to general economic weakness. However, improved household spending, non–residential building activity and improving exports suggest a stronger economic recovery.</p>
<p>The weakening Australian dollar should support growth in tourism while the agricultural and mining industries should also benefit. The state unemployment rate fell from 7.8% at March 2014 to 6.6% at March 2016. Greater Hobart has a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the state, having fallen from 6.7% to 6.1% over the same period.</p>
<p>Greater Hobart has also been the main destination for migrants from overseas, interstate and the rest of Tasmania, with its population rising by 0.8% in 2014/15 while the population of the rest of Tasmania was flat.</p>
<p>On the supply side, completions at the state level have continued to rise while underlying demand has been slow. This has seen Tasmania’s dwelling surplus climb from 4,800 dwellings to an estimated 5,300 dwellings at June 2016. Given the disparity between population growth, it is likely that the oversupply is greater in regional Tasmania.</p>
<p>Reflecting lower income levels and fewer drivers of employment, Hobart has the lowest median house price compared to the other state capitals. Its relative affordability compared to other capital cities is a significant driver of demand as interstate migrants seek a more affordable market.</p>
<p>The current low interest rate environment is expected to improve affordability and spur purchaser demand, the QBE report said. Poor affordability in Melbourne and Sydney is expected to fuel further migration to Tasmanian cities, a trend already evident with the net interstate inflow forecast to increase further to 1,000 persons in 2016/17 and 2017/18.</p>
<p>Click to open chart in new window</p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/10/14/Chart%2030.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Overall, the gradual recovery in the local economy and interstate migration is expected to underpin price growth, while the presence of an excess dwelling stock at the state level will likely limit price growth to more moderate levels. Hobart’s median house price is forecast to rise from $377,900 at June 2016 to $425,000 by June 2019, reflecting growth of around 4% per annum or a cumulative 12.5%.</p>
<p>With a significantly smaller unit market, and thus a smaller sample of sales volumes to measure the median, movement in the median unit price in Hobart can be much more volatile from quarter to quarter. Overall, however, median unit prices have been in a gradual decline since its peak median price of $420,000 in June 2011.</p>
<p>With falling investor demand, the unit market could experience the greatest impact as investor purchasers have traditionally been more prevalent buying units.</p>
<p>This softness is expected to continue to dampen demand, limiting median unit price growth to a forecast 1%–2% per annum through to 2018/19. This is forecast by QBE to push the median unit price to $315,000 at June 2019; a cumulative growth of 4.5% over the forecast period.</p>
</body></html>

Hobart first home buyers in recovery stage: QBE Housing Outlook

<html><body>
<p>First home buyer demands have remain unchanged compared to two years ago while investor demands have declined by 20 percent, according to QBE's latest housing outlook report.</p>
<p>This is illustrated in the change in moving annual turnover of residential loans to first home buyers, non–first home buyers (i.e. upgraders and downsizers, as illustrated in chart 4 which include all purchases made for owner occupation and where the buyer has previously owned another dwelling) and investors.</p>
<p>The chart represents trends for Australia, which masks some differences across the states, as outlined later in this report.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/13/Chart%204.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/10/13/Chart%204.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>First home buyer demand has been declining since the end of calendar 2014. In 2015/16 the number of first home buyer loans was 1.8% below the year prior. Loans to non–first home buyers rose by 7.1% in 2015/16, after recording an annual 0.9% rise in 2014/15.</p>
<p>Growth in loans to investors peaked in 2014 and has steadily slowed before recording a decline in 2015/16. Monthly loans to investors have been below the same month a year earlier since August 2015, which has corresponded with the timing of tightening bank lending policy toward investors. The total annual decline in the value of loans to investors in 2015/16 was 16.8%.</p>
<p>First home buyer demand is important because it creates demand for entry–level properties, facilitating broader demand by encouraging current occupiers to upgrade through the value chain. As a result, incentives have often been put in place to promote first home buyer demand during times of market weakness.</p>
<p>Table 3 shows existing state and federal government incentives offered to first home buyers. It refers to grants available specifically to first home buyers and not broader grants and incentives first home buyers can also access. Where stamp duty concessions are offered, the maximum concession is indicated. It should be noted there are some purchase price limits for grant eligibility which vary by state.</p>
<p>Over the past five years there have been progressive changes in first home buyer incentives across all states to favour purchasers of new homes over existing homes. The long–term impact will be a shift of first home buyer demand that would have otherwise been for established homes into the new home market, thereby adding to supply.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/13/Table%203.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/10/13/Table%203.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>The short–term impacts on the market as a result of the progressive removal of incentives for the purchase of established dwellings are:</p>
<p>• Future first home buyer demand was brought forward to take advantage of the grants before they expire, leaving a vacuum of first home buyers in the established market immediately afterwards.</p>
<p>• A delay in the next round of first home buyers who then have to accumulate a larger deposit to compensate for the lack of financial assistance. In periods where prices are rising, this delay could take longer as the deposit hurdle progressively increases.</p>
<p>With first home owner demand being fixed (i.e. households are first home buyers only once), incentives do not create or diminish demand but rather serve to shift existing demand through time. Once the impacts of the changes to incentives are worked through, first home buyer demand should return to long–term averages.</p>
<p>This is likely to be the case in the coming years with first home buyer incentives now being relatively stable.</p>
<p>Tasmania and South Australia removed the first home buyer incentives for existing dwellings in July 2014 and have accordingly shown higher first home buyer activity in 2015/16 as they progressively recover to long–term levels.</p>
<p>Victoria experienced 5.6% growth in first home buyer loans in 2015/16, with the 9.3% year–on–year growth in June quarter 2016 suggesting that first home buyer activity is strengthening.</p>
<p>In Queensland first home buyer loans have been stable in recent years with little to no change in the number of loans over 2014/15 and 2015/16.</p>
<p>New South Wales has been similarly flat, recording recent marginal declines in loans, but the average annual number of loans in New South Wales in the five years to 2015/16 is down 32% on the average over the six years to 2010/11.</p>
<p>Western Australia experienced a decline in first home buyer loans in 2015/16, caused by a deteriorating economy, and the fact that first home buyer demand had held up strongly between 2011/12 and 2014/15.</p>
<p>The Northern Territory removed the incentives for existing dwellings in January 2015 and accordingly first home buyer activity was significantly lower in 2015/16, although the pace of decline was beginning to slow by June quarter 2016.</p>
<p>The Australian Capital Territory has also shown declining numbers of loans to first home buyers after a peak in activity in 2014/15.</p>
<p>Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data on loans to first home buyers are derived from returns submitted by financial institutions to APRA at the time of the loan approval.</p>
<p>A first home buyer is defined as “a borrower entering the home ownership market for the first time”. The definition includes all first home buyers obtaining a loan (and not just those eligible for grants) but excludes first home buyers who are investors as the data relates to loans for owner occupied properties.</p>
<p>There is some evidence to suggest that an increasing percentage of first home buyers, particularly in the higher priced cities of Sydney and Melbourne, are purchasing an investment property as their first home as a stepping stone into the market.</p>
<p><a href="/images/2016/10/13/Chart%205.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></p>
<p><img src="/images/2016/10/13/Chart%205.jpg" alt=""></p>
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First home buyer demand declining as non-first home buyer loans increase: QBE Housing outlook

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<div id="post-body-9168898991581718703" class="post-body entry-content">
<div>The ABS produced its muchly awaited revised first home buyer numbers yesterday. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>As flagged previously, the numbers are a bit lower than previously reported, although the month to month movements remained broadly consistent with what we have already seen. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The statistics more or less confirm what we already knew: that there are fewer first homebuyer loans being written than there were in the lead up to the financial crisis (though actually not that many fewer Australia-wide). </div>
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<div><a href="/images/2016/10/12/B1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/12/B1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br><div>Unfortunately the figures don't shed any light on how many first-time buyers have elected to buy an investment property instead of a home (which the NAB survey implies more than accounts for the downward shift in first homebuyer numbers). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>And nor does these series cover first homes bought without finance i.e. for cash, thanks to the so-termed 'bank of Mum and Dad'.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Unlike Britain, Australia doesn't have agonizingly high rates of inheritance tax, and thus in my opinion inequality is likely to increase in favour of those lucky folks with wealthy parents. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sydney effect</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Drilling down to the state level, not at all surprisingly the impact of higher prices on first homebuyers has been felt most keenly in Sydney. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Not that we actually needed a graph to confirm this!<br><br>Even the majority of middle-aged peeps have given up trying to buy homes in the more desirable suburbs, while investors have practically been running riot since mid-2012. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/12/B2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/12/B2.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br>Elsewhere there doesn't seem to me to have been all that much of a change.<br><br><div><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Loan sizes revised down</span></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>The data for the average first homebuyer loan size has been revised down for recent years, although the chart patterns still tend to mirror the averages for non-first homebuyers. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>One interesting observation here is that the average first homebuyer loan size over the past ten years has not increased at the same rate as median house prices. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/12/B3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/12/B3.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>You could read any number of things into this statistic (and no doubt people will!). </div>
<div> </div>
<div>For example, the figures could support the recently held argument that parents are tipping in far greater deposits than they were during 2008 and 2009, being the period when the first home owners grant (FHOG) was doubled. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>It has to be said that the divergence does seem to begin at the right time for that to be the case.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Anyhoo, here are the figures at the state level, which I've just tidied up on a 3mMA basis to smooth out some of the jagged edges (the chart'd give you a headache otherwise). </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/12/B4.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/12/B4.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br><div>First homebuyers look to be steadily gearing up again in Queensland, and particularly in Tassie of late, as the Hobart market tightens and rents rise.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div>In 2014, first homebuyers in Western Australia were taking on larger loans on average than anywhere in the country. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>And in 2015, the Northern Territory became the very epicentre of first homebuyer extravagance. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>This is no longer the case - in either location. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
</div>
</div>
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What's going down with first home buyers? Pete Wargent

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<div id="title">
<p>What are the government grants for first home buyers in your state or territory?</p>
<p>The First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) scheme was introduced on 1 July 2000 to offset the effect of the GST on home ownership. It is a national scheme funded by the states and territories and administered under their own legislation.</p>
<p>Under the scheme, one-off grants are still payable to first home owners that satisfy the eligibility criteria.</p>
<p>To see if you are eligible, click on the links below the correspond to the state or territory you are looking to purchase in.</p>
</div>
<div id="generalinfo">
<p><span>New South Wales State Government</span></p>
<p><span><a href="https://www.osr.nsw.gov.au/grants" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/07/28/nsw.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="138"></a></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Australian Capital Territory </p>
<p><a href="https://www.revenue.act.gov.au/home-buyer-assistance/first-home-owner-grant" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2015/07/28/ACT%20Logo.gif" alt=""></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Northern Territory State Government</p>
<p><a href="https://www.treasury.nt.gov.au/TaxesRoyaltiesAndGrants/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/07/28/nt1.jpg" alt=""></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Queensland State Government</p>
<p><a href="https://greatstartgrant.osr.qld.gov.au/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2015/07/28/qld.png" alt=""></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Government of South Australia</p>
<p><a href="https://www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2015/07/28/sa.png" alt="" width="309" height="206"></a></p>
<p>Tasmanian Government</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sro.tas.gov.au/" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2015/07/28/tas.png" alt=""></a></p>
<p>State Revenue Office of Victoria</p>
<p><a href="https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/07/28/album_photos_medium_28.jpg" alt=""></a></p>
<p>Government of Western Australia</p>
<p><a href="https://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/State_Revenue/FHOG/First_Home_Owner_Grant.aspx" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/07/28/govOfWATextColour_283x268.jpg" alt=""></a></p>
</div>
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National roundup of first home buyer grants

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<p>Singles earning an average income have been priced out of the property market from nearly all of Australia’s capital cities, a new report shows.</p>
<p>An analysis by financial comparison website RateCity.com.au shows that Hobart and Adelaide remain the last affordable capital cities for the nation's singles with a salary of $59,441 and $72,529 needed respectively to afford repayments on a 30-year mortgage (with a deposit of 20% at today's average variable rate of 4.74%). The industry rule that no more than 30 percent of a person’s income should go towards housing costs was applied to arrive at the figures.</p>
<p>The east coast remains the most unaffordable, with Sydney topping the list of tough markets for singles to crack. A person wanting to buy in the harbour city needs a six-figure salary of $137,556 to comfortably fund a mortgage on a median-priced house.</p>
<p>Someone looking to buy in Brisbane or Melbourne would require an $80,866 and $96,706 salary respectively to afford a median priced house, while in Canberra the salary needed would be $97,756.</p>
<p>According to Peter Arnold, data insights director at RateCity.com.au, the report raises further concerns that rising property prices across many cities in the country are forcing Australians out of the market. This could fundamentally impact the nation's demographics and service needs in the years ahead, he said.</p>
<p>“Our analysis reveals a reality that many young Australians are now living; the impossibility of affording a median-priced house on an average salary in most capital cities,” Arnold said.</p>
<p>“Without a partner or family member to share mortgage costs with, the numbers paint a grim picture for millennials, many of which may be squeezed out. Even as part of a couple, east coast property prices are out of reach for many Australians.”</p>
<p>“Many first home buyers, including young families, may find that they have to move away from careers in the CBD and the support of families to more affordable parts of Australia. This could have long-term effects on Australian society and bring with it challenges for the future in many areas, including transport and childcare.”</p>
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