Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" dir="auto">
<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" dir="auto">
The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Eastern Suburbs buyers snap up ESTE Little Bay apartments

Home Loans

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVATION 
Average loan sizes took a knock back in September 2018, both for investors and owner-occupiers, although the average loan size remained higher than a year earlier (substantially so for first-time buyers), so perhaps this in itself isn't all that surprising under tighter lending conditions.
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bxxzaICFUWk/W-dWLQiV_iI/AAAAAAAAsyE/LZZIlGnEfz0aTGbUPXMg9XKFHBKyGuutACLcBGAs/s1600/A1.jpg"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bxxzaICFUWk/W-dWLQiV_iI/AAAAAAAAsyE/LZZIlGnEfz0aTGbUPXMg9XKFHBKyGuutACLcBGAs/s640/A1.jpg" width="640" height="364" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1380"></a>
It doesn't matter if you're borrowing at a rate of 4 per cent or even lower today, you'll still be assessed at 7¼ per cent, so there's oodles of headroom, but mortgage processing seems to have become a painstaking process and transaction volumes have crashed.
Frozen fever
The weak ABS housing finance figures - <a href="http://petewargent.blogspot.com/2018/11/housing-finance-smashed" target="_blank">see here</a> - don't pick up the full extent of this yet, especially since there are still thousands of apartments settling from off-the-plan purchases, but the apartments pipeline has shrunk quite dramatically of late so the line in the chart below will continue to fall through 2019.
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSCHgfvGr1w/W-dWLzhUQGI/AAAAAAAAsyI/2pcJj36ptkwCZXstlXjoC_LxGT9q288eQCLcBGAs/s1600/A2.jpg"><img src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NSCHgfvGr1w/W-dWLzhUQGI/AAAAAAAAsyI/2pcJj36ptkwCZXstlXjoC_LxGT9q288eQCLcBGAs/s640/A2.jpg" width="640" height="376" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1354"></a>
It's not all doom and gloom for realtors, or property owners, especially around some of the regional markets. 
And the urban services economy is buzzing with people and employment, so some properties with a scarcity value are still faring well with mortgage rates so much lower than they used to be. 
There was an auction just across the street from our place <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-pyrmont-129585290" target="_blank">in Sydney yesterday</a> with Cooley's auctioneers reporting a whopping 41 bids and a thumping price tag of $2.675 million, implying that borrowers with equity and of high credit quality are being treated with reverence by increasingly twitchy lenders.
I don't go to Melbourne much unless I have to (kidding lol...I'm down there next week), but the <a href="http://www.catebakos.com.au/sundayblog/the-correlation-between-property-scarcity-and-auction-result/" target="_blank">experts in the know down there</a> will doubtless report a similar story about demand and scarcity value. 
Make no mistake, though, many parts of the housing market are being smoked, volumes have been crunched, and they'll be plenty of real estate agents seeking alternative forms of employment in 2019, if they aren't already. 
Non-bank lenders have alleviated some of the pressure, though volumes were down here too in September. 
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCv9kDxCafs/W-deCU2gi2I/AAAAAAAAsyg/sz8G6eOtlV89m1Ty6lnVc_-VnK6LjcHRQCLcBGAs/s1600/Nonbanks.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jCv9kDxCafs/W-deCU2gi2I/AAAAAAAAsyg/sz8G6eOtlV89m1Ty6lnVc_-VnK6LjcHRQCLcBGAs/s640/Nonbanks.jpg" width="640" height="378" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1357"></a>
The Treasurer has evidently become a tad agitated, requesting that banks keep their lending channels open to prevent money growth from seizing up more than it already has. 
Financial markets haven't been unduly fazed, on the whole, presumably adopting a benign stance in the belief that an engineered slowdown in lending could be relaxed.
Meanwhile bank stock valuations have largely followed international leads through reporting season, following an initial relief rally after the draft Royal Commission report was released. 
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-qru6R6i7Y/W-dg9oi5hMI/AAAAAAAAsys/dsfNvbv7jyYnVcWNF_ebCQEh41_rQwhIACLcBGAs/s1600/CBA2.jpg"><img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-qru6R6i7Y/W-dg9oi5hMI/AAAAAAAAsys/dsfNvbv7jyYnVcWNF_ebCQEh41_rQwhIACLcBGAs/s640/CBA2.jpg" width="640" height="382" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1338"></a>
Finally, spare a thought for those that bought units off-the-plan in some of the big inner-city tower block developments, with settlement valuations often coming in way short of purchase prices as valuers look nervously over their shoulders. 
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.
</body></html>

pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Loan sizes trimmed in September: Pete Wargent

<html><body>
ASX listed non-bank lender Homeloans and Resimac, which merged in 2016, are to be renamed and relaunched as Resimac Group, subject to shareholder approval.
The companies have been operating under separate brands since the merger. They are expected to combine operations under the same name in early December.
A spokesman for Homeloans said mortgage brokers will continue to deal with the same administrative and lending teams.
An announcement is pending on the branding of its wholesale funding range, but the existing range of products are not expected to be changed.
Resimac's business model primarily consists of the sale of mortgages financed through funding in the wholesale market, whilst Homeloans focuses on originating loans that are funded through other lenders, which include banks and non-bank lenders such as Resimac.
Resimac is a player in the residential mortgage backed securities market, raising billions of funding through the issuance of bonds.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Homeloans and Resimac to be relaunched as Resimac Group

<html><body>
Moody's Investors Service says that mortgage delinquency rates in Australia will increase moderately through 2019.
It has been broadly stable over the past 12 months. Within the 20 postcodes with the lowest mortgage delinquencies in Australia, eight were in Sydney and seven in Melbourne.
"Softening housing market conditions — particularly in the key states of New South Wales and Victoria — combined with high household leverage, higher interest rates and the conversion of interest-only mortgages to principal and interest repayments, will push up delinquency rates," says Jacqui Dredge, a Moody's Analyst.
"Nevertheless, macroeconomic conditions will remain supportive, such that the increase in delinquencies will prove moderate."
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/29/moodys%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/10/29/moodys%201.jpg" alt="">
Moody's analysis is contained in its report on the RMBS mortgage delinquency market,
The proportion of Australian residential mortgages that were more than 30 days in arrears registered 1.58% in May 2018 compared with 1.62% in May 2017.<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/29/moodys%202.jpg" target="_blank"> </a>
Delinquencies fell moderately in all states except New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) over the year to May 2018.
Moody's report also says that Western Australia and Queensland dominate the list of worst performing regions.
Specifically, seven of the 10 regions with the highest 30-plus delinquency rates in May 2018 were in either Western Australia or Queensland, impacted by the after-effects of the mining boom unwinding.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/29/moodys%203.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/10/29/moodys%203.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Home loan arrears to rise moderately in 2019: Moody's

<html><body>
The number of same sex home loans are on the rise, according to new data from mortgage broker Aussie Home Loans.
The research shows that women are more likely than men to partner up to buy a home. Female couples made up 55 percent of same-sex joint loans taken out in FY18, up from 50 percent in FY14.
There has also been a gradual increase in the number of single female loans compared with single male loans.
Inner-west suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney are the most popular for same-sex couples.
New South Wales is the most popular among male couples, with six of the top nine suburbs coming from the Harbour capital.
Redfern, Surry Hills and Erskineville are the most popular areas for male couples in New South Wales. In Melbourne Footscray, Prahran and Coburg are the most popular.
It's the opposite for female same-sex loans. The most popular areas in Melbourne, who have the six most popular suburbs to Sydney's three.
They're looking at property in Brunswick, Craigieburn and Yarraville, while Randwick, Stanmore and Marrickville are the most popular in inner Sydney.
James Symond, CEO of Aussie Home Loans, said he expects to see significant growth from same-sex loans.
“We are delighted to be providing more loans to same-sex joint applicants, whether they are couples or singles partnering up," he said.
"I expect to see significant growth from these customers for years to come thanks to the legalisation of same-sex marriage and savvy singles - and in particular women - who are looking to join forces to get a foot on the property ladder.
“No matter if you are single, a couple or buying with a friend, nothing beats a quality, face-to-face conversation when you are talking about a big commitment like a home loan.
"There’s a bit of doom and gloom out there about how difficult it can be, but we think it’s better with a broker. So don’t assume buying a property is a million miles away – it could be closer than you think.
“In fact, I’m so confident an appointment with an Aussie Broker will be time well spent, I guarantee it. If, after meeting with one of our brokers, a customer does not think it was worth their while, $100 is theirs*,” he added. 
Aussie data also reveals that all female home loans (single and joint same-sex) are settled at an average age of 41 years, compared to 38 years for all male loans. The average age for joint mixed gender loan customers is 40 years. 
Men consistently borrow more than women, with single and joint male loan sizes averaging $293,619 and $337,182 respectively, compared to $262,591 and $316,405 for single and same-sex females.
 “There is unfortunately a clear disparity between men and women in home loans, which I believe can be linked back to a persistent income gap," Symond said.
“Our data shows the average individual income for single male customers is 17 per cent higher than single females, and 12 per cent higher for joint same-sex customers.
"That’s not an insignificant amount, and could ultimately be the cause of women’s delayed entry into property.”
<h1> </h1>
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Same sex home loans on the rise: Aussie Home Loans

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
In the current financial climate every move you make is being scrutinised, with even your dinner choice having an impact on your future lending potential. 
Personal spending habits on things like clothes, holidays and take away food are becoming a factor when a bank considers a loan application.
With increased scrutiny into the banking industry and tighter controls on lending, obtaining finance a real issue for prospective home owners.
The banks are simply not lending anyone any money.
It’s across the board, it’s first, second and third home buyers. These people can’t get the funds.
In the past banks would work out a multiple of your income, less your big stuff like car debts and exposure to credit cards. Now, they’re looking at your bank statements to see how often you have takeaway food.
APRA want increased security on the amount the banks are lending to home owners, so the balance has shifted. The banks haven’t changed their guidelines, but they are just applying them far more stringently now.
Despite this though, Gemmill says Australians can ensure they do not run into credit problems, by following simple rules.
Being prepared before applying for a loan and making easy changes to their lifestyle in the months preceding a credit application can make all the difference.
The most practical advice we can give, is make sure you are organised before you apply. Understand that everything you do is going to come under more scrutiny.
It’s not just a simple process anymore. Technology has been a real game changer. No one uses cash, so everything can be tracked when you use your cards.
Make an informed decision before you buy, knowing that someone is watching you.
Most people are hearing about problems post applying for a home loan and an issue has come up in a credit check.
You can’t do much about it then, but you can be better organised and make small changes before you apply.
If you’re a day late paying your credit card, if you overdraw your account, that is all reported and that affects your credit score. 
Simple changes can make a huge difference. If owning a home is important to you, make it the priority.
Be Organised – go to the bank with as much information as possible. Include expenditures, discretionary income, school fees and other costs.
Minimise your expenses – Once issues are discovered in a credit application it is difficult to overcome them. Work on minimising unnecessary spending in the months prior to applying. Less Uber Eats could have a significant impact on your chances of approval.
Compulsory credit reporting – In place since July 2018, all banks have a responsibility to put all information into a personalised credit files, giving them more information on customers and impacting your credit score. If you’re a day late on your credit card, it is reported.
Technology tells all – Everyone of your transactions is being tracked and it could come back to haunt you come application time. You may regret the $300 you spent on clothes.
Afterpay Evils – Credit schemes like Afterpay are classified as a debt and can be viewed in the same way as a credit card. Similarly, if you miss a payment and are charged interest, it could be potentially viewed as a default.
Craig Gemmill is the managing director of Gemmill Homes.
</body></html>

How ordering too many Uber Eats can damage your home loan chances

<html><body>
Rams Financial Group featured prominently in home loan disputes dealt with by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) during the 2017/18 financial year.
FOS received 43,684 disputes from consumers of financial services in the year to June, up 11% on the previous year.
There were 11,295 credit disputes, accounting for 43% of the disputes accepted into case management – an increase of 3% over the previous year. The main products in dispute were credit cards and home loans.
Rather than publish the raw number of disputes for each financial institution, FOS provides a measure called “chance of a dispute coming to FOS”, which shows the number of disputes relative to the size of the business.
For example in home financing, Rams Financial Group had the highest chance of a home loan dispute, with a rating of 66, meaning the likelihood of a Rams home loan customer taking a dispute to FOS is 66 in 100,000.
Other home lenders with relatively high dispute ratings were Bank of Queensland, at 45.3, Suncorp (39.6), ANZ (37.4), Bankwest (36.3) as well as Bendigo and Adelaide Bank (33.9).
Another indicator of user dissatisfaction with Rams is that almost a third of those who left reviews for Rams services gave them 1 star, with the most common complaints being a lack of communication, unexpected fees and rate hikes that were higher than advertised rates.
</body></html>

Think before dealing with RAMS, BOQ, Suncorp and ANZ for home loans

<html><body>
New research by ING reveals 51% of all Aussie home loan holders fear they’ll never be able to pay off their home loan.
Some 40% are concerned they’ll carry their mortgage into retirement.
The research confirmed that 82% are paying down more than what’s required most years.
The research comes as ING launches Everyday Round Up for Home Loans, a digital tool that enables ING customers to round up the loose change from their card purchases to pay down their ING mortgage. 
Card purchases made through ING’s Orange Everyday account are rounded up to the nearest $1 or $5 and the extra amount is automatically shifted from the customer’s Orange Everyday account to pay down the mortgage. 
ING’s head of retail banking, Melanie Evans says the loose change in less than a year has helped over 160,000 customers collectively save $32 million.
ING estimates that customers who round up $50 each month to their 30 year owner occupier Mortgage Simplifier mortgage of $350,000 could shave 19 months or save $14,000 in interest by rounding up their loose change.
It assumes the customer puts down a 20% deposit and makes principal and interest repayments.
</body></html>

Anxious home loan holders seek fast lane to pay off their mortgage early

<html><body>
Bankwest, which is owned by CBA, the nation's largest lender, has raised its standard variable rates.
It did so for principal and interest and interest-only home buyers.
The bank is raising rates by 15 basis points.
It puts the new standard variable rate at 5.57% for a owner-occupier principal and interest borrower and 5.92% for an interest-only.
For investors the new rates will be 6.22% and 6.47%.
Rowan Munchenberg, the Bankwest managing director, blamed the increases on a "sustained increase" in wholesale funding costs. 
"They have risen significantly since the beginning of the year," Munchenberg told Fairfax Media.
</body></html>

Bankwest raises its home loan rates

<html><body>
The financial comparison company Canstar has released its latest home loan ratings.
The company looked at a total of 5,394 property loans with 3,192 of those meeting its eligibility criteria.
The top 10% of loans assessed achieve a 5-Star Rating for “offering outstanding value” in the following profiles:
<ul>
<li>Owner occupier: An individual either refinancing an existing property, purchasing a new property or constructing a new property.</li>
<li>Investor: An individual either refinancing an existing investment property or purchasing an investment property.</li>
<li>Line of credit: An individual who borrows credit against their property as security.</li>
</ul>
Canstar’s Group finance expert, Steve Mickenbecker said that borrowers need to be wary of rising interest rates.
“Not all lenders have put up their rates yet, but most rely on wholesale funding to some degree and will be feeling the pressure of the increasing costs of those funds,” Mickenbecker said.
“The pressure will be flowing through to the profit margins and eventually most are likely to follow with rate hikes.
“Ahead of rate hikes, now is the time to make extra repayments and to take advantage of the banks’ low rate offers to see if you could be getting a better value deal.
“Whether you choose to move lenders or not, it’s a good time to consider fixing your loan’s interest rate to future proof repayments for two or three years while they are manageable.”
You can view the list of Canstar’s <a href="https://www.canstar.com.au/star-rating-reports/home-loans/" target="_blank">top loans</a> for these categories available at their website.
</body></html>

Canstar releases updated five star home loan ratings

<html><body>
Online retailer Kogan is set to launch a range of home loan products.
The new product, which will be called Kogan Money, will partner with Adelaide Bank and Pepper to offer the loans.
David Shafer, executive director at Kogan.com, said the partnerships with Adelaide Bank and Pepper to launch Kogan Money Home Loans will help Aussie homeowners.
"Kogan is excited to partner with Adelaide Bank and Pepper to enable us to offer Aussies a range of competitively price home loans available online," Shafer said.
“Adelaide Bank has a long history of partnering with innovative brands and businesses that bring greater choice and diversity to consumers."
“Pepper is the leader in alternative lending in Australia and, since 2001, has been helping Aussies who may not tick all the traditional boxes for home loans to get financing.
“With well over a million active customers, Kogan.com is proud to be able to form partnerships like these that form a genuine win-win-win for both Adelaide Bank and Pepper, for Kogan’s shareholders, and most importantly for Kogan.com customers.”
Kogan has nearly $1.4 million customers, growing by 45 percent from last year.
Last month they posted a 277 percent rise in full year profit to $14.11 million, up more than $10 million from last year. Revenue soared by 42 percent to $412.31 million.
Kogan's announcement highlighted these key areas of the agreement.
- Kogan Money Home Loans will focus on offering competitive home loan products to homeowners and investors.
- Adelaide Bank will make available competitively priced conforming, or prime, home loans
- Pepper will make available competitive near prime, non-conforming or specialist, home loans.
- Branding, marketing and customer acquisition will be provided by Kogan.com
- Kogan.com will earn fees on all home loans.
 
</body></html>

Home Loans

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Home Loans

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News