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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

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

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

Ironfish

<html><body>
SPONSORED POST
As the latest Census results show, the strong shift towards apartment living in Australia continues, particularly in the major capital cities. A growing proportion of people are prioritising access to jobs and local amenity over the traditional Aussie dream of the big backyard.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/dwelling-structure-type.jpg" alt="">
Medium and higher density housing now makes up 26% of all Australian housing. In Sydney, this figure is even higher (42.1%).  Source: ABS 
At the same time, architects are continuing to push the envelope in apartment design. Over the last 10 years, apartment design has changed dramatically – and decidedly for the better, according to one of Australia’s leading multi-residential architects, Callum Fraser, Director at Elenberg Fraser.
<div id="attachment_6627" class="wp-caption alignleft">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/callum-fraser.jpg" alt=""> Callum Fraser, Director, Elenberg Fraser
“Apartment buildings have become better for you than houses. They foster a richer community with a greater sense of belonging. They deliver this through active social groups and extensive facilities. Residents now have a plethora of unique spaces – karaoke rooms, private dining rooms, cellars, lounges, meditation areas etc – that deliver a more engaged and active life. “They now help us live longer and better – they are the future,” said Mr Fraser.
</div>
With demand for apartment living increasing, it is important to understand how to select the right property, with the right features to cater to today’s tenants/owners, and tenants/owners of the future.
<h4>So, how do you spot an apartment of the future? </h4>
<h4>“New apartment buildings create lighter, brighter and infinitely more liveable spaces that are so much more appealing and alluring than previous “box” type living offered by apartments of previous decades,” said Ironfish Property Director, Grant Ryan.</h4>
“There are 3 major transformative design themes that best summarise why this dramatic shift has resulted in growing demand for liveable buildings with the “cool” factor.”
1. Stunning Glass Facades
Most of the best buildings feature less brick and concrete in favour of more glazing. This design choice greatly enhances the building both externally in terms of aesthetics, and internally in terms of light and liveability. Residents enjoy unobstructed views via a floor-to-ceiling window from inside their apartment and interesting glazed external surface finishes add further light and texture.
Melbourne-based Elenberg Fraser architects were early adopters of bringing glazing manufacturing technology – previously dedicated to commercial buildings – into the residential space. The firm’s expertise in this area is now being utilised to deliver nearly half of all the apartments under construction or nearing completion in Melbourne.
<div id="attachment_6635" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/Lighthouse.jpg" alt=""> Light House, designed by Elenberg Fraser architects, is a landmark building in the heart of Melbourne. Its innovative kaleidoscopic glass facade also helps to maximise natural light and ventilation, whilst carefully balancing privacy and views inside the apartment.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/St-Julien-glass.jpg" alt="">
</div>
<div id="attachment_6644" class="wp-caption alignnone">
St Julien Residences, developed by ARIA Property Group, feature floor to ceiling glass.
2. Designer Facilities
Gone are the days where there was either no resident amenity or just a pool and a small gym. The trend of increased facilities is here to stay through unwavering demand from residents for more luxurious, social and useful spaces that are an extension of residents’ own apartments.
</div>
Private dining rooms and cinemas for residents to book and use for parties, libraries and reading zones, BBQ areas, garden breakout spaces and resort style pools are now giving fresh reasons for people to live in new apartment buildings.
<div id="attachment_6647" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/FV-pool.jpg" alt=""> The stunning wrap-around roof-top infinity pool at FV, Fortitude Valley
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/FV-cinema.jpg" alt="">
</div>
<div id="attachment_6648" class="wp-caption alignnone">
Gurner’s lavish FV apartment development or “urban resort” in Brisbane includes over 2,500sqm of communal spaces for residents, including a cinema, 4 pools, yoga studio and private dining areas.
Leading developers and architects are now putting a lot of additional thought into the “arrival experience” of residents into a building. Lobbies are being designed to exude an enhanced sense of luxury, intimacy and community.
</div>
Buildings that feel like a 5-star hotel in terms of style while providing the comforts of a home are particularly in vogue, and will have sustainable long-term appeal to current and future owners.
<div id="attachment_6649" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/Melbourne-village-lobby-e1504162325201.jpg" alt=""> The Melbourne Village apartment building lobby offers the experience of a high-end hotel at home, complete with concierge.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/08/oxley-stirling-e1504162265345.jpg" alt="">
</div>
<div id="attachment_6650" class="wp-caption alignnone">
The lobby at Oxley &amp; Stirling, located in South Brisbane, and other shared spaces within the building were designed by Elenberg Fraser architects to echo the glamour of days gone by.
However, according to Mr Ryan, it’s important to note that this trend is not consistent across all buildings, locations and developers, as some have embraced it more than others and quality varies extensively.
</div>
“My observations, having reviewed projects nationally over the past decade, are that these trends were born out of Melbourne’s edgier and more adventurous architectural environment. And in a social media world – and the fact that many local and overseas developers have been expanding into developing across multiple capital cities and states – the trends have naturally expanded and now feature prominently across the major capital city markets,” he said.
In the April 2017 JLL Brisbane Apartment market research report, it states:
“Projects with a point of difference such as superior ground floor retail, finishes or resident amenity continue to outperform the wider market.”
These are key aspects buyers need to take into consideration when making their purchasing decisions.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

What you need to know about new apartment trends

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SPONSORED POST
“My one bedroom investment property created more wealth in 3 years, than I could have saved in 13 years in my career. At this point, I realised I needed to take property investment very seriously. Because just one property purchase had changed the course of my life.”
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/Bruce-262x300.jpg" alt="">
<h2>CASE IN PROFILE:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Former graphic designer/account director and Ironfish customer</li>
<li>Career change into property investment</li>
<li>8 investment properties, 5 purchased through Ironfish</li>
<li>Rent-vestor</li>
</ul>
<h2>That one property purchase</h2>
Bruce has been with Ironfish for nearly 3 years and is a senior Strategist as well as being part of the leadership team in the Ironfish Burwood office.
Prior to joining us, Bruce enjoyed a successful 13-year career in the design industry, starting out as a graphic designer and moving on to account management when (as he says quite matter-of-factly) he discovered his talent and love for working with people far outweighed any natural creative genius! At around the same time as making this switch, Bruce and his wife Evelyn, also decided to buy their first investment property: a one-bedroom second-hand apartment in Stanmore, a suburb in Sydney’s inner west. A decision which turned out to be life-changing.
<blockquote>
“The amount of wealth my one-bedroom investment property in Stanmore created for me was about 10 times more than I could have saved in my career for the past 13 years. I knew then that I needed to get involved with property – initially that was by becoming a more active property investor, and eventually, this put me on the path to joining Ironfish as well.”
</blockquote>
<h2>Why I decided to buy property with Ironfish</h2>
After Stanmore, Bruce and Evelyn purchased two off-the-plan apartments in Parramatta through a different company, and after two years, when they had built some equity across all 3 properties, they agreed to meet with Ironfish Burwood Strategists Yusi and Haibin to consider further investment options.
“I’ve bought from our ‘competitors’, I’ve bought from traditional real estate agents, and what I’ve found is that most people are quite transaction focussed, and there is very little contact after you’ve bought your property.
“When Yusi and Haibin came to our place, it was a very different type of service. Initially I was still thinking from a transactional view as well, and wanted to just quickly view properties and move on. But before they would show me any properties, they first asked me questions like: ‘What are you going to do in the next 10 – 15 years?’ ‘What are your dreams?’ ‘What are the things you want to pursue in life?’ And a big one, which we had never considered: ‘How can you ensure you can continue the lifestyle you enjoy now, in the event that one or both of you needs to stop working?’ What I learned from our first meeting was that Ironfish Strategists were different; they were not focused on the transaction, they truly cared about my future and about building wealth for my family.”
<div id="attachment_7493" class="wp-caption alignnone">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/Bruce-evelyn-1024x768.jpg" alt=""> Bruce and his wife Evelyn, with their Strategists Yusi and Haibin
</div>
<h2>A cut above</h2>
While Bruce was impressed with the service and ethos of Ironfish Strategists, he and his wife also fell in love with the properties. On their second meeting, they decided to buy two properties: one apartment in Brisbane (The Melbourne Residences) and one in Melbourne (Aurora).
“The quality of the properties and the locations of those properties were a cut above anything else I’d seen out there. For example, we bought a one-bedroom apartment in ‘Aurora’ for $397,000. Aurora is built on top of Melbourne’s central station, and is the only building in Australia with direct lift access down into the train station and shopping centre below. Imagine if a luxurious skyscraper was built on top of the QVB – that was the kind of building we’d managed to buy into. And I always thought that you needed to be a millionaire or have special connections to get into those developments. The fact that Ironfish could offer me a property like that made me think this company has a lot going for it!”
<h2>Paying the price</h2>
Shortly after their purchase, Yusi invited Bruce along to one of Joseph’s half day seminars – which set him on his path to a new career.
<div id="attachment_7480" class="wp-caption alignleft">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/bruce-dreamboard-low-res-e1512083506577-168x300.jpg" alt=""> “Travel to all the fabulous places around the world” – A page out of Bruce and Evelyn’s dream-book
</div>
“I was extremely impressed and inspired by Joseph, and I knew immediately that he was someone I wanted to learn from. There was one thing he said that sticks with me to this day. He said: ‘First, you decide what it is you want from life, secondly, ask yourself what price you have to pay to achieve it, and thirdly, pay the price.’ I went home and asked my wife that question: ‘What do you want to achieve in life?’
“We sat down and made ourselves a ‘dream-board’ with pictures of everything we wanted for ourselves and those around us. At the end of the day, I really believe in the law of attraction. I knew that joining Ironfish, talking to successful investors and entrepreneurs like Joseph or [Burwood MD] Linda everyday would help us get to where we wanted to go – and that staying in our current jobs wasn’t going to be adequate. So, my wife and I both made the decision to resign from our jobs and came onboard with Ironfish. It has completely transformed our lives – not just financially, but mentally – how we look at life and perceive things. I can safely say it’s the best decision we’ve ever made!”
After joining the Ironfish team, Bruce has since purchased a further 3 investment properties diversified across multiple cities, and has helped nearly 100 customers invest in the Australian property market. Bruce’s next investment is likely to be a house and land package in South East Queensland.
<h2>Bruce’s property investment tips:</h2>
<ul>
<li>Buying an investment property rather than a home to live in may help accelerate your ability to build wealth – so it’s worth considering if this is more of a priority to you than immediate lifestyle demands.</li>
<li>Build a successful team with the sole purpose of protecting and building your wealth, e.g. a successful property professional, a mortgage broker who knows the ins and outs of financing structures, an accountant who can help you with tax minimisation, lawyer who can identify clauses that might put you at disadvantage in your purchases.</li>
<li>No market is perfect, no market is certain. As an investor, be prudent and diversify and look at where the bigger picture lies. If an area has good scope for population growth, infrastructure spending and employment, and the property is high quality and you can service it comfortably, then I have the confidence to recommend my customers get into any market – whether it’s a peak market like Sydney, or an up and coming market like Perth.</li>
</ul>
Bruce Guan is a senior property investment strategist at Ironfish.
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How one property purchase changed the course of someone's life

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SPONSORED POST<a href="http://www.ironfish.com.au/blog/2017/12/14/australias-population-growth-30-years-ahead-schedule/"> </a>
In 1998, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) predicted that Australia’s population would grow to at least 23.5 million people in 2051.
In reality, we reached that milestone back in July 2014 – that was the ‘low-growth’ prediction.
At most, the ABS predicted, that our population would grow to 26.4 million people by 2051.
But in 2017, our population already sits at 24.7 million people, meaning we’ll hit that upper-end forecast as early as 2021 – about 30 years earlier than the ABS predicted.
According to current growth patterns Australia is set to reach a population of about 38 million by 2051, around 12 million more people than even the highest forecast from 1998.
<h2>Population growth drivers</h2>
Social researcher and demographer Mark McCrindle says that this isn’t because the calculations were wrong, but that “migration policy changes, longevity increases and a solid birth rate have defied the trends that were evident 20 years ago.”
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/Ironfish_Infographic_AustralianPopStats_A4FINAL_150dpiResolution-724x1024.jpg" alt="">
Back then, they assumed that women would have fewer babies and the fertility rate (the number of babies a woman would have in her lifetime) would continue to drop to a minimum of 1.6 babies and a maximum of 1.75 babies. However, the fertility rate didn’t decrease, it increased, and now sits at 1.81: a figure which is above even the higher forecast from 1998.
In 1998, life expectancy at birth was 76.6 for and 82 for women. The 1998 prediction for 2051 was that life expectancy would hit a high of 82 for men and 86 for women. However, current life expectancy is already nearly 81 for males and 85 for females and will reach this 2051 target decades early.
“However,” McCrindle says, “the biggest growth factor that has blown out previous population modelling has been the rise and rise of Australia’s net overseas migration.
“In 1998 it was thought that it would grow our population annually by around 70,000, or at the most, 90,000 people. In the last 12 months, Australia has added 231,900 through net migration which is more than 2.5 times even the high-forecast of two decades ago.”
<h2>Global leader in growth</h2>
In the decade to 2016, Australia’s population growth rate was 1.69%, outpacing many other developed countries including other English speaking countries, such as the US, Canada and New Zealand. In fact, Sydney  alone is now home to more people than the whole country of New Zealand.
The world’s more developed countries in aggregate grew by an annual average of 0.3%. The world’s population as a whole increased by an average of 1.2% per year.
According to the UN Population Division, the only developed countries that had a faster rate of population growth were Singapore, Luxembourg and Israel.
 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/Australia-population-vs-world.jpg" alt="">
Source: Tom Wilson, Principal Research Fellow, Charles Darwin University, writing for <a href="https://theconversation.com/bloom-and-boom-how-babies-and-migrants-have-contributed-to-australias-population-growth-78097" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>
<h2>The states compared</h2>
Queensland, NSW and Victoria are all outperforming the nation as a whole, with population growth rates of 1.85%, 1.87% and 2.4% respectively.
Back in 1998, Melbourne’s population was expected to reach between 3.6 and 4.5 million by 2051. It’s already surpassed this range, with a current population of 4.8 million people. Sydney was predicted to reach between 4.7 and 6.2 million. It has a current population of 5.1 million and set to reach the higher forecast within the next 10 years. Melbourne is also now tipped to overtake Sydney as the most populous Australian city in the next 20 years.
While overseas migration has been a primary driver of this growth, according to Principal Research Fellow at Charles Darwin University, Tom Wilson, even if migration policy changes take place in future, the population will still grow significantly.
“In particular,” Wilson notes, “relatively large numbers of people are in the peak childbearing ages. This means that even if migration fell immediately to zero the population would still increase. Demographers call this age structure effect “population momentum”.”
How does population growth affect property prices and where to invest in property in 2018?
Essentially, this comes down to a simple question of supply and demand; when the number of people grows faster than the number of new properties on the market in those key growth areas, then the shortfall will place pressure on prices.
“Of course, this is only one piece of the puzzle for property investors,” says Ironfish National Apartments Manager, Will Mitchell. “Our property and research team looks at the overall picture and considers a number of factors such as infrastructure and government spending, transport and employment options to select areas and properties set to outperform the wider market.
“However, the fact that Australia’s population has surpassed all forecasts from 1998 is truly remarkable and should not be taken lightly.
“One of the most common questions I am asked by people looking to buy investment property is whether now is the right time. My response to that is simple: property investment is a long-term investment, and in 10, 20 or 30 years, do you think property will be in more or less demand in Australia?
“Our unprecedented international migration reflects how unique our country is, and the lifestyle that it offers – we have stunning scenery, world-class healthcare, education, retail and dining and we are ranked as one of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-safest-countries-global-peace-index-2017-6?IR=T" target="_blank">safest countries</a> in the world.
“I think it’s an amazing country, and that’s why so many people want to move here,” he said.
According to McCrindle, the lessons to be learned from this rapid growth in Australia’s<a href="http://mccrindle.com.au/resources/Australia-Population-Map-Generational-Profile_Infographic_McCrindle.pdf" target="_blank"> </a>population is that urban planners and governments alike need to keep a close eye on population forecasts and plan early for growth.
“And when in doubt,” McCrindle adds, “assume the higher growth forecasts not the lower ones. I’m yet to see an Australian population forecast that needs adjusting down.”  
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Australia’s population growth 30+ years ahead of schedule

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SPONSORED POST
Ironfish provides VIP property opportunities with pre-negotiated deals on apartments, townhouses and house &amp; land packages across Australia.
We are highly selective of the properties we introduce to our investors and every Ironfish approved property has been through a rigorous due diligence process.
VIP and Pre-Public Opportunities Ironfish approved properties are carefully selected, extensively researched and pre-negotiated. As one of Australia’s largest investor networks, Ironfish investors receive preferential access to many of Australia’s premium properties before public release.
Detailed Research Ironfish searches nationally for premium investment opportunities in the most dynamic locations, with strong growth potential. Our comprehensive selection process includes specific selection formulas for houses, apartments and townhouses.
Quality Properties Investors don’t have to waste time sifting through inferior investment opportunities: Ironfish rejects the majority of properties it analyses. Astute investors know many of the best new properties are offered to the general public only after other VIP purchasers. We work exclusively with leading developers with a strong track record of delivering quality properties in great locations.
Turnkey Investments Ironfish coordinates everything required for a property’s long-term success and ease of management so that properties are turnkey and as hassle-free as possible.
Which property selection process is best for you? Our approach differs significantly to the average investor strategy. We recommend investors accumulate a portfolio of different types of property that includes a mix of convenience-focused properties (apartments) and land-focused properties  (houses and townhouses).
At Ironfish, two of our overall strategies include: “infill” which generally refers to filling a little gap within an established suburb and “urban renewal” areas. Consider suburbs like Rhodes or Victoria Park in Sydney: if you compare these suburbs today to 15 years ago, you can see the dramatic changes that have taken place.
Beyond location, it’s also about selecting the right development. Major factors we consider include transport, convenience for tenants and future owners, employment and lifestyle factors.
After that it comes down to the quality of the development; we want to make sure that the property appeals to a high calibre tenant and has strong future owner occupier appeal.  I.e. who is going to pay a lot more money for this property in the future? And this has to do with who is the developer, what’s their experience and a lot of what we call – “off-market intel” – we’ve been in the market a long time, we’re looking for opportunities that other people don’t have.
 
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