Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

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.

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.

“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.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“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.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

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.

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.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

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.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

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.

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.

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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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.

“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.”

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.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

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.

Joel Robinson

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

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.

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.

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.

<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" />

“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.

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.”

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.

<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" />

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.

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.

“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.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

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.

<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" />

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

<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" />

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.

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.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

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.

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.

<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" />

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.

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.

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

The Gold Coast Planning Committee has supported the preliminary approval for the Benowa Gardens Urban Village project following an extensive community consultation and assessment process.

The proposal will now proceed to a full council vote on June 2.

The application sought approval for a masterplanned urban village on the existing Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre site, combining new housing, retail, dining, health and lifestyle amenities within a walkable, integrated precinct.&nbsp;

The proposed redevelopment includes around 413 apartments integrated above a revitalised mixed-use centre featuring a full-line supermarket of 4,000 sqm, 6,000 sqm of specialty retail and dining space across around 30 retailers, a 7,000 sqm health and wellness precinct, and roughly 9,630 sqm of office and medical suites.&nbsp;

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb36ae47-80bc-45f0-9914-31b0c7b6007d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C4%201121%20FI.jpg?VersionId=6mRKk2uU4r67TmTt39DKGUlvFRbTVqWa" />

The broader masterplan also includes very significant traffic and transport improvements, wide pedestrian walkways, upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections, and enhanced public areas designed to create a more connected and walkable community environment.&nbsp;

Centre owner Patrick Lu said the milestone reflected months of detailed planning, technical assessment and ongoing communication with local residents, businesses, schools and stakeholders.

“We appreciate the time, consideration and care Council officers and the Planning Committee have given this proposal throughout the assessment process,” Lu said.

“We also sincerely thank the local community for engaging with us, sharing feedback and participating in the consultation process over many months.

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fd1fc3-d0e6-485f-ac57-9916c9bcb818" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C5%201121%20FI_2.jpg?VersionId=fz8qQKDBLQ7MyFRc856Zccfbh9nFwLOe" />

“We understand projects of this scale bring questions and concerns, which is why we have worked hard to listen carefully, provide information transparently and continue refining elements of the proposal where possible.

“Our vision has always been to create a well-designed, community-focused urban village that responds to the changing needs of the Gold Coast, while delivering improved amenity, housing diversity, healthcare access and local lifestyle benefits.

“This proposal is about creating a genuine live-work-play environment where residents can access everyday services, schools, healthcare, dining, shopping and green space within walking distance, while also supporting local jobs and economic activity.”

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50dfbd04-590e-4fc6-983b-766880947867" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Dining%20Day%20Time%20-%20High%20Resolution.jpg?VersionId=BP7ZoKJ0DdL_8iRkkC8VVx99moICV6kg" />

Lu said the proposal had evolved significantly through consultation and technical review, particularly around traffic, pedestrian and student safety and neighbourhood connectivity.&nbsp;

Melissa Griffin, Director at Urbis, said the recommendation recognised the strategic importance of delivering more housing and services within established urban areas already supported by infrastructure.

“This proposal represents the type of thoughtful, integrated growth that planning frameworks across South-East Queensland are encouraging,” Ms Griffin said.

“The project seeks to place housing, retail, healthcare and employment opportunities together in a highly accessible location close to schools, transport and existing services.

“Importantly, the process has involved significant technical assessment and community engagement to ensure local issues and feedback were properly considered throughout the planning pathway.”

$1 billion Benowa Gardens Urban Village heads to council vote following Planning Committee support

Surfers Paradise is officially set for its first new residential development with a 45-storey skybridge connecting the two towers.

John Camilleri’s Celestino Developments has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council to develop its major beachfront precinct across its huge 4,000 sqm oceanfront site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">63–79 Garfield Terrace</a>, just five months after its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-billionaire-winx-breeder-s-bold-two-tower-surfers-paradise-play-with-45th-storey-skybridge">submission in late 2025</a>.

The approved scheme will deliver two towers rising 55 and 48 storeys, connected by a skybridge positioned on level 45 that will house a range of resident-only wellness and entertainment spaces.

In its notice of approval, the Gold Coast City Council said the&nbsp;proposed overall built form has been designed to complement the scale, intensity and protect the adjacent amenity and surrounding streets through the use of varied setbacks, site cover and architectural elements.

<img alt="First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ADyPJ_TFbJvSU9wZFOiCBnlPtgF7VWqW" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, the development will comprise 275 apartments across the two towers, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as several penthouses. The apartments will sit above a landscaped podium featuring more than 90 metres of beachfront pool frontage, private resident lawns, lounges, and wellness spaces.

DBI said the design draws heavily from the movement and form of the coastal environment, with curving balcony lines and sculpted façades intended to soften the scale of the towers while maximising ocean outlooks and passive shading outcomes.

“The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience,” DBI said in planning documents submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

The most distinctive element of the approved project is the skybridge linking the two towers at level 45. The elevated communal space is planned to include executive lounges, formal dining areas, wellness facilities, and panoramic ocean-facing outlooks.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI said.

At podium level, residents will have access to a suite of resort-style amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, plunge pools, and treatment spaces. The beachfront pool has been designed with separate lap, lounge, and children’s areas extending across the width of the site.

The project will also introduce new food and beverage offerings along the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages, contributing additional activation to the beachfront precinct.

First look: Winx billionaire’s beachfront Surfers Paradise apartment development greenlit

Melbourne

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The Victorian property market finished 2015 on a high with a record number of auctions held in November and December.
While median house price growth is expected to moderate this year, population increases, a robust economy and relatively low interest rates will encourage buyer interest in 2016.  In 2016 the REIV expects moderate growth across the city with further price increases in a range of suburbs in Melbourne’s inner, middle and outer rings.
Some suburbs to watch in 2016 are: WEST OF THE CBD
Footscray - Close to the CBD and recorded double-digit growth in 2015. Footscray remains affordable given its location in Melbourne’s inner ring. Improving infrastructure and gentrification likely to result in solid long-term growth.  Median price: $780,000 Altona - Close to the CBD (13km) and to the bay and has seen double digit growth in 2015. Private sales market tightened in 2015 and clearance rate increased, despite listings being up 17 per cent.  Median price: $710,125 Sunshine - Still offers very affordable buying and is within 11km of the Melbourne city centre. Larger land blocks are proving attractive to both buyers and developers. Median price: $530,000 Spotswood - Another inner west Melbourne suburbs which is poised for further growth in 2016. Despite listings increasing significantly in 2015, the median days on market fell 23 days and clearance rate improved 13 per cent.  Median house price remains well below the inner Melbourne median of $1,236,000. Median price: $775,000 NORTH OF THE CBD Preston – Has seen solid growth in recent months, reflected in strong private sales activity (median number of days on market declined seven days in 2015). Located within 10km of the CBD, Preston’s median house price remains well below the inner Melbourne median of $1,236,000. Median house price: $815,000       Epping – Located on the fringe of Melbourne’s middle ring, Epping recorded solid price growth in 2015, driven by a strong private sale market. Poised for further increases in the coming 12 months.  Median price: $432,750. EAST OF THE CBD  Burwood East - A big growth area with extensive development underway at present. While the median house price is high, days on market continue to fall (down from 37 days in 2014 to 30 days in the past 12 months) showing increasing buyer interest. Median price: $1,004m Montrose – Has a relatively affordable median house price for those buying in Melbourne’s east and has shown good signs of capital growth in the past 12 months (up 10%). A significant drop in median days on market in 2015 (down 11 days to 19 days) has resulted in a strong private sales market. Median price: $600,000 Mount Waverley - Experienced one of the highest median price increases of any Melbourne suburb in 2015, up more than 20 per cent, but should still see growth this year. Attractive to foreign investors and quality local schools (Mt Waverley Secondary College) are also proving to be a key driver for buyers.  Median price: $1.38m Glen Waverley – Middle-eastern suburb which has been in the spotlight in 2015, and will continue in 2016. Given it is zoned for quality public school Glen Waverley Secondary College, buyer demand is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.   Median price: $1.319m SOUTH OF THE CBD  Seaford - Bayside and has experienced strong growth in the past six months. Like Sunshine, is also very affordable. Strong private sales activity and clearance rate.   Median price: $530,000 Chelsea - Close to the bay and with good transport to the CBD. Saw a strong private sale market and solid auction activity in 2015 as well as double-digit annual growth. Should be a solid year ahead.                
Median price: $727,000
‎Enzo Raimondo is chief executive officer of <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/" target="_blank">The Real Estate Institute of Victoria</a>.
 
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12 Melbourne suburbs to watch in 2016: REIV's Enzo Raimondo

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Melbourne’s market has been described as one of the best for sellers in years – with all the stars aligned at present, according to the REIV CEO Geoff White.
He said that the Spring market was delivering everything home sellers need: solid price growth, high clearance rates and strong buyer demand.
In the September quarter, the city’s median house price increased 3.2 per cent to $740,000 Melbourne-wide, he said.
“The median price increase is taking place in tandem with a Spring clearance rate of close to 80 per cent, the highest in seven years,” he said.
“Everything is aligned for sellers, who are benefitting from strong buyer confidence and record low interest rates.”
Melbourne’s inner and middle suburbs were the main growth drivers in the September quarter with house prices in these regions up 4.2 and 3.5 per cent respectively.
After two successive quarters of strong price growth, the city’s outer suburbs recorded more moderate growth of 1.1 per cent.
He added that the top growth suburbs this quarter were widespread across the city – from Seaford in the outer south east to Williamstown and Werribee in the west.
Mr White said that Langwarrin recorded the city’s largest price growth with the median house price increasing 20 per cent over the quarter to $561,000. He added that outer suburbs remain attractive to many home buyers and investors.
“Melbourne’s more affordable areas continue to appeal to buyers seeking the value and space that the outer suburbs offer,” he said. Meanwhile, apartment prices across the city also increased in the September quarter with the metropolitan median up 2.1 per cent to $545,500.
Mr White said that although listings have not reached the peaks of 2015, the current median price and excellent clearance rates indicates that the market is as healthy as ever.
“The market shows no signs of slowing down. The September quarter was stronger than expected and the market is only expected to improve with more than 4,000 auctions forecast for October.”
QUARTERLY OVERVIEW – SEPTEMBER QUARTER 2016
<table style="width: 495px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" valign="bottom" nowrap width="257">
Top 10 Growth Suburbs (Quarterly)
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="90">
 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="64">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="92">
 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="90">
 
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="64">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
 
</td>
<td width="141">
Suburb
</td>
<td width="92">
Sep-16 Median
</td>
<td width="90">
Jun-16 Median
</td>
<td width="64">
Quarterly Change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
1
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
LANGWARRIN
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$561,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$467,550
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
20.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
2
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
WILLIAMSTOWN
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$1,353,750
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$1,140,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
18.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
3
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
SEAFORD
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$605,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$516,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
17.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
4
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
FOOTSCRAY
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$855,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$745,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
14.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
5
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
FRANKSTON
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$504,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$440,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
14.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
6
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
MALVERN EAST
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$1,914,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$1,681,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
13.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
7
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
KEW
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$2,153,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$1,907,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
12.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
8
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
BRUNSWICK
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$1,056,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$935,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
12.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
9
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
GLEN WAVERLEY
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$1,290,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$1,150,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
12.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="24">
10
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="141">
ALTONA NORTH
</td>
<td nowrap width="92">
$788,000
</td>
<td nowrap width="90">
$702,500
</td>
<td nowrap width="64">
12.2%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
 
 
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Langwarrin tops Melbourne's price growth climb: REIV

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A number of indicators suggest that Melbourne’s strong run of price rises may be nearing an end.
There’s no doubt the Melbourne market overall is strong and currently one of the most buoyant in the nation. Some research sources have Melbourne house price growth ahead of Sydney now, although others in the land of dodgy data still have Sydney leading. 
An analysis by Performance Property Advisory finds that the key indicators, while slightly mixed, suggest that Melbourne is now coming to the end of its growth cycle.
Indicators which point to a moderation in price growth include the firm’s affordability index, the level of rental yields, the high price growth in the past three years relative to longer-term trends and a decline in the influence of foreign investors.
Director David McMillan says: “From an investment point of view, Melbourne is showing all the signs of a market running out of steam.”
He says the firm’s Affordability Index (AI) is currently sitting at 43 percent and historically the Melbourne market has struggled to grow past this point.
“Properties become unaffordable in Melbourne when the market’s AI rises to around 45 percent,” he says. “Melbourne’s AI is hovering around the 43 percent mark, indicating that properties are approaching a natural ceiling. The most likely outcome is a low-growth environment over the next 2-3 years.” 
McMillan says that from 2009 to 2016, incomes rose approximately 15 percent while house prices rose 79 percent.
“The out-performance of house prices against incomes is, in our view, unsustainable and this is a negative for future price growth in Melbourne,” he says.
“It is clear that the three-year price movement is well above trend at 12.96 percent per annum. On that basis it could be said that the Melbourne market is likely to slow down in the short term.” 
McMillan also notes that Melbourne has the second lowest yields among the major cities, with only Sydney lower. “Due to an out-performing median house price, we have seen yields progressively deteriorating, which is a negative for both investors and first-home buyers,” he says. 
The report says total foreign investment in Victoria has quadrupled in the last three years, from around $6.6 billion to $26.6 billion, but is expected to decline in the coming year.
“While we encourage foreign investment, the phenomenal rise has led to over-speculation and over-building in some pockets of Melbourne – the consequences of which are yet to be fully understood by the market.
“Given that the banks have now ceased lending to foreigners, we expect that this number will reduce as much as $10 billion in the 2017 financial year. The large swings in foreign investment have distorted normal market cycles and are expected to lead to increased supply.”
But price decline is not expected, as there are counter-balancing positives for the Melbourne market. They include a high level of proposed infrastructure spending by the federal and state governments, the low rate of unemployment, relatively low levels of stock for sale, a low “Days On Market” indicator, and strong levels of population growth (both existing and projected future rises). 
“Victoria has gone from being a loser from Net Interstate Migration in the 1990s, to a fairly neutral position during the 2000s, to being a winner since 2010, which has been a key factor of the price growth we have seen since 2009.”
Performance Property does note, however, that there has been a level of oversupply in B and C grade housing and apartment stock.
It recommends that investors avoid the off-the-plan apartment market and I wholeheartedly endorse that. “This market is showing no value and price falls in the short term are possible,” McMillan says. “There are no fundamentals that support price growth in the short term. 
But he does see some value opportunities in the Lifestyle and Middle Ring housing markets. 
“This is really a tale of two markets, with house-and-land packages on the metro fringe and inner-city off-the-plan property over-supplied, while the established school belt areas of Melbourne are in short supply,” he says.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="mailto:%20%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20var%20prefix%20=%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy38821%20=%20'ryder'%20+%20'@';%20addy38821%20=%20addy38821%20+%20'hotspotting'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'com'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'au';%20document.write('%3Ca%20'%20+%20path%20+%20'/''%20+%20prefix%20+%20':'%20+%20addy38821%20+%20'/'%3E');%20document.write(addy38821);%20document.write('%3C//a%3E');%20//--%3E/n%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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Melbourne’s strong run of property price rises may be ending

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Historically, Melbourne properties of $3 million and above have been classified as prestige. 
Recently, the ultra-prestige price for detached housing has increased to properties above $5 million and up to $15 million to $25 million, following the increasing number of properties falling between the $3 million and $4 million mark. 
Similarly, any townhouse or apartment above $3 million is labelled as prestige.
HTW, the valuation firm, says Melbourne has four main prestige areas, comprising parts of the Stonnington, Boroondara, Bayside and Port Phillip City Councils.
The main prestige suburbs in the City of Stonnington are Toorak, South Yarra, Armadale, Malvern and Malvern East, located in Melbourne’s inner south- eastern suburbs alongside the Yarra River and a short distance to Melbourne’s CBD.
Kew, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Camberwell, Balwyn, Balwyn North and Canterbury make up the City of Boroondara’s prestige market. Approximately ve kilometres east of the Melbourne CBD, the area is primarily residential in nature, with a number of renowned private schools such as Scotch College Hawthorn, Fintona’s Girls School Balwyn and Xavier College Kew.
Almost two-thirds of Boroondara consists of water courses and parklands such as the Yarra River and Yarra Bend Park.
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Bayside and Port Phillip City Councils run along the north-east coastline of Port Phillip Bay. Most prestige properties are seen in Brighton, Middle Park and Albert Park, which are primarily residential suburbs with occupants attracted to the inner city lifestyle as well as the luxurious beach surroundings.
The prestige apartment market is evident in East Melbourne, St Kilda Road, Melbourne and St Kilda. Some addresses of note include: 150 Clarendon Street, East Melbourne; 60-66 Clarendon Street, East Melbourne; 51 Spring Street, Melbourne; and 576-578 St Kilda Road, St Kilda.
High net-worth individuals are the buyers driving these sectors. 
Similarly, developers drive prestige sales, where the current improvements add little value and the site is suitable for potential multi-unit or single dwelling development.
The inclusions high net-worth individuals seek are modern kitchens and bathrooms including stone benchtops, designer joinery and tapware, and oor to ceiling tiles in bathrooms. 
Other sought out inclusions are quality oor coverings such as timber ooring (parquetry or American Oak), travertine tiles and luxurious carpets, typically large gross building areas, basement car spaces, self-cleaning designer swimming pools, championship tennis courts, and landscaped properties.
Popular Melbourne based architect, Nicholas Day, has crafted multiple prestige properties throughout Melbourne. Other prestige architects include Phillip Mannerheim, Bruce Henderson and landscape architect Jack Merlo. Visioneer Builders is an award winning company specialising in the construction of prestige properties. These renowned property experts attract buyers who drive these sectors.
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The Stonnington, particularly Toorak, market, Boroondara and Bayside markets have revealed good median house price growth in 2017. 
The current cycle has been generally firm for approximately six years, with the last softening occurring in mid-2012 (realestate.com.au). 
For instance, the Toorak median house price as at 9 April 2018 was $4.4 million, which has doubled since December 2016 and seen a growth of 30.9% over a year. According to Domain Group chief economist Dr Andrew Wilson, overall prestige prices in Melbourne itself rose by 11.6%.
The Reserve Bank of Australia’s rst meeting for 2018 agged the possibility of interest rate rises later in the year on the basis of the strengthening economy. 
Notwithstanding this, the commencement of the 2018 auction period in February revealed moderate results with auctions well contested in general and clearance rates at 70%. The current market appears to be in a steadying phase with a balance between buyer demand and vendor expectations.
HTW note premium, A grade property continues to command good demand from purchasers.
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The Melbourne prestige market looks to be continuing on from its 2017 growth in the short to medium term outlook. 
Prestige buyers are seeking great properties closer to the CBD. 
John Bongiorno of Melbourne’s Marshall White was cited in the HTW.
 “I see a big trend that will continue over the next decade of inner suburb Melbourne in particular becoming more and more bullet-proof," the veteran agent noted.
"With the development of infrastructure and congestion on the roads, people are getting fed up with waiting times in traf c and want to live, increasingly, within an eight- to 10-kilometre radius of CBDs. That’s where the best investments will be, too.” (domain.com.au).
In the long term view, the Autumn 2018 Herron Todd White report suggests, there is caution, as the prestige market could be reaching its peak.
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Caution in Melbourne's trophy home market as peak nears

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
<div>A big jump in listings in Melbourne and Canberra this month, with Melbourne's available stock now comfortably exceeding 39,000, according to SQM Research's latest data and media release.</div>
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<div>There were small declines in October for Brisbane, Adelaide, and notably Darwin and Perth.</div>
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 But the two major capital cities are well up from last year.</div>
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<div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-28-ipGfRnqI/W-DpkBGNtnI/AAAAAAAAssA/T0C2fxMYRVY1XCtva9nrk-Ijs1nJBnIeACLcBGAs/s1600/SQM1.jpg"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-28-ipGfRnqI/W-DpkBGNtnI/AAAAAAAAssA/T0C2fxMYRVY1XCtva9nrk-Ijs1nJBnIeACLcBGAs/s640/SQM1.jpg" width="640" height="370" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1375"></a></div>
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 It took a bit longer to get there, but Melbourne has now well and truly joined Sydney with its slowing market, with stock levels leaping 5.9 per cent higher in the month of October alone.</div>
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From a year earlier, Melbourne listings are up by 24.3 per cent, suggesting very slow sales activity in the Victorian capital.
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Melbourne stock surge: Pete Wargent

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EXPERT OBSERVER
<div>Yet another inflation target miss was recorded for the June quarter.</div>
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<div>Nothing too earth-shattering there - the target has consistently been missed for years - but this one was a real corker, with headline inflation down by -1.9 per cent in the June 2020 quarter.</div>
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<div>And now the annual inflation rate has also turned negative, which a true rarity.</div>
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<div>Stated the ABS:</div>
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<div>'Since 1949, this was only the third time annual inflation has been negative. </div>
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<div>The previous times were in 1962 and 1997-98.'</div>
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<div>Underlying inflation was pretty flat for the quarter.</div>
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<div>Grattan recently produced a fairly damning indexed chart showing how inflation would've tracked higher had the target been hit over the past five years versus the actuals, a period through which there's been a persistent output gap, weak wages growth, and oodles of spare labour force capacity. </div>
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<div>We're still getting no closer to the inflation target then. </div>
<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GuyrxR0LcdU/XyE197Iof6I/AAAAAAAA3Us/7ilsxHD355ESAA7OgfmRuvoGqYN1PbStwCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/A1.jpg" width="640" height="374" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1361">
The main contributors to the weakness over the quarter included declining childcare and fuel prices.
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The CBD rental markets were hit with a swathe of Airbnb and student rentals in the June quarter, and the rental price index also turned negative year-on-year...for the first time ever. 
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There will be something of a bounce in Q3 in some categories, and truthfully there weren't too many surprises here, but overall there's a long way to go before things recover.
<div>Detailed report as always from from James Foster here.</div>
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of AllenWargent property buyers and a best-selling author and blogger 
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Annual inflation negative for the third time ever: Pete Wargent

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Bubble Talk seems to have eased off (finally) as most headline avoiding commentators acknowledge we are not in a bubble, if a bubble is defined by illogical price increases and/or unsustainable longer term prices.
Yes we are in a run of price increases (beginning in the 1900’s – pushing along since the GFC 2009 recovery, accelerating further since October 2012 and the foot to the floor since Christmas); but the price increases have been largely due to deep overseas demand as the world says “Melbourne – you are an International Property Market we want to invest in”.
At some time the market will ease, it will have falls and that would more than likely be caused by changes in migration/population/overseas demand. That could be tomorrow and if it does, then prices will drop.
The government has begun to tinker around the edges trying to control this boom, by getting banks to alter interest rates for investors. As far as Inner Melbourne homes go, this should have minimal effect on the market, just as the stamp duty tinkerings of a few months ago, as predicted, have made zero difference to overseas investment.
We are not saying that trying to ease the boom is not a good a thing, its just the real driver of our current Inner Melbourne market boom is Asian investment combined with increasing wealthy migration / population, not local investor interest rates. All altering interest rates for locals will do, is make it easier for Asian investors to buy.
Understanding these concepts is critical for buyers – as acting or not acting based on fear, rather than reason usually means poorer decisions.
Example: For decades Western society as a whole has believed that fat is bad and fat makes you fat. Accordingly we have all made dietary decisions based on that assumption and as a society we have got fatter and fatter, despite not wanting to. “Bubble” headlines are very similar to “Fat” headlines if it means you as a buyer make poor decisions, based on false assumptions.
If/when a significant market change occurs, it will be due to a lessening of demand (it will be understandable); not due to a bursting of some artificial, unexplainable bubble. It is important to differentiate that there is no truth based on fact, that we are in an artificial or illogical price situation as far as Inner Melbourne houses go.
There are very real and logical reasons why prices are increasing and it’s called overseas demand and limited local supply.
Yes a boring headline, but a truthful one. It’s important for buyers to understand the current market, so as they can make informed decisions; not ones based on the more exciting, but less accurate headlines of Bubble, Bubble, Price Falls and Trouble.
Our advice to buyers is when the developing markets of India, China and others start to falter and the money flow to Australia changes and both Liberal and Labour espouse restrictive migration and population policies; then, as buyers we would be sitting up and taking notice re possible long term land value deflation; as we saw in Japan (no migration, no population increases). Until then, the more pressing problem is how are we going to secure our dream home in Inner Melbourne in the next year.
Word of warning: Please understand our comments are based on the Inner Melbourne Market, not the overall Melbourne market. Please do not assume prices will always increase and therefore stretch too far.
Yes treasury officials said there are risks right now, but there are risks in buying in any market. We feel you can best mitigate your homebuying risks by making well informed decisions, and that is true in any market. In our opinion a decision not to enter the market is not necessarily a well informed one if your longer term desired outcome is one of emotional and financial security through good home buying.
We feel the Inner Melbourne Market risks are not “bubble” related, they are demand and supply related. We cannot see any evidence that says the risk in buying a home now is more elevated than a year ago or anymore elevated than we perceive the risks might be in 2016. Please don’t think in the next six months that the market must fall or please don’t think the market cannot rise any further, because there are no facts to support either theory with certainty. 
The only certain thing in 2015 is, we are in a market.
Markets at times are flat and at times rise and fall.
Every property decision should be an informed individual one, with a sharp eye on mortgage payments/interest rates, as at some stage interest rates will go up and/or prices will fall; but balanced with the fact that getting in now, as in almost all cases over the last 30 years, has proven to be a good home buying decision (if the home was a good buy, meeting the individual’s shorter and longer term desired outcomes – with good PPP’s).
Summary: There are risks in individuals buying homes in any Inner Melbourne market (interest rate/employment/health changes) – the risks in 2015 do not appear to be elevated as implied by some Treasury officials. Homebuying risks are not mitigated by inaction, they are mitigated by making informed action decisions. In our opinion, unless there is a change in migration, Asian money flow and/or population policies, the real elevated risk maybe in not at least considering getting into the current Inner Melbourne market (with the right PPP’s and FFF’s of course).
Mal writes weekly auction reports, advice and in-depth market analysis on <a href="https://www.jamesbuyeradvocates.com.au/" target="_blank">James' website</a>.
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Buyer's agent Mal James on house price bubble risks 

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Melbourne prestige buyers agent Mal James says it would be easy for buyers to throw in the towel, but urges they don't.
Advising buyers to not panicking and sticking to buying fundamentals, he says his client’s last 10 market dealings over a recent 10 days reflect the inner Melbourne market was strong.
"But it’s not impossible to navigate," he said noting some cheers and some tears in their dealings which ranged between $2 million to $6 million.
However he notes several examples of sales at 20% above agent quotes, including to FIRB approved buyers at Studley Park. There was also a Malvern home sale at 33% above agent quote in Malvern.
"Overseas interest can add $100,000 for each $1,000,000 as a rule of thumb," he noted.
"The market is manageable.
"The market is hot and you need to be brave and bold. 
"Not ridiculous, but brave and bold.  
"On one of the homes we bought, the underbidder paid $110,000 extra the next day to be an underbidder again on what appeared to us to be a similar offering.
"Better a missed opportunity than a mistake.
"You are not going to get smashed or surprised every time, if you do your homework on price. 
"Sometimes it is just too much and you have to move on. 
"Move on but don’t give up or don’t overreact," he said.
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Overseas buyer interest adds $100,000 for each $1 million in Melbourne prestige market: Mal James

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Our prediction in 3-4 months ago about Melbourne overtaking Sydney has been confirmed by the latest price data.
In one of our November reports we noted: “Melbourne is the new star of Australia’s capital city property markets. It’s only a matter of time before Melbourne overtakes Sydney as the price growth leader in capital city Australia.”
We reported then that Melbourne continued to deliver a large number of growth markets, while Sydney was steadily waning. In Hotspotting’s latest survey for the Price Predictor Index, Melbourne continues to record strong sales activity, even though the number of rising suburbs is gradually diminishing. 
The number of Melbourne suburbs with rising sales trajectories in the past four quarterly surveys has been 134, 113, 110 and 105. This suggests Melbourne has passed its peak in terms of sales activity, but still has good impetus, while the price peak will probably come later in the year. 
The best of Melbourne’s precincts continue to be a mix of middle and outer-ring suburbs, with growing evidence that the previously-strong markets in the Top End near-city areas have subsided. 
Areas dominated by Top End suburbs – such as the LGAs of Glen Eira (Bentleigh, Caulfield, McKinnon), Boroondara (Balwyn, Ashburton, Glen Iris) and Stonnington (Armadale, Malvern, Prahran) – now have mostly Plateau markets, which are suburbs where sales activity has reached a peak and started to taper off at those levels or slightly lower levels (i.e. no longer rising). 
But there are numerous strong middle-market areas – notably the municipalities of Whitehorse (Box Hill, Nunawading, Blackburn), Banyule (Macleod, Montmorency, Watsonia), Moreland (the Brunswick and Pascoe Vale suburbs) and Bayside (Beaumaris, Black Rock, Hampton) – with significant numbers of growth suburbs. 
Whitehouse, previously a clear leader in the Melbourne market, has faded a little and is now matched by the LGAs of Banyule, Moreland and outer-ring Casey in terms of suburbs with rising trajectories. 
Other previous contenders Monash (Oakleigh, Mt Waverley, Clayton) and Knox (Wantirna, Boronia, Bayswater) have waned somewhat and, like Whitehorse, now have more Plateau markets than rising ones.
But there is now considerable energy in markets in the outer ring precincts. Locations likely to attract first-time buyers and others on smaller budgets are really pumping in Melbourne. 
In the far south-east, the Casey LGA (Cranbourne, Doveton, Endeavour Hills) matches those leading middle-market areas for the number of growth suburbs. 
Close behind are Brimbank (Sunshine, Deer Park, Cairnlea) in the western suburbs and Whittlesea (Epping, Thomastown, Mill Park) in the north of the metropolitan area. 
Market up-cycles often start in or near the city centre, with the millionaire suburbs the first to experience a rise in activity. As the cycle progresses, the growth ripples out to the middle-ring areas and latterly to the outer-ring suburbs. It’s common for the cheaper areas to have the greatest growth in the latter stages of the cycle, which often is in the third year of heightened activity. 
Sydney’s recent boom generally followed that pattern and Melbourne’s period of busy market activity (without producing the same high level of price growth across the whole city) has done likewise. 
So the evidence suggests that Melbourne is the leading capital city market - although it has passed or is close to its peak, depending on how you measure these things.
I note that the latest NAB Quarterly Residential Property Index finds that Victoria (read Melbourne) has replaced NSW (read Sydney) as the state with the most positive market sentiment and is currently the only state tracking above its long-term average. 
It’s also worth noting that Melbourne is Australia’s leading city for long-term capital growth (the average annual growth in prices over the past 10 years). 
Melbourne gets a lot of its impetus from population growth - it’s the leading capital city both for overseas migrants and for net inflow from interstate migration - and many of the leading suburbs for long-term capital growth are those that attract migrant buyers.
 
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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Where Melbourne is pumping: Terry Ryder

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GUEST OBSERVER
The Real Estate Institute of Victoria has backed new initiatives announced by the State Government today, including significant road and rail investment across the state. 
The $10.4 billion investment in public transport and road projects will drive growth across the city and regional Victoria. 
Given the significant growth in Melbourne’s outer suburbs in the past two quarters, improved road and rail infrastructure will drive continued price growth in areas further from the city and within commuting distance of the CBD.
The REIV also welcomed a further $75.4 million for services and facilities in Melbourne’s outer suburbs and growing regional communities.
With estimated population growth of about 100,000 people each year, amenities investment in suburbs more than 20km from the city is necessary to ensure these suburbs remain attractive for home buyers. 
Significant new Budget measures include $2.9 billion for Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel, $1.46 billion for the Western Distributor, $924 million for new and upgraded schools and $982 million in improvements to the state’s health system.
The REIV also backed the State Government’s commitment to streamlining the planning process.
This includes creating an online portal for applications, improved zone controls and faster approvals in commercial and industrial zones.  
The State Government also announced changes to land tax and stamp duty for overseas buyers of Victorian property.   
Victoria is the most liveable city in the world and it’s important that these buyers contribute to ongoing infrastructure development and amenities.
Duty increases for overseas purchasers will help enhance the city’s housing stock at a time when our population is growing faster than any other capital city.
The REIV would like more Victorians to have access to home ownership and we call on the Government to consider greater assistance, especially for first home buyers.
‎Enzo Raimondo is chief executive officer of <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/" target="_blank">The Real Estate Institute of Victoria</a>.
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