Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

Property market

<html><body>
Evidence that the Perth market has bottomed, after four tough years, is growing.
A market recovery is under way and one of the locations leading the revival is the City of Wanneroo in the north of the metro area.
Strong population growth is propelling the Wanneroo LGA away from its past as a remote, bushy area towards becoming a busy seaside city destined to house 363,000 residents. Over the past decade, 177,000 new residents have moved there, making it the fastest-growing LGA in Western Australia.
Its popularity with young families is evident too. Sales numbers have been rising and this earned Wanneroo a special mention in Hotspotting’s 2017 Winter Edition of the Price Predictor Index. At a time when few Perth suburbs have rising sales activity, several locations in the City of Wanneroo are showing signs of returning to growth.
Growing industrial areas are providing employment opportunities and with houses in most suburbs priced in the $300,000s and $400,000s, the City of Wanneroo is worthy of attention by investors.
Wanneroo is a rapidly-expanding LGA on the northern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area, located about 12km from the Perth CBD at its nearest point and 62km at its furthest point.
Perth’s next major Strategic Metropolitan Centre at Yanchep is currently being developed. Until the early 2000s, much of this area was unpopulated bushland.
The LGA’s main commercial and residential town centres are located at Wanneroo and Clarkson.
Other urban centres are planned at Alkimos, Yanchep and Two Rocks, with the largest retail centre being Wanneroo Cenral.
The Wanneroo region has natural attractions, mainly the beaches, but it is also home to the Yanchep and Neerabup National Park, Yellagonga Regional Park. and Lake Joondalup.
Barbagallo Raceway is a motorsport circuit located in Pinjar. It is renowned for the annual Supercar Championships which attract around 50,000 visitors over three days.
The City of Wanneroo has come to Hotspotting’s attention because of rising sales activity in several suburbs at a time when Perth’s market generally has been weak.
Wanneroo is one of four Perth precincts that are beginning to demonstrate a turnaround in the Perth housing market. Of the four, Wanneroo is the standout location, providing growth markets such as Alkimos, Carramar, Clarkson and Yanchep.
Alkimos is a newly-emerging suburb, having had a population of only 700 at the 2011 Census. The population is now 6,000. As with Yanchep, Butler and Two Rocks, new land estates are becoming available at Alkimos.
Based on 105 sales in the past year, the median house price at Alkimos is $400,000, with a median yield of 4.7%. Clarkson is the busiest suburb in the Wanneroo LGA with 227 annual sales. It has a median house price of $406,000 and a median rental yield of 4.5%.
Generally, young families dominate the region, searching for affordability amid the new development. Houses priced under $400,000 can be found in Banksia Grove, Girrawheen, Merriwa and Yanchep.
The State Government’s LandCorp and the Satterley Property Group are creating a new beach suburb between Yanchep and Alkimos. The 240ha community, to be known as Allara, has the potential to accommodate 3,400 home sites and a population of 7,500 people in the next 10 years.
Building projections obtained from the City of Wanneroo show that between 2011 and 2036, the suburb of Butler will have 2,800 dwellings added; Clarkson 2,400; Alkimos 11,000, Jindalee 3,200 and Yanchep 8,800.
Investors need to be mindful that vacancy rates are an issue, as is the case right across Perth. I expect this to improve as the WA economy and the Perth property market continue their fightback.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">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'">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting">Twitter.</a>
</body></html>

terryryder-YECXbqmri2

City of Wanneroo, Perth, leading state's market recovery 

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Across house sales over the past 12 months, Tasmania recorded the highest proportion of stock turning over with 5.6% of all houses in the state selling. Conversely, Western Australia saw the lowest proportion of turnover with just 4.0% of all houses selling over the past year. 
The current lower volume of housing stock turnover highlights why caution should be taken when interpreting median sale prices. 
With such a small fraction of housing actually transacting over a given period, median prices can be biased. Furthermore, median prices may not be reflective of the whole market. When making a comparison between periods they may compare two very different bundles of housing types and quality.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-24%20at%2011.17.14%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-24%20at%2011.17.14%20AM.png" alt="">
Concerned about housing stock levels, REINSW President John Cunningham said, “The results signal warning bells for the housing industry. It shows just how little has been transacted over the past year.”
“We know from a variety of property data sources that stock levels are steadily declining and a key reason why the affordability issue presents a bigger picture problem, particularly for Sydney and Melbourne.
“When we have stock on market, it keeps the property market competitive and in balance. Without stock we see less vibrancy and activity across the market and much more buyer competition taking place as opposed to activity between properties.” Ultimately, he said, “the knock-on effect damages the supply and demand chain.”
Lower housing turnover is being influenced by a variety of factors. “Advertised stock levels remain low across those cities where capital gain conditions are strong. Additionally, high transactional costs, which are based on a percentage of the selling/purchasing price, have become a larger disincentive across those markets where values have shown a material rise.”
Highlighted in the adjacent tables, it shows the five suburbs in each state which have seen the greatest turnover of houses over the past year. Only those suburbs that have at least 500 houses have been included on the list.
Zuccoli in Darwin had the highest proportion of stock turning-over across the country with 38.5% of all houses in the suburb selling over the past year. Clyde North in Melbourne had the second- highest level of turnover with 17.6% of all houses in the suburb selling over the past year.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-24%20at%2011.18.58%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-24%20at%2011.18.58%20AM.png" alt="">
While the data shows the suburbs with the greatest turnover of houses, each of the suburbs listed have seen substantially less than half of all houses selling.
Another characteristic of note is that most of the suburbs shown are in areas where there is, or has been over recent years, a substantial injection of new housing stock; average hold period data which shows that in new housing estate areas housing stock tends to turnover with greater regularity.
Overall, housing turnover in any given year reflects only a small proportion of the total housing stock. It further highlights that taxes on transactions such as stamp duty are heavily reliant on collection from only a small pool of overall housing stock.  
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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ckusher-ujnxiKuFQs

Housing turnover remains low despite strong selling conditions in Sydney & Melbourne: Cameron Kusher

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The Chinese government has put curbs on purchases of real estate and entertainment assets by Chinese companies and investors, a decision which could affect Australia’s real estate market.
The restrictions follows recent moves by Beijing to halt state banks lending to the Dalian Wanda Group, which has recently been forced to restructure its assets in Australia, namely the $2 billion worth of projects in Sydney and the Gold Coast.
The move to check “irrational" overseas investments aim to curb capital outflows and ease the  downward pressure on the yuan, while also compelling mainland companies to align themselves more closely with Beijing's foreign policy objectives, according to The Australian Financial Review.
The new investment guidelines includes a list of "banned, encouraged and restricted" areas for investment.
Hotels, sporting teams, cinemas and the broader entertainment sector were on the restricted list, while investments in casinos and defence technology were banned.
However, the new guidelines encourage deals in high technology, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, some areas of the service sector and oil and gas.
The State Council said it would encourage companies to invest in the $1 trillion One Belt One Road infrastructure initiative, meant to improve China’s trade ties with Europe, Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East.
In a statement, China’s top economic planning agency, The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), accused some Chinese companies of "blindly" going overseas.
"This has resulted in operational difficulties and caused significant losses," it said.
The agency was also critical of overseas property deals.
"Some companies have put their investment focus on fields that are not necessarily in the 'real economy', such as the property sector," it said.
"While these investments failed to drive economic growth, they led to increased capital outflows, which could negatively impact China's financial stability."
"This will lead to more rational investments ... after a period of crazy acquisitions at any cost,"  Zhang Yansheng, chief economist at the Beijing-based China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, was quoted as saying by the AFR.
"In the short term there will be fluctuation in China's investment in Australia, but I'm sure over the longer term there will be a steady increase."
Beijing has been worried that an acquisition spree by private entrepreneurs in recent years now threatens the stability of its financial system, if loans extended by from state-owned banks turn bad.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

China's new restrictions on overseas investment may hurt Australia's property market

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There’s mounting activity in and around real estate in Hobart and, according to media, it’s a sudden explosion.
A Domain report says there’s an “unprecedented” surge in activity from international developers “who are now ditching the mainland in favour of Hobart”. 
It reports a big increase in hotels planned for the city’s tourism industry – and in developers actively seeking sites for residential development.
Chief executive of Knight Frank Tasmania, Scott Newton, reports big demand for Hobart development sites, which is also described as “unprecedented”.
“Hobart has generally lagged the national market but we’re certainly seeing change unfold and there’s been a catch-up take place,” he says. 
I’m not surprised at the interest in the Hobart market – and it’s not sudden and it’s certainly not unprecedented. Hobart and Tasmania have been making a strong case for attention from investors of all kinds for a couple of years now.
Hobart has become a serious national player in the overall residential property scene, with its appealing mix of the lowest prices, tightest vacancies and highest rental yields in capital city Australia, underpinned by a greatly improved state economy.
Both SQM Research and CoreLogic have published recent data showing that annual price growth is strongest in Melbourne, followed by Canberra, with Hobart now challenging the leaders.
CoreLogic has Sydney now ranked third on price growth with Hobart fourth, while SQM rates Hobart as third best on capital growth and Sydney fourth. 
Vacancy rates remain tight or moderate in all of the state and territory capital cities except Perth, but Hobart has maintained its status as the tightest rental market. 
Both Domain and SQM Research record vacancies below 2% in Hobart, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. Both sources have Sydney hovering around 2%, with Brisbane and Darwin both around 3%.
“Available rental accommodation in Hobart and Canberra remains scarce, with the lowest house vacancy rates of all the capitals at just 0.5% and 0.8% respectively,” says Domain chief economist Andrew Wilson. 
Here’s the key thing: none of this should surprise anyone who’s been paying attention. The rise of the Hobart market to national prominence has been entirely predictable and has been unfolding steadily throughout 2016 and 2017.
Here’s what I wrote on Property Observer 18 months ago, in February 2016: “For six months or more, I’ve been getting blank stares or responses like “Seriously?” whenever I suggest to investors they should be considering Hobart.
“It’s really easy to get a bad reputation and extremely hard to lose it. Tasmania has the image of a basket base economy. A state that’s losing population. A property market bereft of growth. 
“For many years, all of that has been true. It’s true no longer.  But most people won’t be convinced until they read there’s a boom on. And by then it will be too late to buy well.
“Perhaps it is already. According to the latest House Price Report from Domain, Hobart median prices rose 8.7% for houses and 7.1% for apartments in 2015. The apartment result is the second best among the capital cities, after Sydney.” 
That was February last year. Eighteen months later it’s certainly too late to get the best of the buying, with some research showing that the nation’s hottest suburbs, in terms of “Time On Market”, are all in Hobart. 
This is confirmed by reports from industry professionals at the coalface, who report that houses are selling as fast as they’re listed. 
There were two core factors that prompted that prediction about Hobart prices at the beginning of last year: the steady rise in sales activity and the improvement in the state economy.
At that time, numerous reports were recording the improvement in the Tasmanian economy including the NAB business survey, a Deloitte Access Economics Business Outlook report and CommSec’s State of the States report.
But the bigger pointer for me was the research Hotspotting goes on sales volumes. Changes in sales activity are always a precursor to price movements, both up and down. Hotspotting analyses sales volumes patterns for every town and suburb in Australia every quarter – and that process forecast the price rises that are now occurring in the Hobart market.
In February 2016 I wrote:  “Cheap real estate, a market with rising momentum, underpinned by a strongly moving economy - it’s a package worth considering.’
Those who followed that advice would have bought well ahead of the price rises and done well – and will do better, because there’s more to come.
Buyers can still get into the Hobart market and achieve capital growth, but the best time to be there was 18 months ago.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">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'">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting">Twitter.</a>
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Hobart has become a serious national player in the residential property scene

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Sydney's pricey suburb Woollahra secured the nation's top weekend auction result, while Toorak in Melbourne surprised with the cheapest.
There were just the two ultra-cautious bidders completing for the wide Wallis Street, Woollahra terrace.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-woollahra-126002126" target="_blank">The five bedroom, four bathroom home</a> (above) with 7.5 metre frontage had been tipped by Ben Collier at The Agency to fetch $6.3 million plus, but the bidding petered out at $6.35 million.
It was however sold within an hour of its onsite auction at an considerably higher, though undisclosed price.
Dr Lisa O’Brien, who leads Australia’s major education-oriented children’s charity, The Smith Family, and was also a founding member of Sydney’s Lou’s Place, a drop-in centre providing respite and support for women in need, was the downsizing vendor.
It last sold at $4,225,000 in 2014.
Auction volumes steadied across the capital cities, according to CoreLogic’s latest report, while the preliminary clearance rate improved in the second last winter weekend.
Across the combined capital cities, the preliminary auction clearance rate rose to 71.7 per cent, up from the final clearance rate that came in at 67.5 per cent.
There were 2,041 capital city auctions over the week to Saturday, virtually unchanged from last week’s 2,040 auctions.
But it was higher than the 1,795 auctions held one year ago.
Melbourne took back the baton from Canberra as the strongest weekend auction market.
Melbourne’s preliminary clearance rate sat at 77.7 per cent, after the prior weekend’s final results fell below 70 per cent for the first time since July last year to 69.8 per cent.
Melbourne was host to 997 auctions this week, higher than the 955 held last week, and higher than last year when there were 789 Melbourne auctions held over the week.
It had the nation's cheapest sale when a Toorak studio sold pre-auction for $250,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-toorak-126010958" target="_blank">47/145 Canterbury Road</a>, (below) the studio apartment was marketed as an entry-level property for the suburb who has a $925,000 median apartment price.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2010.02.30%20AM.png" alt="">
The weekend offering - which last sold at $113,000 in 1999 - features a galley kitchen that is adjacent to the living and dining space.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2011.52.42%20AM.png" alt="">
The 36 sqm studio with car space was offered through Little Real Estate agent Rob Exell.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2011.53.34%20AM.png" alt="">
It had been a $260 a week rental when offered this time last year.
A four bedroom Kew house was Melbourne's top sale at $4 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-kew-126011582" target="_blank">37 Wellington Street</a>, (below) the English style home on a 792 sqm block last sold in 2007 for $2.12 million.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2010.03.28%20AM.png" alt="">
In Canberra, 68 auctions were held with 75.4 per cent successful.
Last weekend the Canberra clearance rate was a higher 87 per cent.
Canberra's top sale was a four bedroom Hackett house sold for $1.06 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-hackett-126031154" target="_blank">4 Brennan Street</a>, (below) the 958 sqm property with views of Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie, last sold for $405,000 in 2002.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2010.04.28%20AM.png" alt="">
Sydney’s clearance rate improved jumping to 70.8 per cent, however volumes were lower week-on-week in Sydney.
Across Sydney, 704 properties were taken to auction this week. Last week, the final clearance rate for the city was 67.6 per cent, across 798 auctions.
Over the corresponding week last year, 687 Sydney homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was 84.3 per cent.
The cheapest sale in Sydney was a Lakemba unit sold for $415,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-lakemba-125900754" target="_blank">10/10 Fairmount Street</a>, (below) the two bedroom 1970s last sold for $315,000 in 2014.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2010.05.34%20AM.png" alt="">
The freshly painted property was offered through Ray White agent Kamal Ali.
Sydney secured the highest formally notified sale across the nation when a Chatswood house sold for $5.635 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-chatswood-125954126" target="_blank">17 Dulwich Road</a>, (below) the six bedroom home sat on a 1800 sqm block.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2010.06.27%20AM.png" alt="">
There were 100 Adelaide auctions this weekend with 58.7 per cent selling. Last year there was a 62 per cent clearance rate from 97 offerings across Adelaide.
Adelaide's prices ranged between a three bedroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-osborne-125999526" target="_blank">Osborne</a> house sold for $389,500 and $1.15 million for a four bedroom Henley Beach South house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-henley+beach+south-125985282" target="_blank">9 Catalina Street</a> (below).
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2010.07.31%20AM.png" alt="">
Brisbane’s preliminary auction clearance rate was 45.9 per cent, increasing from 43.8 per cent last week.
There were 131 Brisbane auctions this week, compared to 103 last week.
Farleigh, a five bedroom Annerley house sold for $1.21 million making it Brisbane’s most expensive weekend auction sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-annerley-125998610" target="_blank">11 Pitt Street</a>, (below) the 1914 home was built by the pioneering Mackenzie family.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/21/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-21%20at%2010.08.17%20AM.png" alt="">
It last sold in 2005 for $565,000.
There were 34 Perth auctions this week and so far 17 results have been reported, with 47.1 per cent selling.
Of the seven Tasmanian auction results reported so far this week, two sales have been recorded.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sydney's pricey suburb Woollahra secured the nation's top weekend auction result

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A curious feature of residential real estate is the way we keep building bigger and more costly dwellings, in defiance of trends with household sizes and concerns about affordability.
ABS data shows that the market-share of dwellings containing four bedrooms or more increased by 1.9 percentage points between the 2011 and 2016 Censuses, while three-bedroom dwellings fell by 2.4 percentage points.
Homes with four or more bedrooms represent 32% of total dwellings, up from 30% in 2011. Those with three bedrooms or fewer still predominate, but have fallen from 68% to 66% of the total.
Some three-bedroom houses are disappearing as older places are knocked down and replaced with new high-rise developments.
Yet the typical Australian family - a couple with two kids - remains largely unchanged, while the number of lone-person households has increased from 22.9% of the total in 2001 to 24.4% in 2016.
These numbers hardly suggest a need for an increase of the number of big homes with additional bedrooms. But there are other possible explanations for the rise in the number of four- and five-bedroom dwellings.
Blended families, where children from previous marriages live with step-siblings from a newer relationship, are becoming more common. A spare bedroom may be reserved for visits by step-siblings or children in a custody arrangement.
Another reason is more people are working from home, necessitating a home office. About 1.3 million people say they work from home to enjoy a better work–life balance. 
Inter-generational households are common with immigrants, who provide the bulk of Australia’s population growth, especially in Melbourne and Sydney.
Indian and Asian immigrants in particular may have three generations living in one household: grandparents, parents and kids – and the Census shows that, increasingly, migrants to Australia are coming from these sources.
One of the Census findings was that the number of single-family households has decreased from 75% in 1991 to 69% in 2016 – while group households have increased from 3.7% of households in 2011 to 4.3% in 2016. We may see more of this trend if our migrant patterns remain the same.
Louise Lucas of The Property Education Co. suggests all may not be as it seems with four-bedroom houses.  The “McMansions” that are being produced by developers are not necessarily larger, but they are promoted as having four bedrooms although the fourth bedroom is likely to be much smaller than the others and only be useful as a study, she says.
But, one way or the other, the trend towards larger homes for a multitude of reasons is continuing.
Brisbane analyst Michael Matusik suggests we need to rethink the style of the stand-alone houses we’re producing and make allowances for more than one generation, including elements such as home offices, flexible spaces, smarter storage and energy efficiency.  
 
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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Bigger, more costly homes defy trends with household sizes, affordability

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Australian Supercars driver Rick Kelly secured the $3.7 million weekend sale of his beachfront home at Carrum overlooking Port Phillip Bay.
The sale (below) came soon after the two-storey Nepean Highway house had been passed in at $3.4 million at its Ray White auction.
<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/2017/08/07/700_kelly.jpg" alt="" width="552" height="335">
<div class="x_w_ad x_w_unruly">The resort-style property, that features three bedrooms, sold to a local mature-age couple.</div>
<div class="x_w_ad x_w_unruly">
The nation's top sale came elsewhere in Melbourne when the Armadale home of the former Qantas chairwoman Margaret Jackson was sold for $5.84 million (lead image).
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-armadale-125913590" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The four-bedroom house</a> saw two bidders compete for the property owned by downsizes, Ms Jackson and her husband, Roger Donazzan.
The Marshall White auctioneer Justin Long opened with a vendor bid of $4.8 million, then declaring it on the market at $5.42 million.
Last traded in 2004 at $2.75 million, it was offered with price hopes of $4.9 million to $5.39 million.
Melbourne's inner east was the only Melbourne region to register a clearance rate below 70 per cent, according to Domain.
The northern suburbs region scored a 91.7 per cent clearance rate on Saturday.
The first weekend of August saw fewer auctions across the capital cities, according to the CoreLogic property data firm which calculated the national clearance rose to 71.5 per cent.
</div>
The capital cities had 1,846 auctions, down from the 1,987 auctions held over the prior week, but still up on a year ago when there were the 1,540 auctions.
The preliminary auction clearance compared with the prior weekend's preliminary clearance of 70.7 percent success rate.
But this was revised to 68.7 per cent after late results, according to Kevin Brogan, the CoreLogic auction analyst.
"Final results have been consistently in the high 60 per cent range since the first week of June," he noted.
Across the two larger auction markets, Melbourne continued to show resilience.
Melbourne's 75.7 per cent result came from 799 reported auctions.
There were 907 auctions held across the city, down from 956 last week when the final auction clearance rate was 75.6 per cent.
The volume was higher than the 724 auctions held one year ago, along with a lower clearance rate of 74.2 per cent last August.
An Albert Park house sold for $5 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-albert+park-125864530" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">24 Herbert Street</a>, (below) the home came with three bedrooms plus study, along with two bathrooms.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2011.37.39%20AM.png" alt="">
The home was set behind a striking, original Art Deco facade, of the former Morris Bros Union Dairy on the 327 sqm block.
The property, offered through David Wood at Hockingstuart, had a $4.6 million reserve.
It was a family that eventually came out on top, paying $400,000 above reserve set by the vendor who renovated after the property was bought for $626,400 in 1999.
Melbourne's St Kilda East has the nation's cheapest sale when a one bedroom apartment sold for $307,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-st+kilda+east-124621614" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">22/87 Alma Road</a> (below) the property was marketed as perfect for first home buyers.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2011.38.48%20AM.png" alt="">
Built in 1960 it was last sold in 2010 for the same price of $307,000.
Across Sydney, 615 homes were taken to auction with a preliminary clearance rate of 71.1 per cent across 477 reported results.
Last week, the final clearance rate for the city was 65.4 per cent, across 714 auctions.
One year ago, 544 Sydney homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was 77.5 per cent.
The City and Inner South had a success rate of 84.9 per cent and the Inner West at 82.1 per cent.
Sydney's top sale was <a href="https://www.maxwalls.com/buying/search/detail?id=ID223" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a three bedroom Mosman apartment</a> (below) that sold for $4.7 million.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2011.40.11%20AM.png" alt="">
Located at 20B Redan Street, the Balmoral Slopes offering last sold in 1995 for $1.025 million.
The duplex was offered through Max Walls International agent Anthony Walls.
Domain reported over the first seven months of this year, 19,221 Sydney homes had been auctioned - some 31 per cent higher or 4628 more than the 14,593 listed over the same period last year.
There were 153 Brisbane homes taken to auction this weekend, with the preliminary clearance rate at 48.8 per cent, down from 49.6 per cent last week.
Brisbane's Fig Tree Pocket saw <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-fig+tree+pocket-125861762" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rivergum Retreat</a> (below), a mansion, owned by former Linc Energy boss Peter Bond, fail to sell at auction.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2011.42.06%20AM.png" alt="">
<div class="x_in-content-ad">The riverfront seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom mansion on 1.2 hectares was passed in at $9.25 million, $250,000 short of its 2008 purchase price.</div>
<div class="x_in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="x_in-content-ad">Ray White agent Matt Lancashire marketed it as “one of the most substantial properties in Brisbane."</div>
Bidding between two parties started at $8 million. 
Brisbane's top sale was a five bedroom house at Calamvale for $3.3 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-calamvale-125905222" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">85 Menser Street</a> (below), the 10,119 sqm property was marketed as having development potential.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2011.43.08%20AM.png" alt="">
The property was last sold in 2016 for $3.08 million has approval for 38 town houses.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 69.4 per cent across 59 auctions on the weekend, up from 64 per cent across 82 auctions on the prior weekend.
A 1910 stone-fronted Prospect house was among Adelaide's results, selling for $955,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-prospect-125906674" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">46 Johns Road</a>, (below) the four bedroom 1910 property last sold in 1994 for $165,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2011.44.01%20AM.png" alt="">
Perth’s clearance rate surprised with a 72.7 per cent across 35 auctions.
It was up from the previous week, when 28 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 34.8 per cent was recorded.
Canberra’s preliminary auction clearance rate of 69.6 per cent was lower than last weekend, when the final auction clearance rate was 70.5 per cent and lower than the 74.1 per cent recorded on the same weekend last year.
A five bedroom Hackett house sold for $1.26 million making it Canberra’s most expensive weekend auction sale.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-hackett-125919762" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">4 Verco Street</a>, (below) the property is set on the foothills of Mount Majura nature reserve.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%2011.44.47%20AM.png" alt="">
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Australia's top weekend sale in Armadale, Melbourne

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GUEST OBSERVER
At its core, successful investing is simple, but we have a knack of making it look complex.
These five great charts help illuminate key aspects of investing: the power of compound interest; the investment cycle; the roller coaster of investor emotion; the wall of worry; and time is on your side when investing. 
Introduction 
Investing is often seen as complicated. And this has been made worse over the years by the increasing complexity in terms of investment products and choices, regulations and rules around investing, the role of the information revolution and social media in amplifying the noise around investment markets and the expanding ways available to access various investments. But at its core, the basic principles of successful investing are simple. And one way to demonstrate that is in charts or pictures – after all, a picture tells a thousand words. So this note looks at five charts I find useful in understanding investing. I’ll put out part 2 – another five great charts on investing – in a few weeks’ time. 
Chart #1 The power of compound interest. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.11.02%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.11.02%20AM.png" alt="">
This chart is my absolute favourite. My good friend, the well- known economist Dr Don Stammer, has said there are six things we owe our children or grandchildren: a sense of humour; a reasonable education; an early understanding of the magic of compounding; an awareness the cycle lives on; some help when they buy their first house or apartment; and a feeling of optimism. I can’t argue with the first, second and fifth, the fourth I will deal with next, and a feeling of optimism is essential if you wish to succeed as an investor. But on compound interest – he’s right it is like magic! 
The chart shows the value of $1 invested in various Australian assets in 1900 allowing for the reinvestment of dividends and interest along the way. That $1 would have grown to $231 if invested in cash, to $850 if invested in bonds and to $485,815 if invested in shares. While the average return since 1900 is only double that in shares relative to bonds, the huge difference between the two at the end owes to the impact of compounding or earning returns on top of returns. So any interest or return earned in one period is added to the original investment so that it all earns a return in the next period. And so on. 
The “Law of 72” is a useful tool to understanding how long it takes an investment to double in value using compounding. Just divide the rate of return into 72 and that’s the answer (roughly). For example, if the rate of return is 2% per annum (eg, the interest rate on a bank term deposit), it will take 36 years to double in value (= 72 divided by 2). But if it’s, say, 8% pa (eg, the expected total return from shares including dividends), then it will take just 9 years (= 72 divided by 8). 
Key message: if we want to grow our wealth, we must have exposure to growth assets like shares and property. 
Chart #2 The cycle 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.12.24%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.12.24%20AM.png" alt="">
But of course shares can have lots of setbacks along the way as is particularly evident during the periods highlighted by the arrows on the share market line. In fact, the higher returns shares generate over time relative to cash and bonds is compensation for the periodic setbacks that they suffer from. But understanding those periodic setbacks – that there will always be a cycle – is important in not getting blown away from the higher returns that shares and other growth assets provide over time. The next chart shows a stylised version of the investment cycle. 
The investment cycle 
The grey line shows the economic cycle from “boom” to “bust” to “boom” again. Prior to the low point in the economic cycle, shares invariably find a bottom thanks to attractive valuations and easy monetary policy and as smart investors look forward to an eventual economic recovery. This phase is usually characterised by scepticism as economic conditions are yet to improve.
Shares then move higher, eventually supported by stronger earnings on the back of improving economic conditions, which eventually gives way to a blow off phase or euphoria as investors pile in. This is ultimately brought to an end as rising inflation flowing from strong economic conditions results in ever-tightening monetary policy, which combines with smart investors anticipating an economic downturn and results in shares coming under pressure.
Usually around the top of the cycle real assets – like property and infrastructure – are a better bet than shares as they benefit from strong real economic conditions. But once the downturn hits bonds are the place to be as slowing growth eventually gives way to falling inflation all of which sees bond yields decline producing capital gains for investors. At some point, of course, easing monetary conditions and attractive valuations see shares bottom out and the whole cycle repeats. 
Key message: cycles are a fact of life and while they don't repeat precisely, it’s invariably the case that the share market leads the economic cycle (bottoming out before economic 2recovery is clear and topping out before an economic downturn has really hit) and that different assets perform relatively best at different phases in the cycle  
Chart #3 The roller coaster of investor emotion 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.13.22%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.13.22%20AM.png" alt="">
The swings we see in investment markets are far greater than can be justified by movements in investment fundamentals alone – ie profits, dividends, rents, interest rates, etc. In fact, investor emotion plays a huge part. The next chart shows the 4 roller coaster that investor emotion traces through the course of an investment cycle. A bull market runs through optimism, excitement, thrill and ultimately euphoria by which point the asset class is over loved (and usually overvalued too) – everyone who is going to buy has – and it becomes vulnerable to bad news. This is the point of maximum risk.
Once the cycle starts to turn down in a bear market, euphoria gives way to anxiety, denial, fear, capitulation and ultimately depression at which point the asset class is under loved (and usually undervalued) – everyone who is going to sell has – and it becomes vulnerable to good (or less bad) news. This is the point of maximum opportunity. Once the cycle turns up again, depression gives way to hope, relief and optimism before eventually moving on to euphoria again 
Key message: investor emotion plays a huge roll in exaggerating the investment cycle. The key for investors is not to get sucked into this emotional roller coaster: avoid assets where the crowd is euphoric and convinced it’s a sure thing and the asset is over loved, and favour assets where the crowd is depressed and the asset is under loved.
Chart #4 The wall of worry
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.14.29%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.14.29%20AM.png" alt="">
It seems that these days there is always something for investors to worry about. This year so far has been no exception with numerous worries about President Trump on multiple fronts (will he overstimulate the US economy? will he cause trade wars? will he deliver on his pro-business policies? will he be impeached? etc), various terrorist attacks, elections in the Netherlands and France and worries about Italy, the surprise election result in the UK, tensions between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, a new plunge in the oil price, intensifying “provocations” from North Korea, ongoing worries about the Australian property market and banks, etc. But most of this stuff is just noise.
The global economy has had plenty of worries over the last century, but it got over them with Australian shares returning 11.8% per annum since 1900, with a broad rising trend in the All Ords price index as can be seen in the next chart, and US shares returning 9.8% pa. (Note that this chart shows the All Ords share price index whereas the first chart shows the value of $1 invested in the All Ords accumulation index, which allows for changes in share prices and dividends.) 
Key message: worries are normal around the economy and investment markets but most of them are just noise.
Chart #5 Time is on your side
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.15.25%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-01%20at%2011.15.25%20AM.png" alt="">
Investment markets bounce all over the place in the short term. As can be seen in the next chart even annual returns in the share market are highly volatile, but longer-term returns tend to be solid and relatively smooth. Since 1900 for Australian shares roughly two years out of ten have had negative returns but there are no negative returns over rolling 20-year periods. (It’s roughly three years out of ten for US shares since 1900.) 
Key message: the longer the time horizon, the greater the chance your investments will meet their goals. So in investing, time is on your side. 
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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://plus.google.com/110172465327488162875?rel=author" target="_blank">SHANE OLIVER</a> is head of investment strategy and economics and chief economist at <a href="https://www.ampcapital.com.au/home" target="_blank">AMP Capital</a> and is responsible for AMP Capital's diversified investment funds. 
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Five great charts on investing: Shane Oliver

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Undergraduate students from leading universities in Australia and New Zealand will have the opportunity to participate in a real estate case competition hosted by the University of Sydney Business School and sponsored by global property company, Savills Australia.
The University of Sydney Business School Real Estate Case Competition is based upon a real-world Australian real estate case, giving students the opportunity to put their knowledge into first-hand practice.
The university chooses the assignment by selecting a property asset in Sydney and tasks the teams with analysing an actual commercial real estate transaction, rendering a recommendation, and providing a presentation of their analysis and proposal.
The teams will consist of four to six students and will be judged through their presentations, analysis, approach to problems and knowledge of the given case by senior representatives from the property industry.
The winning team will receive guaranteed entry and an all-expenses paid trip (up to $25,000), to compete in the global invite only ‘Cornell International Real Estate Case Competition’ where teams are judged by leading experts in Real Estate.
According to Paul Craig, CEO of Savills Australia and New Zealand, who will be part of the judging panel, “This is an incredible opportunity for a high calibre of students to compete for an exciting grand prize and trip to New York.”
“But more importantly, it is a real life working example of what these students are going to be doing in their property careers.
"This practical application and hands on experience will help shape the next generation of property experts in Australia and New Zealand” he said.
“The mentoring the students will receive through the judging process will be invaluable to their future careers.”
The University of Sydney Business School Real Estate case competition will take place on Monday 25 September 2017 at The Abercrombie Building at the University of Sydney Business School in Sydney.
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Students battle it out in real-world property competition

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GUEST OBSERVER
In an Australian first, innovative research from the University of South Australia reveals that strength in numbers could hold the key for people wanting to enter Australia’s property market, with crowdfunding leading the way as an alternative option for new investors.
The groundbreaking study assesses individual investor motivation and appetite for crowdfunding and its potential as an alternative investment vehicle for entering Australia’s tenuous property market.
There’s a lot of debate about the current state of Australia’s housing market, and its inaccessibility, especially first-time homebuyers, who lack foundation capital get their first home.
As crowdfunding works by pooling capital from a large group of people to purchase a property, both the dollar investment and the risk, are spread across multiple players, with people able to make investments as small as $1,000.
This means people of all means and ages can try their hand at property investment, with their return being directly proportionate to their level of investment.
The research conducted by UniSA shows that property crowdfunding is a long-term investment strategy offering low to medium risks, and yielding similar low to medium returns. It attracts a mix of investor types, but has particular appeal to older Australians aged between 55 and 64 years (33 per cent of investors, representing the largest cohort). Only 4 per cent of the respondents were younger than 35 years.
There’s definitely an appetite among older investors for property crowdfunding, but we also know that millennials are using this type of investment vehicle to enter the property market.
While there are fewer millennials using crowdfunding for property investment, those that do, tend to invest greater funds than their older counterparts.
In contrast, older investors make up a greater percentage of the property crowdfunding market, but they tend to diversify their investment portfolios, preferring to hold higher percentages of their portfolios in cash and cash equivalent investment vehicles.
Property crowdfunding forms part of the online alternative finance market which has shown exponential growth over the past few years. According to the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance the Asia-Pacific Region alone (excluding mainland China) has shown a 313 per cent  increase to a volume of USD $1.2 billion in 2015 from USD $271.94 raised in 2014. 
Australia is second only to Japan as a participant in the Asia-Pacific alternative finance market.
This strong regional growth is a good indicator that we could expect similar growth patterns in property crowdfunding as alternative investment vehicle in the near future.
Property crowdfunding is still in its infancy in Australia, but as more people become aware and accepting of new digitalised investment platforms, we’re likely to see this market expand.
It is an investment strategy that has the potential to revolutionise the property market.
The results of this research are published in the Property Crowdfunding Australian Investor Perspectives 2016/17 report, developed in partnership with Domacom, one of the largest property crowdfunding platforms in Australia.
 
Dr Braam Lowies is a Senior Lecturer in Property, School of Commerce, University of South Australia and can be contacted <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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