National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Real Estate

<h2>OPINION:</h2>

Throughout April 2021, national property values increased 1.8 per cent; a whopping six times the average monthly movement in property prices for the past decade. For the typical Australian home, that signals an increase of $11,240 in value in just one month, according to <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/how-much-housing-market-can-different-incomes-buy" target="_blank">CoreLogic</a>. In markets like Sydney, that figure is likely to be much higher.

It&rsquo;s no wonder housing affordability is on the decline. <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/how-much-housing-market-can-different-incomes-buy" target="_blank">CoreLogic</a> reports that middle-income households in Sydney can&rsquo;t afford 75.5 per cent of Sydney houses and 41 per cent of Sydney units.

For many Sydneysiders, buying a home in Sydney will simply become unaffordable and unattainable. For those that do stretch themselves, they&rsquo;ll be burdened with a very large mortgage debt in danger of becoming unserviceable once interest rates eventually rise. So, what&rsquo;s the solution?

<h2>Sydneysiders to escape north</h2>

What we&rsquo;re likely to see is a migration north in search of cheaper housing, a better lifestyle and a more affordable cost of living. Places like the Central Coast will prove popular for those working in Sydney and willing to commute.

Other areas like Brisbane with a strong jobs market will also attract Sydneysiders.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29384 project_image_fid=155506]

When you compare the house prices you can understand the appeal. Let&rsquo;s look at a few examples.

In Windsor in Brisbane, about 6km from the CBD, <a href="/buildings/amor-windsor-residences-29-bryden-street-windsor">these spacious luxury one-bedroom apartments</a> start at $380,000. You&rsquo;d be hard-pressed to find an apartment for this price in Sydney, let alone one so desirable.

On Brisbane&rsquo;s Queen St, perched on the river, is <a href="/buildings/443-queen-street-brisbane-443-queen-street-brisbane">this luxury development</a> boasting brand new one, two and four-bedroom apartments starting at $730,000 in the heart of the city.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29185 project_image_fid=83369]

Ascot in Brisbane is one of Brisbane&rsquo;s most expensive and affluent riverside suburbs, about 7-8km from the CBD. For <a href="/buildings/ascot-green-by-mirvac-tulloch-house-61-st-leger-way-ascot-4007">these brand new three-bedroom apartments</a>, it will set you back around $1,230,000. That&rsquo;s close to Sydney&rsquo;s median property price, but buyers get a brand new luxury apartment in one of the most sought after locations in Brisbane.

<h2>Is leaving Sydney the best option for me?</h2>

If you feel like you&rsquo;re stuck in the rat race and can&rsquo;t get ahead, relocating out of Sydney might be a good option for you. It&rsquo;s best to do extensive research on which areas have strong job opportunities in your field and will support the lifestyle you want. Don&rsquo;t be enticed by more affordable housing alone.

If you feel like you&rsquo;re being priced out of the Sydney market, leaving Sydney isn&rsquo;t the only option. Renting a home in Sydney while investing interstate (known as rentvesting) is one option you may want to consider to build wealth without needing to leave.

In fact, with the exodus north, an investment in an area like South East Queensland is likely to be a savvy choice as demand pushes up prices and capital growth prospects for investors.

If the investment performs well over time, the equity could potentially be used as a deposit to fund a future house deposit in Sydney.

Olivia Round

OPINION: Sydneysiders set to migrate north

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Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) CEO, Amanda Lynch, has welcomed the 2015-16 Budget as a win for her small business estate agency members.
But also one that importantly retains key tax arrangements that benefit housing investment.
Ms Lynch said the generous asset depreciation measures would particularly benefit the real estate sector
“The government is to be commended for ensuring stability within the sector in continuing the current tax arrangements as they relate to both Capital Gains Tax and negative gearing.” 
“With other sectors of the economy slowing, housing will play an increasingly important role and it is pleasing to see the government has not tampered with tax arrangements that have been proven to help stimulate housing investment in Australia.” 
“Abolition of negative gearing would result in a dwindling supply of properties for rent, escalating rents and reduced opportunities for low to middle income earning Australians to create wealth for self-funded retirement.” 
She welcome the small business package giving business owners meaningful incentives to hire, invest in equipment "and importantly grow their livelihood.”
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

REIA welcomes no change on property taxes in Hockey 2015 budget

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Almost 100% of the market analysis and media focus in real estate is devoted to the capital cities. But in two major states the regional markets are outperforming their capital cities.
And they’re not just any old cities that are being outdone by their country cousins. Sydney is one of them, which will amaze many people, and Brisbane is the other one.
I explained in a recent column why Sydney has passed its peak and is slowly losing its heat. You won’t be reading about it in mainstream media because journalists lack expertise and are reliant on press releases from research companies. And those research companies base their market analysis on median price movements. And median prices are six months behind the market.
The real story of markets is told by sales volumes. And sales activity has been gradually falling across metropolitan Sydney – to the extent that I count just 36 growth suburbs (compared to 114 six months ago).
Regional New South Wales has almost double the number of growth markets of Sydney. The momentum that started with regional areas close to the state capital – like Wollongong and Gosford – has spread throughout the state.
The Gosford LGA remains the most buoyant regional NSW market, followed by nearby Wyong. The Newcastle region – where the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Cessnock and Port Stephens LGAs all have multiple growth suburbs – is also on a positive trajectory.
The Southern Highlands market has more recently sprung to life, with Moss Vale, Bowral and Mittagong all looking strong.
Further afield in NSW, Port Macquarie looks really good and the Tweed region at the Queensland border is joining the growth party. At the opposite end of the state, the twin cities of Albury and Wodonga on either side of the Victoria border are attracting growing attention from investors.
Dubbo continues to be one of the strongest regional economies in the state and the nation, while Goulburn and Orange also look good.
Everywhere I look in New South Wales there are markets percolating, without (with the exception of Gosford) having delivered price growth of Sydney proportions.
Brisbane is still producing plenty of growth markets, although the limelight has switched from the north to the south. While the Brisbane City Northside precinct was the first to burst into life with elevated activity and good price growth in 2014, the leading markets are now Brisbane City Southside and, a little further south, Logan City.
But there busy markets across Brisbane, with upwardly-mobile suburbs springing up in the Redland, Ipswich and Moreton Bay LGAs around the periphery of the metropolitan area.
And regional Queensland is matching the Greater Brisbane area for the number of growth locations. The regional action is headed by the Gold Coast, which continues to gather momentum and has now overtaken Logan City to be the No.1 LGA in Australia, in terms of the number of growth suburbs.
Fortunately, most of the growth markets in Gold Coast City are genuine residential markets – i.e. inland housing markets, rather than the high-rise precincts along the glitter strip. Let’s hope that’s where investors focus their attention, because the new mega towers will return the Gold Coast to its grand tradition of apartment over-supply.
The Sunshine Coast, which continues to progress as a more well-rounded regional city, is the next biggest growth market, while resurgent Cairns is still featuring strongly. 
But there’s a new contender – the Fraser Coast region based on Hervey Bay is now producing more growth suburbs than Cairns and almost as many as the Sunshine Coast. Townsville is slowly spluttering back to life.
Toowoomba, which was the first regional city in Queensland to get on a growth path, looks to have had its run. This is demonstrated by the high number of “plateau” markets among the Toowoomba suburbs. The big infrastructure investment happening in and around the city should keep its market solid, but sales activity has undoubtedly tapered off in Toowoomba.
No other states have regional markets as prominent as NSW and Queensland, although there are good possibilities for investors in Victoria and Western Australia – but that’s another story.
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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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Capital cities outdone by country cousins: Terry Ryder

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One of the most consistent linkages in real estate is that the cities with the tightest vacancies are the ones showing the best rental growth.
This, of course, is no great surprise but real estate data often makes no sense. This is one instance where it does.
The figures on rentals and vacancies are among the most consistent in the real estate research field - and it’s an area where competing research sources generally agree with one another, a lot more often than they do on median prices and the level of price growth.
Domain and SQM Research, for example, have comparable figures on vacancy rates in each of the capital cities and also on rental growth.
The two sources broadly agree that the tightest rental markets are found in Hobart (vacancies around 0.5%), Canberra (1.2%) and Melbourne (1.5%).
The highest vacancy rates are in Perth (4% to 5%), and in Brisbane and Darwin (both around 3%).
The respective vacancy situations correlate closely with annual growth in house rentals.
SQM Research says Hobart house rents have grown 8% in the past year, while both sources record 6-7% growth in Canberra and around 5% in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the city with the highest vacancies, Perth, has the worst rental performance: SQM says house rents have dropped almost 6% in the past year while Domain records a decrease of more than 7%.
Darwin house rents have dropped 5.5%, according to both sources, while both say Brisbane rents are unchanged.
In most of the major cities, vacancy rates are higher for apartments than they are for houses - and this, too, is reflected in rental performance.
Both Domain and SQM record double-digit growth for apartment rents in Hobart and around 5% increases in Canberra and Melbourne.
In Brisbane, where inner-city oversupply is a growing issue, apartment rents are down about 1% overall.
In Perth, where vacancy rates generally are high but especially in the inner-city unit markets, apartment rents have fallen 7% (SQM) or 10% (Domain).
In Darwin, where unit oversupply has been an issue as well, apartment rents are down 8-9% in annual terms.
The overall impression from all the figures is that rents have not matched prices in growth performance, which has resulted in rental yields contracting in most cities.
The only city with a gross rental yield for houses above 5% is Hobart, which sits at 5.4% according to Domain. 
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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Tightest rental markets in Hobart, Canberra and Melbourne: Terry Ryder

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There’s a pattern with dwelling prices in Australian cities and in simple terms it’s this: the bigger the city, the more expensive the real estate.
Sydney is more expensive than Melbourne, which is pricier than Brisbane, which outranks Perth, which is dearer than Adelaide, which has higher prices than Hobart. The benchmark I’m using is the median house price.
But there’s one city that doesn’t adhere to the pattern and it’s Canberra. Canberra is a small and relatively insignificant place in terms of its population and economy – but it has some of the nation’s most expensive real estate.
Canberra’s median dwelling price (around $600,000, according to CoreLogic) is much higher than the medians for Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide – and not a lot behind Melbourne’s $660,000.
There are multiple reasons why this is the case. As a government town, Canberra tends to have low unemployment and high average incomes – and that has an influence on real estate values.
But the biggest single reason – and one that speaks to the core of the housing affordability debate nationwide – is the control exercised by the ACT Government.
I strongly believe that the nub of affordability issues – and the source of the most workable solutions to the issues where they exist – is the high cost of producing new dwellings in Australia. The costs are unnecessarily high because all three levels of government mercilessly milk the housing industry cash cow, thereby adding hugely to the cost of creating dwellings. The biggest villains are state and territory governments.
This is the case everywhere in Australia – notably in Sydney where the median price for residential land is double that of Melbourne – but the ACT Government takes ripping off the real estate process to a whole new level.
It controls land supply to the nth degree, drip-feeding new allotments to the market in a way that guarantees demand will always exceed supply many times over, thereby keeping prices high and maximizing government revenue. The industry complains bitterly about it, the Government denies it, and nothing ever changes.
But the ACT Government keeps finding new and interesting ways to squeeze ever more revenue out of the housing construction industry in Canberra – and with each new measure the cost of dwelling creation rises and affordability deteriorates. One of its more cynical moves was to announce it was phasing out stamp duty – and then massively increased rates to compensate.
So it was unsurprising to read that the ACT Government has just come up an innovative new method of ripping more taxes out of the dwelling creation process.
It’s a new $30,000-per-unit development tax, which developers say will make it uneconomic to turn residential blocks into townhouses and units - and will destroy infill development.
They also accuse the ACT Government of attempting to maximise revenue by making its own land in the Northbourne corridor, the Fluffy blocks and new suburbs the only land viable for redevelopment. If they’re right with this accusation, it would continue a persistent theme in the ACT.
At the moment, if builders buy a house block in a suburb such as Dickson or Turner - or any suburbs built before 1971 - to convert to units, they face a "strata tile" charge of $7500 a unit for the first three units and $5000 a unit after that.
But under a new tax lurking in the small print of the June Budget, the charge is hiked to $30,000 a unit. For a six-unit development, that pushes the total bill from $37,500 to $180,000. It’s a massive tax rise by any measure. 
There has been understandable outcry from the Master Builders Association and the Property Council. But the people who should be shouting the loudest are home-buyers because the underlying costs that affect property values in Canberra just got higher.
Unlike Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide or Hobart, Canberra doesn’t have a single suburb with a median house price below $400,000. Charnwood is the cheapest at $420,000 and the ACT Government is the primary culprit – not the scapegoats that everyone seems to prefer like foreign buyers or negatively-geared investors. It's the greedy, idiotic territory government.
The Canberra Times reported: “The development industry says the change will capture at least 95% of residential redevelopment in the older suburbs … and will benefit the government's land profits and help it sell the over-supply of Fluffy blocks by making it impossible for other landowners to compete with the government land. Government land will not attract the charge because it doesn't involve a lease variation.”
It also reported: “Independent Property group director of project planning David Shearer said it was a radical policy change that targeted home-owners, was ‘a very effective way to tax the family home’, with owners already bearing the brunt of huge rates increases, and would bring development to ‘a screaming halt’. And he accused the government of ‘an incredibly arrogant’ lack of warning or consultation.”
He’s probably right, judging by the ACT Government’s track record on these issues.
In a statement, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said lease variation charges were an "economically robust taxation mechanism which ensures the community shares in the unearned windfall gain developers receive from changes to a lease that substantially increase the value of the land".
It’s a typically cheap and nasty political tactic – slug developers on the basis that everyone sees them as greedy rich bastards and hope that no one figures out the people who will really pay are the end-users – the buyers of dwellings, such as first home buyers.
 
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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The bigger the city, the more expensive the real estate: Terry Ryder 

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Population growth does not, alone, create real estate hotspots. And it’s not the core element of a growth property market. If it was, Melbourne prices would have grown faster than Sydney’s over the past five years.
Population is a factor, one of many to be considered.
In that regard, a recent analysis of population trends written by “Glenn the Census Exert” from the .id website team makes interesting reading. It focuses on Australia’s 50 largest cities and towns, based on ABS data for the 2015 financial year.
It shows the prominence of Melbourne as the nation-leading city. Over the 2015 financial year and over the previous five years, Melbourne added more to its population than Sydney did. Melbourne grew 10.1 percent in five years (adding almost 400,000 people), compared to Sydney’s 8.2 percent (343,000 extra citizens). Melbourne grew 2.0 percent in FY2015, compared to Sydney’s 1.7 percent.
So why has Sydney’s price growth been so much higher than Melbourne’s? Because Sydney’s economy has been stronger and the infrastructure spend has been much greater than Melbourne’s. Population growth is important, but economic strength and infrastructure spending has greater influence.
Perth has been an outstanding population growth story as well. Although it has a smaller population than Brisbane it has added considerably more (236,000) over the past five years than Brisbane (190,000) has. In fact, over five years Perth has a higher growth rate (13.7 percent) than Melbourne (10.1 percent) but its growth has slowed markedly in recent years – so that in FY2015 Perth’s population growth rate was lower than those in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Its stellar growth stopped when the resources boom fell away.
Of the 50 largest urban areas in Australia, the fastest growth rate over five years was achieved by the Melton LGA on the western periphery of Melbourne, up 28 percent. Another growth area on the fringes of Melbourne, the Warragul-Drouin area, grew 14.2 percent over five years. In that same time frame, Geelong added 12,000 to its population, a rise of 7 percent. This adds to the general scenario of Melbourne as the king of population growth. 
Also prominent were the Busselton (up 18.5 percent) and Bunbury (up 15 percent) areas, both south of Perth.
In terms of growth in FY2015, Melton was again No.1 (up 4.6 percent in 12 months), followed by Warrugul-Drouin, Busselton, Bunbury and Gladstone in Queensland (all growing between 2 percent and 3 percent over 12 months).
Other notable growth centres include the Sunshine Coast, which added as much to its population over five years as Canberra did, and the Gold Coast, which added twice as many people as Canberra and 10 times more than Hobart. 
The percentage growth rate for the Gold Coast is no longer as high as in the past (it’s now growing from a much larger base, so spectacular growth numbers aren’t so easy), but it’s still a massive growth centre. The population of the Gold Coast-Tweed region grew 53,500 over five years, a rise of almost 10 percent. It’s the nation’s sixth largest city, with 625,000 residents, well ahead of Newcastle-Maitland and Canberra-Queanbeyan.
So why have Gold Coast prices down little over the past five or six years, amid all that population growth? Because developers oversupplied the market with high-rise apartments, yet again. After six down years, the market is now showing some growth, because the surplus has been soaked up and, more importantly, there’s a massive infrastructure spend happening.
The Sunshine Coast has been a big growth centre. Its growth rate over five years (9 percent) has been almost as big as the Gold Coast’s, and 25,000 has been added to its population. The Sunshine Coast is the nation’s 10th biggest city – larger than Wollongong and considerably larger than Hobart.
Similar to the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast has become a growth property market because of significant new spending on infrastructure and other construction projects.
Townsville has attracted some negative headlines lately but it’s a significant growth city, adding 16,000 or 10% to its population over the past five years, reaching 180,000. It’s growing faster than its North Queensland rival, Cairns.
 
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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Population growth does not, alone, create real estate hotspots: Terry Ryder

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Of the many personality types who inhabit the real estate investment, the least enlightened are the ones I call the real estate snobs.
These are the people who won’t consider investing in an area they personally would not choose to live in. Their objections are usually couched in these terms: “What person in their right mind would want to live there?”
This kind of attitude invariably is directed at a downmarket area, perhaps stigmatized by a bad reputation for social issues or above-average crime rates. They’re places with plenty of housing that fits the “ugly real estate” tag.
But I’ve found in my 30-plus years researching and writing about real estate that ugly real estate grows in value quite nicely, so long as it sits in an area that fulfils certain criteria.
We might all aspire to live in Toorak or Woollahra but the reality is that 99 percent of Australians can’t afford those places. People buy where they can afford the house prices and if the area offers basics like shops, schools and public transport, there will be no shortage of demand from home-buyers and tenants.
One of the most enduring formulas for capital growth is affordability + jobs nodes + infrastructure. So ugly or not, downmarket or not, and regardless of the attitude of the real estate snobs, locations with these qualities deliver solid capital growth.
Recently, amid the strong market in Melbourne, few locations have delivered better capital growth than the precinct based around the stigmatized suburb of Sunshine. Right now, the locations with the most active markets in the Melbourne metropolitan area are the outer-ring areas where homes are affordable.
That brings me to the Brisbane suburban area of Inala, which arguably carries more heavy stigma that anywhere else in the Queensland capital. Just the word Inala evokes all kinds of negative thoughts and reactions.
The Inala precinct has long been branded as a downmarket area with lots of problems - but the market right now is busy because its offers affordability. And Inala and neighbours like Durack and Richlands have recorded annual price growth in the 10-13% range recently.
Inala is, in fact, well-placed to be a strong real estate performer. It is well-located, has good transport links and sits in an area with good services, including education, health and shopping facilities.
The billion-dollar evolution of new suburbs in the general vicinity, including two major master-planned communities, is creating infrastructure, services and jobs within striking distance of the Inala precinct.
Inala’s greatest strength is its affordable housing options. It is an established suburban area amid new development, therefore offering cheaper alternatives to the new product. It also offers a good range of amenities - lots of schools, parks, golf course, good road connections, a train station at Richlands and the Inala Town Centre.
The Inala precinct is well located between Ipswich and the Brisbane CBD. It is nestled at the gateway of the new communities of Springfield and Ripley Valley. Inala connects to Springfield via the Centenary Highway and the new Springfield metropolitan train line which has stations at Darra, Richlands, Springfield and Springfield Central stations.
Inala began as a community of affordable housing for ex-servicemen after WWII, evolving into a Housing Commission area. This led to its downmarket image which has been compounded by high unemployment and crime rates. Data from the 2011 Census indicates a low percentage of students completed year 12.
These negatives have not prevented the local property market from rising, partly because the area has good services and amenities.
The Inala Town Centre is made up of a plethora of medical centres, business services and supermarkets catering for a diverse range of residents. Richlands Plaza is relatively new and there are several large shopping centres in nearby Redbank, including Redbank Plaza which  houses Coles, Target, Supa IGA, Kmart, Aldi, an 8-screen cinema and 110 specialty stores.
Schools in the immediate area include Richlands East Primary School, Serviceton South Primary School, St Marks Primary School, Inala Primary School, Durack State School, Glenala High School and Western Suburbs Special School. Inala also has a TAFE campus. Springfield’s Education City provides plenty of tertiary options from a variety of providers including the University of Southern Queensland.
The great appeal of the Inala precint is affordability. From 2008–2010, median prices were about $300,000 according to realestate.com.au. In the next three years prices fell before starting a steady rise in 2014.
Data from CoreLogic suggests the median house price in Inala is now $350,000 based on 174 annual sales. This follows a 10% increase in the last 12 months. There have been similar rises in Durack and Richlands.
The long-term growth rate, i.e. the average annual growth in median house prices over the past 10 years, is a steady 6% per year.
Another strength is the low vacancy rate for postcode 4077 (Durack, Inala and Richlands) which is 1.7% and has been below 3% for five years.
Inala has good transport links to employment hubs in Springfield, Ipswich and inner Brisbane. The  $200 million Springfield Health City and the $350 million Metroplex Westgate project at Wacol are examples. The 60ha Wacol Army Barracks will be converted into a mixed-use commercial development.
Work on improving connectivity between Ipswich and Brisbane has been ongoing for numerous years. The latest project involves a $400 million upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway.
So there are plenty of reasons for those on a budget to disregard the gossip and consider the Inala precinct as a good place to live.
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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Ugly real estate is worth investment, even for real estate snobs 

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There’s nothing quite like beginning the search for a new home to invoke almost all the emotions that we have - anxiety, excitement, frustration, fear and sheer joy!

For the typical home buyer, the home buying process can take anywhere from six to eighteen months; from research to making a decision and finally settlement. With the range of emotions that your buyer goes through, they will value and appreciate a sales agent who will ease the way throughout their buying journey.

If you can be this guide for them, you not only have one happy customer, you’ll have ongoing referrals and a successful sales process that can extend to the rest of your team. Sounds like more work? It’s actually less work. It’s about working smarter, not harder simply by having the right data. When you have visibility about who’s on your website, what they’re looking at, and when they’re looking at it, you’ll provide a better experience to your customer, right from the start.

<h2>90% of research about a property is done online</h2>

People will do 90% of their research online before they pick up the phone or send an email to connect with an agent. That equates to many hours online, researching suburbs, new estates, developer history and credentials, house and land options, and more.

A typical home buyer will go through four stages when buying a home:

1. Developing awareness 
2. Researching options 
3. Making a decision

And it doesn’t stop there. Even when a prospect becomes a customer, they still need care and attention to get them comfortably through the fourth phase:

4. A smooth settlement

Your job as an agent doesn’t stop until the very end. Understanding your potential customer’s buying journey gives you a competitive edge, and puts you in a better position to look after them at each stage through to the final sale.

<h2>Developing awareness</h2>

At this very early stage of the buying journey, people have made a decision to start looking for a home. If they’re looking for a house and land package, they’re probably asking questions like:

- Where do we want to live? 
- Which suburbs are close to work and school for the family? 
- Is this a good time to buy a property?

They’ve come across your website online during their initial research, or your development while driving by, but unlikely to reach out and connect with you. At this point, they’re still thinking about where they want to live.

<h2>Researching options</h2>

Once they’ve answered the questions above, they want more specific information.

- Will the suburb grow in value? 
- What’s the value of property in the area? 
- What are the people like living here? 
- What schools, shops and transport options are there? 
- How close will we be to family, friends and work?

They may register with your website to find out about upcoming property. They may call you to ask more questions. When they do connect with you, remember they’ve done most of their research already and you’ll be the most helpful by being able to offer specific properties to suit their needs. They don’t want to be taken through the whole “research” process again.

<h2>Making a decision</h2>

At this point, the potential buyer wants to make a decision. They’ve probably received pre-approval for finance, so they know how much they can spend. They’ve chosen the suburbs they like and shortlisted the developments they prefer.

At this stage, they’re asking questions like:

- Am I paying market value for this property? 
- How much do I offer for this home/package? 
- Who am I competing with? 
- Does this development have titled lots? 
- How easy will settlement be with this developer? 
- What else is happening in the area I need to be aware of? 
- How long until settlement?

By this time, you’ll have gathered plenty of data about your prospect and what they want in a home. You’re in a position to offer a final selection of homes/packages that matches what they’ve been looking for. You know this because you’ve got sophisticated analytic tools on your website which give you up to the minute business intelligence about your buyer’s journey.

<h2>Finalising settlement</h2>

The time between finalising the transaction and settlement is just as important as any other part of the transaction, as any seasoned real estate agent would know. It’s an opportunity to cement the relationship and guide the process to a smooth settlement, whether that’s three months or one year down the track.
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How much do you know about your customer’s home buying journey?

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Real estate processes tend to be heavily paper-based. From financing and loan applications to sales contracts, most agents are used to swimming in paperwork and documentation.

Regulatory and legislative requirements are partially responsible for this, but it’s also an issue of mindset. Real estate attracts people of all ages and backgrounds, resulting in varying levels of comfort with technology and digital tools. An old adage instantly comes to mind: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” Why should we change something that’s working perfectly? But is it? That philosophy probably seemed tenable until real estate – an industry driven by relationships and in-person interactions – came head-to-head with COVID-19.

Facing government-enforced social distancing restrictions, not to mention serious health risks, real estate professionals had little choice but to leverage digital tools and options. Online virtual tours, digital auctions and e-signing contracts kept real estate transactions ticking along, as many States eased red tape around the electronic execution of contracts. 

Real estate professionals who revert to paper-based processes after COVID-19 will be at a growing disadvantage.

<h2>The most significant risk of ignoring digital tools and approaches: missing out on data</h2>

Both now and in the future, real estate professionals who ignore digitisation face a variety of disadvantages. 

For starters, <a href="http://www.globalwebindex.com/hubfs/1.%20Coronavirus%20Research%20PDFs/GWI%20coronavirus%20findings%20July%202020%20-%20Multi-Market%20Research%20(Release%2011).pdf">research indicates</a> that many digital habits will persist after COVID-19, which means consumers will almost certainly have growing appetites for digital options and experiences. Extensive paperwork or a lack of virtual options might turn off potential customers and give your more digitally mature competitors a leg up. 

Digitisation can also offer major time and cost efficiencies. The more time you spend on paperwork, the less you have for higher-value tasks like relationship building. Working with digital partners, like DocuSign, simplifies the contract and agreements processes, allowing us to focus on more important tasks - like serving our customers.

But the biggest disadvantage of all may be the forfeiture of the data and insights that provide a competitive edge. As they say, without data, you’re just another person with an opinion – but this has new urgency as Australia looks toward a steep economic recovery. <a href="http://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-australia-s-housing-market">Experts are forecasting major impacts on housing markets for years to come</a>, which puts increased competitive pressure on real estate agencies. Those without data will no doubt have a harder time adapting to new circumstances and making evidence-based decisions.

<h2>Why is data so important in real estate and how can it be used?</h2>

As a member of the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, real estate professionals have access to a wide range of high-quality data to aid them in their roles. But forward-thinking agents are always on the lookout for new data sources and new opportunities to drill into as many insights as possible. 

This is because property metrics are constantly in high-demand, and the ability to analyse data is a constantly moving target. For example, rental vacancy rates were once a monthly national figure, with a state and territory breakdown. However, today’s metrics allow us to investigate targeted regions and local government areas right through to individual suburbs and postcodes. 

In addition to leveraging property metrics, customer insights have also proved to be an invaluable tool. We’ve been able to leverage valuable customer data in a flexible, agile way, which in turn has empowered us to tailor solutions for the customer and keep us competitive during this unique economic period. One great example is a digital solution like DocuSign which provides real estate agents with the ability to complete contracts, approvals, and other agreements in minutes rather than days when generating contracts via our DocuSign enabled RealWorks platform. 

<h2>How digital is the future of real estate?</h2>

This isn’t to say old-school practices are gone for good. Real estate is very much about making connections with people during what’s likely to be the largest purchase of their lives. There’s no replacement for face-to-face rapport and relationship-building, meaning a post-COVID-19 setting will probably see a mix of digital and in-person practices.

This mix should be symbiotic. Greater digital adoption and data analytics support relationships and elevate the advice you offer each party during each step of a transaction. Rather than replacing many of real estate’s most fundamental tenants, technology will help you off-load the manual work, build deeper relationships, enhance your success rate and strengthen your consultative skill set through more data-informed recommendations.

But this happy marriage between new and old won’t be possible if agents see digital practices as little more than interim fixes during the COVID-19 crisis. Successful real estate professionals will be weighing what works and what doesn’t, then incorporating the most valuable technology into their toolboxes for good. 

And the more successful your digital adoption, the easier it will be to access the insights that are increasingly necessary for navigating a new world of uncertainty.
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In a post-COVID 19 future, data insights will be agents’ biggest competitive edge

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Launched earlier this month, Melbourne real estate agency LongView is aiming to introduce a fundamental shift in the property investment space - offering property investors and mum and dad home owners a variety of services that will help them capitalise on their property investments.

LongView is offering Guaranteed Rent on any property an investor owns, providing them with financial security. LongView services over 1,800 properties across 146 suburbs all over Melbourne – enabling property investors and industry partners to have a single agency for all their Melbourne business.

LongView expects its Guaranteed Rent will provide property owners with a welcome boost, particularly with the growing uncertainty surrounding the future value of Melbourne’s property prices. Irrespective of whether the property is tenanted or vacant or whether the tenant is on time with paying rent or not, LongView's goal is to take the risk out of property investing.

Co-founder Evan Thornley, leads LongView’s executive team as Executive Director along with Antony Cohen - a former Senior Partner and Board Director of KPMG. According to Thornley, LongView is the only agency that offers their customers a binding legal contract for Guaranteed Rent on any investment property - at full market value, ensuring secure cash flow for landlords and investors.

For more information visit https://longview.com.au

<h2><a href="https://longview.com.au/our-team/#leadership">Evan Thornley, Executive Chair</a></h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/evan_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="580" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/evan_2.jpg?itok=SX5v7Cmt" width="580"></a></figure><blockquote>
“Investors have been demanding change for a long time and we have spent four years of intensive research developing every aspect of LongView Real Estate. We’ve been talking to property investors and listening to their concerns and hearing their needs.

While Guaranteed Rent is a fantastic concept that we are very proud of, we absolutely focus on getting the basic services to clients right as well. That means being accessible till 10pm at night, have clear contact details in every email and regularly asking and measuring our client satisfaction.

LongView’s focus is on servicing investors’ needs, and helping them understand all the options to maximise value from their property investments - not constantly pressuring to sell - that’s our point of difference.

Property investment is a long game.  Investors need an agency that will deliver the basics every day for decades and give them unbiased advice on all their options when the big decisions come for each property.

We have developed a model that works, using data to help support our insights. We offer a unique Guaranteed Rent for their property – something no other agency will do. By delivering the basic services with measured quality standards and guaranteed cash flow, we offer property investors stability and peace of mind.

Property investors make their money over decades through capital growth and rising income. We offer an alternative to traditional real estate agencies that aren’t focused on investors and push for a one-month romance to pressure you to sell. We seek to deliver the best basic services every day for decades and unique options and services for the big property decisions.”
</blockquote>
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