<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Sydney

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Parramatta’s light rail route options have been reduced from a list of 10 to just the four options which will be of interest to property investors.
<a href="https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/four-western-sydney-corridors-shortlisted-parramatta-light-rail" target="_blank">The service</a> will run to either Macquarie Park via ­Carlingford, or from Castle Hill via Old Northern Road, from Bankstown, or Sydney Olympic Park and ­Strathfield-Burwood.
The list of 10 potential routes was announced in June.
It will be further shortened following planning studies to determine the most suitable route.
These four corridors will now be subject to detailed engineering, transport planning and customer analysis, to establish which represents the best option for light rail in the region.
The NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian and Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee announced the four options on Monday.
Photo: Transport NSW.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Parramatta light rail options down to four routes

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The cheapest Sydney home sold at auction this weekend was a $320,000 Maroubra studio apartment, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The 25 square metre corner apartment at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://liberty.net.au/property/details/418" target="_blank">54/20 Maroubra Road</a> is a far cry ($4.68 million) from the <a href="/expert-insights/buying/darlinghurst-apartment-sells-prior-to-auction-for-5-million">Darlinghurst apartment sold late last week</a>.
It was sold partially furnished by Marc Fitzpatrick and James Larger of Liberty. The listing information describes it as having an "open plan living space, with enough room for a living area, dining area and separate bedding area".
The apartment includes a car space.
According to its listing, tenants were applying to rent the apartment at $370 a week, reflecting a 6% yield. The apartment was sold without tenants.
The sales value of the apartment has increased by $140,000 in the past six years – it was purchased by the vendors in 2008 for $180,000. In the six years prior to 2008, its value increased by just $13,000; it was sold in May 2002 for $157,000.
RP Data recorded the median price of a unit in <a href="/news">Maroubra</a>, 10 kilometres south-east of Sydney, at $727,500 in September.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Maroubra apartment trades at 6% yield, weekend's cheapest Sydney auction sale

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A three bedroom Sydney apartment was sold prior to auction on Thursday night for $5 million.
The price bested all of Sydney's weekend auctions results, according to Australian Property Monitors.
The north-east corner apartment on the 16th floor of the Residence secured $5 million for the vendors. It offers panoramic views over the CBD, Hyde Park and the harbour.
Each of the three bedrooms in the 204 square metre apartment includes walk in robes, while two have attached marble en suites. The living area features a gas fireplace and limestone underfloor heating.
There is also a private sheltered BBQ terrace.
The apartment was auctioned by Simon Polito of Laing Real Estate, who is somewhat of a Residence specialist, having marketed apartments in the building since the off the plan stage, five years ago.
It was purchased by an Australian resident, who can expect to pay $5,236 per quarter in levies. The Residence offers a gym, indoor pool, common lounge and temperature controlled wine room.
The $5 million apartment isn't the most expensive in the complex, which has recently seen $5.7 million sales.
The vendor of apartment 71 purchased it for $4.8 million in November 2012.
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Darlinghurst apartment sells prior to auction for $5 million

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A Potts Point one-bedroom bolt hole fetched $684,000 at weekend auction.
The <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-potts-point-nsw-2011/232659/?searchID=43770266" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">one-bedder in the Gemini building</a> last traded in 2007 at $405,000 when bought by the property developer Peter Gaunt and his partner, vet Dr Kevin Foster.
39/40 Victoria Street sold through McGrath agents Richard Bonouvrie and Laura Bitar who were quoting upwards of $550,000. It is a one bedroom, one bathroom third floor unit without car space.
The price represented $18,000 a square metre for the 38 square metre apartment with city views. It is among the late 1960s modernism style apartment blocks designed by Harry Seidler. The twin seven-storey Gemini apartment complex comes with rooftop pool.
It was up for rent recently with its asking rent falling from $650 a week to $580 a week over the month it was advertised.
Its sale at the last asking rent would reflect 4.4% yield. The building's highest prior sale was $560,000 last November which was put up for rent at $590 a week which eased to $570 a week earlier this year.
<img src="/images/2014/10/24/potts-point-oct-24-floor.jpg" alt="">
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The 38 square metre Potts Point, Sydney unit that fetched $684,000

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The Point Piper Edwardian-era mansion of former liquor baron John Piven-Large has finally sold, the sixth Point Piper to sell since June at $30 million or more.
The price remains undisclosed but considered to be $30 million after Chinese buyer interest.
The four-bedroom residence with with a one-bedroom self-contained apartment sits on a tidal beach.
It had initial hopes of $40 million when Property Observer reported its<a href="/news/john-piven-large-seeks-to-push-through-point-piper-prestige-property-sales-paralysis-title-tattle"> November 2012 off-market offering</a>. There has since been a string of estate agents who failed to secure the ambitious price guidance revisions.
The restored mansion last traded as a duplex in 1991, when Piven-Large paid $2.2 million for one  and $1.3 million for the other.
It was listed following Piven-Large's $15 million purchase of the Pomeroy, Potts Point penthouse of billionaire property developer Bob Ell.
Piven-Large sold his stake in Cellarmasters to Foster's Brewing Group in 1997 in a deal worth around $160 million.
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John Piven-Large secures Point Piper's latest $30 million trophy home sale

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Guest OBSERVATION
It might sound quite bizarre discussing areas that have not been good to existing property owners in Sydney. The general consensus is that all areas have done very well in the Sydney property boom.
That however is not the reality.
The facts are there have been large regions in the Sydney housing market that have significantly underperformed compared to the average Sydney-wide recovery that has taken place since late 2012. 
I have picked three full regions showing clear evidence of underperformance against the wider Sydney average. That doesn't mean prices have not risen in these areas. All areas have risen but some have done a lot worse for their property owners and put them behind the rest of the pack.
Here are three of the worst:
Sydney's Northern Beaches
<ul>
<li>Sydney total house price change in last three years: 23.1%</li>
<li>Northern Beaches' total house price change in last three years: 17.5%</li>
</ul>
Effectively, anything north of Manly and the further up the beaches you go, the flatter the recovery it’s been.
Suburbs such as <a href="/news">Curl Curl</a>, <a href="/news">Newport</a>, <a href="/news">Bayview</a>, <a href="/news">Avalon </a>and others have all been rising below the average. It’s a strange turn of events in that in much of the 1990s the Northern Beaches was almost the leader of the pack. So why is this happening?
Of course, many residents love the northern beaches. Many locals deem it “God’s country” and truly, the region does have some of the best beaches in the world.
That’s great for living but the real problem lies in the infrastructure. When it can take up to and hour and a half to drive to work that is just too much for most people. There has not been a major piece of decent road infrastructure for decades and yet the population has continued to build up.
Each morning those taking either the Pittwater Road or Wakehurst Parkway know exactly what I am talking about. Until such time there are underpasses, tunnels and a fix for the spit bridge (which should ultimately be a second harbour tunnel) this area is likely to underperform for the long-term.
Let’s not even talk about the rail line for there isn't one and we are unlikely to see one in our lifetimes!
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The Lower North Shore
<ul>
<li>The Lower North Shore total house price change in the last three years: -8.5%</li>
</ul>
One of the most affluent regions in Sydney and generally has not been the best property performer for its existing owners. Over the course of the last three years, prices have actually fallen. 
Now to be fair the falls took place over the course of 2011 where this market fell by over 15%. But even in the recovery period, the market has not done much. 
I put this down to many areas in the lower North Shore being too expensive. When house prices get above $2 million, the number of buyers that can afford such prices narrow up very quickly and investors (which this overall recovery has been driven upon), are virtually non-existent.  
I've seen this in other areas around Sydney in that real estate priced above the $2 million market has been underperforming. <a href="/news">Strathfield </a>comes to mind as one example where, in a sea of surging prices, that suburb has seen underperformance for properties prices over $2 million.  
The reality is the majority of free standing homes in the lower north shore are priced at or above the $2 million mark and this is the primary reason why this region has seriously underperformed.
Eastern Suburbs
<ul>
<li>Easters suburbs' total house price change in the last three years: 9.5%</li>
</ul>
Similar to the Lower North Shore, the market corrected back in 2011 by over 20%, and similar to the North Shore and other locations, it was the prestige end of the market that fell the most in that period and has underperformed the most in the current upswing.
Yes, property investors who have purchase or hold real estate valued under $2 million have experienced very good performance in line and above the Sydney wide average.
The one clear trend in all this is that anything where buyers are having to folk out $2 million plus for a house is largely being rejected. Quite simply it’s just too much debt, plus investors do not like to operate at these levels. Prestige property is simply not an efficient investment at these levels. Stamp duty is higher proportionately and in absolute terms; land tax is in play and also rises proportionately the higher the land value; rental yields tend to be lower and vacancy rates tend to be higher.
I also believe most Sydney families are still seeking a house with a backyard for the kids and quite frankly most prices for free standing homes in the inner ring are way out of the reach for most families including upper income earners and its been that way for a long time now. Instead families are looking to the middle ring and outer rings of Sydney and strangely that is where the price gains have been the greatest.
Consider the following charts for the Upper North Shore, Sydney’s West and Liverpool (click charts to open in new window). <a href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=04eebca90b&amp;e=0aab96dc54"></a>
<a href="/images/2014/10/22/sqm-oct-22-one.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/10/22/sqm-oct-22-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="/images/2014/10/22/sqm-oct-22-two.jpg"><img src="/images/2014/10/22/sqm-oct-22-two.jpg" alt=""></a>
<a href="/images/2014/10/22/sqm-oct-22-three.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/10/22/sqm-oct-22-three.jpg" alt=""></a>
It is no coincidence here that we have seen transport and infrastructure improvements in three of these regions, plus real estate is more affordable.
The interesting part in all this is that the price gap between affluent and affordable real estate in Sydney has narrowed up.  There is no question about this.
I think too that for those who do have budgets up to $1.7 to $1.9 million, they should consider taking a look at the real estate that is just above the $2 million mark, for there may well be some large quality differences for not that much just a few extra purse strings. 
Louis Christopher is the director and founder of independent property advisory and forecasting research house <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">SQM Research</a>.
SQM Research provides property related advice, research and data to financial institutions, property developers and real estate investors.
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louischristopher-TWpYcZDLBK

Not all Sydney areas are booming: The city's three worst performing regions

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The designer Ken Done has sold his Queen Street, Woollahra, retail property. It fetched $2.25 million.
The building was last traded through McGrath estate agent, James Dack, who secured $900,000 in 1991 from Done who intended it to be used as a residence and gallery.
The property, 6.1 metre wide by 30.3 metres deep, was also sold in 1985 for $200,000.
Back in 1992 Ken Done lost Land and Environment Court proceedings having bought the building without expecting the council to get tough about its permissible uses.
He didn't have the Woollahra Council permission to set it up as a commercial gallery for what was his most expensive, and less "tourist related", art.
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Designer Ken Done sells Queen Street, Woollahra retail shop

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With a $10 million Vaucluse vendor bid, and a $3.45 million Paddington vendor bid, Sydney’s most expensive residence to sell at auction on the weekend was a chic contemporary residence in Sydney’s southern suburb of Sans Souci for $3.125 million.
The ultra-modern 2012-built five-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-sans+souci-117929327" target="_blank">78 The Promenade</a>, with views over Kogarah Bay, sold through McGrath South Hurstville, according to APM.
The house has a three-car garage, wine cellar, an atrium with high ceilings and marble bathrooms. The land area is 638 square metres and includes a swimming pool and spa.
Statistics compiled by RP Data shows that the sale is well above the median house price for the suburb, which was $1.306 million in September this year. For the same month in 2013 the median house price was $1.1 million. In the past 12 months, capital growth for the seaside suburb that flanks Sydney’s historic Botany Bay was 30% for 2013, a dramatic improvement on the negative growth that the area experienced for the previous two years.
The Promenade has had a recent spate of multi-million dollar sales with a four-bedroom house on 828 square metres of land at 75 The Promenade selling for $2.55 million last month while a five bedroom house on 588 square metre at 140 The Promenade sold for $2.35 million in August.
APM reported the Sydney weekend home auction market bounced back at the weekend recording a clearance rate of 81.1% despite over 700 properties going under the hammer.
Last weekend the clearance rate dipped below 80% for the first time in two months as the highest number of auctions since May weighed down buyer activity. 
"High auction numbers were however no impediment to the market on Saturday as the record breaking spring selling season regathered its energy," APM senior economist Dr Andrew Wilson said.
Despite the revival in the clearance rate at the weekend, the underlying trend has weakened over the past month.
"It is definitely still a sellers’ market," Wilson suggested.
 Sydney’s four-weekend average clearance rate now stands at 81.3% compared to 83.0% over the previous four-weekend period.
Sydney’s south took over from the usual leader the inner west as the best suburban region performer at the weekend with an exceptional clearance rate of 90.6% reflecting 87 sales from 90 listings. 
Next best was the city and east with 85.1% closely followed by the north west with 85%, the upper north shore 83.3%, the central coast 81.8%, the northern beaches 81.5% and Canterbury Bankstown 80.6%. 
The inner west however recorded its lowest clearance rate for the spring with a 76.5 percent result.
It was the Vaucluse home of Telenet chief John Porter and his wife Susan Mougey that was passed in on a $10 million vendor bid.
Designed by architect Tom Rivard, the <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-vaucluse-nsw-2030/228666/?searchID=43654460" target="_blank">four-storey residence</a> sits in Will Dangar-designed gardens.
It last traded in 2006 for $7.17 million then rebuilt in 2009.
Following the family's move to Belgium last year, it was listed for in excess of $11 million.
The Paddington terrace <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-paddington-nsw-2021/228142/?searchID=43654417" target="_blank">was passed in on a $3.45 million vendor bid</a>. The Paddington Street property was marketed as one of the suburb's largest four level terraces.
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Vaucluse and Paddington passed in so Sans Souci the dearest sold in Sydney

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Sydney’s cheapest sale at auction over the weekend was $265,000 for a studio in the inner city Newtown.
The 26 square metre studio at 216/88 King Street, which is the main road cutting through the area that is flanked by Sydney University, sold through Agency by Glenn Regan according to APM.
The unit is on the second level of Georgina Apartments and is rented for $330 a week, reflecting a yield of 6.4% for an investor. The median asking rent for Newtown according to RP Data is $450 a week 
The studio, which is in a building with a swimming pool, intercom and an lift, last traded in 2007 for $205,000.
According to RP Data the median price paid for a unit in the hip area is $535,250 of the 100 units sold in the past 12 months.
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Newtown rental sells at 6.4% yield as Sydney weekend's cheapest sale

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The InterContinental Hotel is getting ready to fling open the elegant entry of its newest Australian operation in Double Bay.
Having languished as the boarded up Ritz Carlton Hotel-turned-Stamford Plaza since closing in 2009, the new property may put some pizazz into the sluggish centre.
During its golden days, the hotel was a hotspot for visiting royalty such as Princess Diana, Madonna, Sir Elton John and former President of the USA Bill Clinton. 
It was also where pop icon Michael Hutchence died in 1997, after a night in the bar.
Next month it will open as the <a href="https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/gb/en/sydney/sydic/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=OSMAE-IC2-MEA-EN-visitaustralasia_vanity" target="_blank">InterContinental Double Bay</a> following a $25 million renovation and aim to resume its post as Sydney’s most glamorous inn with 140-rooms and a chic rooftop pool with curtained cabanas. 
Architectural firm Bates Smart has overhauled the mock-European-styled structure.
The Cross Street property was bought in 2013 for $57 million by Singaporean funded group Royal Hotels Australia. It had previously sold to the Valad Property Group for $81.5 in 2008. It will be Royal Hotels’ fifth in Australia.
The new operation will sleep 360 people when full, have a late night gin bar, a restaurant and Sydney’s only fully separate Kosher kitchen in a hotel of this standard. Michelin-starred French chef Julien Pouteau will head the restaurant.
It has also joined the Double Bay wedding collective in an attempt to tap the lucrative nuptial market.
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