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;

Joel Robinson

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

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Sydney

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The great Australian dream of a home on a quarter-acre block has taken a hit in Sydney due to the affordability crisis and need for low maintenance living. 
Small-lot housing, identified as the “missing middle” amid the affordability crisis, is gaining popularity with buyers leaning towards a minimalist trend.
Developer Creation Homes (the home building arm of Metro Property Development), says it is witnessing a rapid uptake of its smaller size lots in Southwest Sydney projects. 
Fifty small lots of the 250 between Creation Homes’s Catherine Field and Spring Farm projects have been snapped up in the past four months, it said.
Two-bedroom homes starting at $480,000 and spanning 120 sqm are the most popular along with the three-bedroom designs priced from $565,000 for 225 sqm. 
“We are seeing a lot of people opting for smaller blocks which suggests a trend towards minimalist living in the house and land sector,” said David Mann of Metro Property and Creation Homes. 
“Obviously the smaller price tags are a big draw card but people also have the opportunity to declutter and make better use of their space with the added bonuses of spending less time maintaining the property, cleaning and mowing huge lawns are rarely used.” 
Some small lots are available at its recently released Orchard Heights estate in Spring Farm, with land sizes starting from 300 square metres. 
The first release of the smaller models at the site includes six lots under 350 square metres and prices range from $627,100 to $677,900. 
“Since it proved to be so successful we’ll definitely continue to roll-out the smaller lot model, initially focusing on our projects in North-West and South-West Sydney and eventually to other areas across Sydney as well,” said Phil Leahy. 
According to Creation Homes, another emerging trend for buyers is to forgo the traditional full model home inspection before purchasing, an approach similar to off-the-plan apartment sales. 
“We’re noticing that people are now more than happy to commit to buying after seeing finishes boards and part-models of kitchens and bathrooms like you’d most commonly see with off-the-plan apartment sales,” said Phil Leahy. 
The Melbourne developer started building homes in 2010 and has delivered more than 1,000 dwellings in the last 12 months. It was recognised in 2013 with a BRW Australia’s 7th Fastest Growing Business award. 
Metro Property Development is a wholesale homebuilder and has delivered more than 5,000 homes and apartments across Australia and has a future development pipeline valued at more than $3.1 billion. 
The NSW business is opening a display office at the new location of Brookhollow Avenue in Baulkham Hills later this month. 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Small lots growing in popularity with Sydney buyers: Creation Homes

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/77701/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The global tropical climate zone is expanding. At the current rate, by 2100 its edge will stretch from Sydney to Perth.
The Tropics are defined as the area of Earth where the Sun is directly overhead at least once a year — the zone between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
However, tropical climates occur within a larger area about 30 degrees either side of the Equator. Earth’s dry subtropical zones lie adjacent to this broad region. It is here that we find the great warm deserts of the world.
Earth’s bulging waistline
Earth’s tropical atmosphere is growing in all directions, leading one commentator to cleverly call this Earth’s “bulging waistline”.
Since 1979, the planet’s waistline been expanding poleward by 56km to 111km per decade in both hemispheres. Future climate projections suggest this expansion is likely to continue, driven largely by human activities – most notably emissions of greenhouse gases and black carbon, as well as warming in the lower atmosphere and the oceans.
If the current rate continues, by 2100 the edge of the new dry subtropical zone would extend from roughly Sydney to Perth.
As these dry subtropical zones shift, droughts will worsen and overall less rain will fall in most warm temperate regions.
Poleward shifts in the average tracks of tropical and extratropicalcyclones are already happening. This is likely to continue as the tropics expand further. As extratropical cyclones move, they shift rain away from temperate regions that historically rely upon winter rainfalls for their agriculture and water security.
Researchers have observed that, as climate zones change, animals and plants migrate to keep up. But as biodiversity and ecosystem services are threatened, species that can’t adjust to rapidly changing conditions face extinction.
In some biodiversity hotspots – such as the far southwest of Australia – there are no suitable land areas (only oceans) for ecosystems and species to move into to keep pace with warming and drying trends.
We are already witnessing an expansion of pests and diseases into regions that were previously climatically unsuitable. This suggests that they will attempt to follow any future poleward shifts in climate zones.
I recently drew attention to the anticipated impacts of an expanding tropics for Africa. So what might this might mean for Australia?
Australia is vulnerable
Australia’s geographical location makes it highly vulnerable to an expanding tropics. About 60% of the continent lies north of 30°S.
As the edge of the dry subtropical zone continues to creep south, more of southern Australia will be subject to its drying effects.
Meanwhile, the fringes of the north of the continent may experience rainfall and temperature conditions that are more typical of our northern neighbours.
The effects of the expanding tropics are already being felt in southern Australia in the form of declining winter rainfall. This is especially the case in the southwest and — to a lesser extent — the continental southeast.
Future climate change projections for Australia include increasing air and ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, more hot days (over 35℃), declining rainfall in the southern continental areas, and more extreme fire weather events.
For northern Australia, changes in annual rainfall remain uncertain. However, there is a high expectation of more extreme rainfall events, many more hot days and more severe (but less frequent) tropical cyclones and associated storm surges in coastal areas.
Dealing with climate change
Adaptation to climate change will be required across all of Australia. In the south the focus will have to be on adapting to projected drying trends. Other challenges include more frequent droughts, more warm spells and hot days, higher fire weather risk and rising sea levels in coastal areas.
The future growth of the north remains debatable. I have already pointed out the lack of consideration of climate change in the White Paper for the Development of Northern Australia.
The white paper neglects to explain how planned agricultural, mining, tourism and community development will adapt to projected changes in climate over coming decades — particularly, the anticipated very high number of hot days.
For example, Darwin currently averages 47 hot days a year, but under a high carbon emission scenario, the number of hot days could approach 320 per year by 2090. If the north is to survive and thrive as a significant economic region of Australia, it will need effective climate adaptation strategies. This must happen now — not at some distant time in the future.
This requires bipartisan support from all levels of government, and a pan-northern approach to climate adaptation. It will be important to work closely with industry and affected local and Indigenous communities across the north.
These sectors must have access to information and solutions drawn from interdisciplinary, “public good” research. In the face of this urgent need, CSIRO cuts to such research and the defunding of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility should be ringing alarm bells.
As we enter uncharted climate territory, never before has public-good research been more important and relevant.
Steve Turton is an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography at CQUniversity Australia and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steve-turton-15660" target="_blank">here</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

The world’s tropical zone is expanding, and Australia should be worried: Steve Turton

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Buyers are snapping up the apartments in Modulus, located at 1 Birriga Lane, Bellevue Hill, with 60% sold and only two five-bedroom penthouses remaining.
The property will seek to achieve the Green Building Council of Australia’s 6 Star Green Star rating upon completion – the first multi-residential building in the country to attempt to do so in combination with a PassivHaus rating.
The super-eco-friendly property features next-level technological advancements with a boutique, luxury feel, and has a hugely futuristic appeal for environmentally-friendly and health-conscious buyers who are looking to achieve that next level of holistic yet luxurious living in one of the most sought-after locations in Australia.
Modulus is surrounded by sustainable, edible gardens with rainforest species framing outdoor terraces and palms filtering neighbours’ views.
Only the penthouses remain available, priced at between $6.6 million and $6.8 million.
The two bedrooms were offered between $2.3 million and $2.4 million and the three bedrooms were priced between $3.85 million and $4.5 million.
Knight Frank’s head of prestige residential sales, Australia Deborah Cullen and sales executive, prestige residential sales, Australia Richard Sholl are marketing the property on behalf of behalf of Modulus Luxury.
According to Cullen, this type of property is becoming increasingly sought-after in the luxury market, with sustainability one of the foremost topics in buyers’ minds.
“Modulus offers the trifecta for purchasers – location, technology and sustainability, and luxury.
“It is positioned in Sydney’s highly sought-after Eastern Suburbs, close to Bondi Beach and the CBD; features superior technology and sustainability features; and is beautifully, architecturally designed to improve health and wellbeing.”
According to Rajesh Nellore, Modulus luxury managing director, Modulus is designed with next-level technology from the clean tech industry.
“We support research, development and investment into sustainable living,” said Nellore.
“Today, buildings account for 40 per cent of global resource use.
“To make matters worse, building developers often tap forests and other resources in a way that depletes them, harms biodiversity, and generates pollution.
“Modulus is designed with ultimate eco-friendly waste and energy management in mind, and is part of a new generation of ‘smart homes’.
“Even the materials used to build the property were developed using materials that aim to minimise environmental impact, including the depletion of resources, impacts on bio diversity, greenhouse emissions and toxic waste.
“Modulus has an intelligent control system that directs the electricity produced by solar energy.
“To sustain residents’ good health, the apartments facilitate excellent natural ventilation and can also pump additional oxygen into homes while occupants are sleeping.
“Building materials are also selected to maintain healthy indoor air quality.”
Modulus features PassivHaus, a high-performance building design, with high levels of sustainable infrastructure and insulation – creating consistent internal thermal comfort without input from active heating or cooling systems.
It has sophisticated active and passive air conditioning systems, allowing the house to operate in three different modes of comfort conditioning.
Modulus features a ‘green roof’ partially covered with plants, offering numerous advantages, including a natural habitat for birds; storm water runoff reduction; and a filtration system for rainwater.
The ’green roof’ also serves as a meditation centre with meditation pods, decreasing stress through tranquillity.
For more information, visit <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/modulusluxury.com" target="_blank">modulusluxury.com</a>.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Bellevue Hill apartment development Modulus quickly snapped up by buyers

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A business park penthouse in Sydney’s Macquarie Park has sold for a record $5.6 million.
The apartment atop Romeciti's latest residential project, Natura, was snapped up by a foreign buyer, according to The Australian Financial Review.
The buyer, a downsizer from Dural,  exchanged the contract for the 173 square metre apartment last week before the project's launch on June 24.
At the selling price, the land rate works out to be $32,000 a sqm.
Romeciti’s 357-apartment Natura project in Macquarie Park saw 88 percent of its first stage launch of 210 apartments sold. The total sales valued at $210 million.
Business parks such as Macquarie Park and Norwest have changed from staid suburbs to lifestyle precincts, helped by Sydney's population boom and urban renewal.
But with their popularity, prices have surged, such as another recent sale of  a “business park apartment" — the $3.1 million penthouse at church group Hillsong and Capital Corporation's Esplanade project, 40 kilometres north-west of Sydney CBD.
Romeciti's "grand penthouse" record price is being attributed to its panoramic views and high end finishes.
The three-bedroom three-bathroom apartment will be laid over two levels and has six-metre living room ceiling heights as well as two car spaces.
All six Grand Penthouses have been sold prior to launch, Property Observer noted.
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Business park penthouse in Macquarie Park snapped up for $5.6 million

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Since the start of 2017, the Sydney retail market has continued its upward movement with increases in both average market rental rates and capital values, say valuation firm Herron Todd White in their June 2017 Month in Review.
Increased demand from investors has continued to drive the market, it says.
The demand for CBD assets remains strong, particularly as infrastructure improvements continue. Across the board, Sydney is continuing to experience yield compression in the commercial domain. A heated residential market along with an inherently low cost of borrowing have seen yield compression across all sectors over the past 12 to 24 months. There is strong appetite for retail properties with long term lease covenants. 
"We consider this trend will continue while supply remains relatively low. Entry level opportunities in the retail market are constrained to strata lots in the outer and middle ring suburbs of Sydney," say HTW.
This market has had an increase in supply due to the increase in mixed use developments coming onto the market. Typically, these assets are in fringe retail locations prone to longer vacancy periods and are often best suited to owner-occupiers.
There are very few mixed use retail opportunities below $1 million. Recent sales indicate that some suburbs such as Beverly Hills, Haberfield, Chester Hill and Leichhardt still have some limited mixed use options below $1 million. Many of these assets are purchased based on the future redevelopment potential.
Strata lots presently represent the main opportunity for entry-level buyers. The inner west, south Sydney and central west areas all have options priced below $1 million. Typically, these assets are strata lots less than 100 square metres. If they have secure long term tenancies, these assets represent an investment option for entry level buyers. Supply of this stock has significantly increased due to the redevelopment of many parts of Sydney.
In terms of current yields, these assets are trading below 6 percent with some recent examples showing yields below 4.5%, particularly where the asset has a good lease covenant. Examples include leases to medical centres, cafes and dry cleaners.
The outlook for retail in Sydney remains positive for 2017. Prime locations continue to perform well.
"That said we are of the opinion that the market is reaching the peak of the cycle and any tightening of monetary policy or increase in the cost of debt will result in the prevailing investment yields not being sustainable. For the time being though, all signs are that 2017 will be a good year for retail assets," according to HTW.  
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Sydney retail market seeing yield compression: HTW

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The Sydney auction market is cooling as finance is harder to come by, especially for investors and those wanting to use interest-only loans.
The preliminary clearance rate reported by Domain was a shade under 70 percent - now tracking well below the frenzied peak - while CoreLogic put the preliminary figure a but higher at 73 percent.
The median auction price for houses was $1,515,500, some $142,500 or 10.4 percent higher than on the same weekend last year.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/26/SYDNEY.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/26/SYDNEY.jpg" alt="">
Similarly the median auction price for units was up by $76,000 or 8.6 percent from the same weekend last year to $955,000. 
Overall the median price of $1,335,000 was the third highest on record. 
Return of the first homebuyer
A factor skewing the median price higher was that some first homebuyers are reportedly sitting on the sidelines until next weekend when the new incentives will have kicked in post-July 1.
From next week, therefore, there may be some renewed upwards pressure on entry level stock priced up to around $800,000. 
Overall, though, the credit squeeze has changed the dynamic of the market considerably, and price pressure is easing. 
In some inner suburbs such as Erskineville, Glebe, Enmore, Newtown, Haberfield, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Redfern, and Pyrmont I've already noted a looming shortage of rentals, with vacancy rates sinking to as close to zero as you'll ever see.
Sydney is having an absolute shocker at the moment with its traffic congestion, partly due to the disruption caused by the light rail construction. 
Therefore it's no surprise that areas experiencing a rental shortage are those with great city access.
It's a different story for some of the suburbs where commuters need to drive into the city for work.
Over the next year as investors are increasingly squeezed out of the market there will likely be an increasing number of news stories reporting a Sydney rental crisis, at least for certain locations and sought-after property types. 
Contrast these tight rental markets with the overbuilding and homogeneous glut of rentals on Sydney's city fringe, 60 kilometres to the south west. 
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/">blogger</a>.
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Sydney auction market cooling as finance harder to come by

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The winter season and record June listings are impacting the Sydney auction market according to Domain's Andrew Wilson.
He said nearly 750 homes are set to go under the hammer this Saturday which although lower than last weekend’s 787 auctions it will be significantly higher than the 631 listed over the same weekend last year.
"Sydney’s strong inner west market will again host the most number of regional auctions this weekend with 130 listed," he said.
"The next highest is the south with 96 closely followed by the upper north shore 95, the city and east 88, the lower north 74, the west 54, the northern beaches  51, the south west 50, the north west 43, Canterbury Bankstown 35, the central coast 13 and the Blue Mountains with 2 auctions scheduled on Saturday.
"Mosman and Ashfield are the most popular suburbs in Sydney this weekend with 11 auctions each followed by St Ives and Earlwood each with 10, Epping , Cremorne and Castle Hill each with 9 and Marrickville and Maroubra with 8 auctions each listed on Saturday."
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Sydney auction market feels winter season, record June listings

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Architecture firm HDR Rice Daubney has dropped "Rice Daubney'' from its name, a plan in the works since co-founder John Daubney’s retirement last year.
The firm, which Sunshine Coast hospital, was acquired by US giant HDR in 2013 in a deal that was expected to give healthcare and defence-facility specialist HDR a toehold into the Australian market.
Stephen Auld was announced as the new managing director earlier this year, as part of the leadership transition, after John Daubney stepped down.  
Auld said the name change took the geography out of the equation, reported The Australian Financial Review.
"We're part of a global business. It allows our team to work internationally with a lot more ease. It's a very well-known brand,” he said.
The increasing use of technology has impressed upon the need for firms to have links with larger practices to spread the cost of research and development, Auld was cited as saying by the AFR.
"The access we have now within HDR to things like computational design, data analytics and data-driven design is just unbelievable," he said. "That gives us a competitive advantage and enables us to bring to our clients huge opportunities that we wouldn't have been able to before."
Omaha, Nebraska-based HDR, which also offers engineering services, ranked fifth in the latest WA100 global ranking of architecture firms, with 1072 architect employees, the AFR said. 
It was founded by H.H. Henningson as Henningson Engineering Company in Nebraska in 1917.
The architecture and design world has seen a wave of consolidation, with firms such as PTW and Rice Daubney being bought by larger foreign players. 
In April, design firm Suters was acquired by Bangkok-based DWP and took on the branding and identity of its new south-east Asian parent. 
In February, Sydney and Melbourne-based architecture firm Billard Leece Partnership acquired interior design firm THID. 
Omaha, Nebraska-based HDR, which also offers engineering services, ranked fifth in the latest WA100 global ranking of architecture firms, with 1072 architect employees.  
The local arm of the business that turned 40 last year specialises in health, which last year accounted for about 40 per cent of revenue – which Auld declined to disclose – retail (30 per cent) and defence and education, science and technology design (about 15 per cent each). 
HDR Rice Daubney is currently project architect for the NSW government on the $900 million Westmead Hospital redevelopment project.
Property Observer reported sometime back that HDR Rice Daubney designed the buildings at Royal Shores, a $450 million estate being developed by PAYCE and Sekisui House on a portion of the former Defence Housing Australia (DHA) site at Ermington.
It designed the buildings with pitched sawtooth roofs and white-painted brick facades, drawing on the site’s rich maritime history.  
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Architecture firm HDR drops 'Rice Daubney' from Australian arm's name 

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Sydney’s median house price is expected to decline in the next three years.
Figures from BIS Oxford Economics has predicted that in 2020 Sydney’s median price will fall by 4% to $1.15 million compared to this year’s median price of $1.2 million.
This is compared to Canberra where it has an expected rise the highest of all, at 16% from $665,000 in 2017 to $770,000 in 2020.
The only other locality with a predicted drop in median price is Darwin where BIS Oxford Economics has predicted that there will be a fall of 1% from $525,000 to $520,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/22/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%2011.45.13%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/22/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%2011.45.13%20am.jpg" alt="">
Similarly for units all locality except Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart are predicted to experience a decline in median unit prices.
The biggest is Brisbane with a predicted drop of 7% from $425,000 to $395,000.
Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin follow soon after with a predicted drop of 4%.
In contrast to this Hobart’s unit median price is expected to increase by 6% from $315,000 to $335,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/22/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%2011.45.22%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/22/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-22%20at%2011.45.22%20am.jpg" alt="">
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Median house price for Sydney expected to fall in next three years

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Art auction house Deutscher and Hackett are relocating from Sydney’s Oxford Street, their home for 10 years, to Paddington.
D+H will operate from 16 Goodhope Street from July 10, it said in an announcement.
Formerly the Sherman Galleries and operating as the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation [SCAF] since 2008, 16 Goodhope Street is considered one of the most prestigious gallery spaces in Australia, it said.
The gallery has hosted major solo exhibitions by leading Australian artists, as well as large scale installations by international luminaries such as Ai Wei Wei.
D+H to move on and the perfect timing to move into Goodhope Street.   Dr Sherman is now changing SCAF into an event-based cultural enterprise, Sherman Centre for Culture &amp; Ideas [SCCI], which will partner with major institutions to hold projects, seminars and exhibitions. The gallery space at Goodhope street will now be occupied by D+H while the SCCI headquarters will remain in the adjoining property. 
With the final SCAF exhibition concluding at the end of June, the gallery space will also begin a new chapter in its history.
Deutscher and Hackett said their inaugural auction preview exhibition at Goodhope Street will be Important Australian Works of Art from the estate of the late James O. Fairfax AC from 24 – 30 August.
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