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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Residential vacancy rates for Sydney are staying at 1.7 percent, according to the REINSW, with vacancy rates for Inner Sydney staying unchanged at 1.3 percent through March.
REINSW's Vacancy Rate Survey found Middle Sydney was at up 0.3 percent to 1.9 percent, while Outer Sydney was down 0.3 percent at 1.8 percent. 
REINSW President John Cunningham said the last time Inner Sydney had a vacancy rate of 1.3 per cent was March 2014 and the market is tight and is expected to remain tight for some time. 
“Rises in Middle Sydney and falls in Outer Sydney balanced out to see the vacancy rates for Sydney steady overall,” Mr Cunningham said.
Vacancy rates slid 0.3 percent at 2.6 percent in the Hunter region. In the Illawarra vacancy rates were up 0.1 per cent at 1.3 per cent. Wollongong slipped 0.2 per cent to 1.0 per cent. Albury fell 0.1 percent at 3.6 percent, New England rose 0.8 per ent at 3.6 percent and Orana dropped 0.4 percent to 3.3 percent. Coffs Harbour fell 0.8 percent to 1.5 percent and Northern Rivers rose 0.1 percent at 1.5 percent. 
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mick.cee-iDmgDDAmu8

Sydney vacancy rates remain stable: REINSW

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The list of the most exclusive suburbs in each state reiterates just how much more expensive real estate is in Sydney relative to the rest of the country.
Sydney is by far and away the nation’s most expensive housing market. To put this into some perspective we have looked at the top decile of selling prices over the three months to January 2016. A decile simply divides a group into ten equal parts. What this means is if there were 20 sales over the three months and we lined the sales up from lowest to highest we would take the 18th price as a representation of the most expensive segment of the market.
Over the three months to January 2016, the 90th percentile price of a house in the city was $1.5 million and the 90th percentile unit price was $980,000.  Over the same period, the two capital cities with the next highest 90th percentile house price was Melbourne at a still high but much lower $1,050,000.  This highlights just how much more expensive housing is in Sydney and to a lesser degree Melbourne is relative to other capital cities.  As an example the next highest 90th percentile price is Perth at $870,000.
<div>
<h3>90th percentile price of houses and units 3 months to January 2016</h3>
<a href="/images/2016/04/15/2016-03-21--img1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/15/2016-03-21--img1.jpg" alt="">
There is also a large difference between the cost of premium housing in capital cities and non-capital cities.  The 90th percentile house price across the combined capital cities is $1,010,000 compared to $675,000 in combined regional markets.  Similarly, 90th percentile unit prices are $830,000 in the combined capital cities compared to $600,000 outside of the capitals.  This data points to the fact that non-capital city areas are the great un-tapped resource for more affordable housing.  Of course employment opportunities in these areas are the main factor holding back the regional areas of the country.
The table below highlights the five most expensive suburbs for both houses and units in each state.  The data is based on median values and we have only included suburbs that had at least 10 sales over the 12 months to January 2016. 
<h3>Suburbs with most expensive median values, January 2016</h3>
<a href="/images/2016/04/15/2016-03-21--img2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/15/2016-03-21--img2.jpg" alt="">
The Sydney premium becomes very evident when we look at the most expensive suburbs in each state based on median values.  The data shows the 5 most expensive suburbs for houses in NSW (all of which are in Sydney) all have a median value of more than $4 million.  In comparison, the most expensive suburbs for houses in Vic and WA are more than $3 million, in SA it is more than $2 million, in Qld, NT and ACT it is more than $1 million and in Tas it is less than $850,000.
Similarly for units, all of the 5 most expensive suburbs in NSW (Sydney) have a median values of more than $1 million.  Tennyson in Brisbane is the only other suburb outside of Sydney with a median unit value of more than $1 million.
There is a large premium for housing in our largest city.  Of course the city also has an abundance of waterfront homes which contributes to the higher overall cost of housing.  While employment opportunities remain significant in Sydney and employers limit the opportunities for workers to work remotely we would expect that a substantial Sydney premium will remain.  Elsewhere housing is generally much more affordable but of course not everyone has a choice when it comes to potentially leaving Sydney and heading to another area of the country where housing is cheaper.
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic RP Data. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/">here</a>.
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ckusher-ujnxiKuFQs

Sydney’s premium suburbs are much more expensive than anywhere else: Cameron Kusher

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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/57114/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">
GUEST OBSERVER
The New South Wales government is imposing an anti-urban legislative and development agenda on Sydney. This agenda conceptualises Sydney as centre – a privileged social, cultural and geographic core – and elsewhere.
Policies like building the multi-billion-dollar WestConnex roads system, increasing penalties and restrictions for cyclists, privatising public housing in inner-city suburbs and selling public assets have direct impacts on the existence of “the urban” in Sydney.
This agenda limits the capacity of Sydneysiders to engage with their city in diverse, improvised or alternative ways. This is despite government claims that it addresses imbalances and inequities between the centre and the rest of the city in terms of spatial advantage, job opportunities, public spending and services.
The suburbanisation of the city
One of sociologist Henri Lefebvre’s enduring contributions to urban theory and practice is the notion of the “right to the city<a href="https://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0631191887">”</a>. Lefebvre was not merely advocating access to space in the city or its resources, but the right to be urban.
By urban, Lefebvre meant the phenomenon that emerges from the complexity, collaboration and improvisation that are possible in cities. The urban is not the product of a privileged core. Rather, it is a decentralised network of diverse communities, practices and places that give rise to cities’ convivial and inclusive potential.
While the government’s lockout laws have attracted national and international attention for their deleterious effect on urban areas, they are merely the most visible of a raft of anti-urban policies. The privatisation of public housing in Millers Point and urban renewal plans for Waterloo, which include demolishing public housing and relocating 4000 tenants, are detrimental to the social and cultural mix of the urban.
Globally, the pattern is a familiar one. Redeveloped or new housing and commerce are targeted at more affluent investors and consumers. Areas that were urban in their social and cultural mix become increasingly homogeneous.
Some commentators refer to these outcomes as gentrification. However, inner-city areas have already undergone varying degrees of gentrification. Usually this is triggered by first-wave gentrifiers, such as artists, who value urban attributes.
One pleasure of the urban is spontaneous encounters and experiences with difference. The sociologist Zygmunt Bauman has called this “mixophilia”.
Historically, the suburbs have offered a refuge for the “mixophobic”. In these places, monoculturalism is a retreat from difference. The current urban development and transformation, at the behest of state government bodies such as Urban Growth, is the suburbanisation of urban areas.
Regulating flows in the city
City governance, design and planning are largely concerned with regulating the movement of people, goods, ideas and capital. Globally, this increasingly involves the facilitation of flows that support neoliberal state and corporate agendas, and the blocking of flows that do not.
One stated rationale for WestConnex, a project involving an unprecedented transfer of public funds (A$18 billion and rising) to the private sector, is increased flows to and from the city centre.
In response to the project’s critics, the Baird government has relied on crude rhetoric which insists it is tackling the geographic and social division between an inner city populated by “cultural elites” and “chattering classes” and an under-served wider populace.
Postcode should not determine access to resources in the city. Yet Westconnex is the product of an anti-urban imagination that re-iterates the single central core, rather than multiple localised urban centres. Government support for the Commonwealth Bank’s move to the newly privatised Australian Technology Park in Redfern, instead of to Parramatta as previously planned, reinforces that view.
Combined with restrictive and punitive measures that deter cycling and proposed steep rises in public transport fares, WestConnex limits Sydneysiders’ choices for mobility around the city. It consolidates the car as a dominant mode of transportation.
Unlike public transport and cycling, the car seals us off from encounters with others. It is the least urban form of transport.
The Baird government’s policy agenda for Sydney denies the right to the city, both as the right to be urban and the right to a city that is urban. It confirms Lefebvre’s position that those who manage cities devise and implement regulatory frameworks and infrastructure that are frequently – and paradoxically – detrimental to the emergence of the urban.
 
Kirsten Seale is adjunct fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kirsten-seale-234742" target="_blank">here</a>.
<h4><a href="https://theconversation.cmail20.com/t/r-l-edhiduk-qitldhiii-c/" target="_blank"> </a></h4>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Suburbanising the centre: the Baird government’s anti-urban agenda for Sydney

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The historic Trinity Bar in Sydney's Surry Hills is being brought to the market for sale via an expressions of interest campaign.
It will be the first time in 20 years that the asset has been offered publicly for sale. 
Dating back to 1882, the hotel is an example of Victorian free classical style. It has undergone several modifications since its construction- most notably during the 1920’s by the former Tooth and Co brewery in the Inter-war style, according to the hotel's website.
Trinity Bar originally traded as ‘Somer’s Hotel’, the first of many titles including ‘Hotel Victoria’, ‘Surry Hills Inn’ and more recently ‘The Elephants Foot’. It has operated as Trinity Bar since 1998.
Daniel Dragicevich and Ben McDonald of CBRE Hotels are handling the campaign on behalf of Ray Reilly.
“Opportunities to acquire inner city freehold hotels of this calibre are becoming increasingly rare as hoteliers compete with buyers from various other segments for prime properties. The Trinity Bar definitely fits into this profile," said Dragicevich.
The national EoI campaign will run till May 12 and CBRE expect a mix of commercial property investors and traditional hoteliers to compete for the asset.
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Trinity Bar in Sydney's Surry Hills up for sale   

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The former NRL star and rugby's first openly gay player Ian Roberts has picked up a quick $1.41 million sale for his Redfern apartment.
Belle Property had a price guide of between $1.3 million and $1.4 million for the property which sold pre-auction.
The <a href="https://www.belleproperty.com/buying/NSW/Eastern-Suburbs/Redfern/Apartment/44P1864-d2109-780-bourke-street-redfern-nsw-2016" target="_blank">dual level apartment</a> has two bedrooms and a wrap around entertainers balcony off the open plan living area.
Roberts, who bought the property in 2008 for $945,000, is looking to downsize nearby.
Following his successful career in rugby league, Roberts turned to acting and appeared as Riley, a henchman of Lex Luthor in Superman Returns in 2006.
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Former NRL star Ian Roberts sells Redfern apartment

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The inner suburbs always get plenty of press, but options lay beyond the hipster belt. 
Fringe suburbs present an affordable way into the market, especially if you are a first-time buyer and as long as you choose a prospect with the right fundamentals, you can expect your holding to show good long term growth, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's property clock for April.
Given the growth in values achieved in the Sydney metropolitan area of late, the metamorphosis of older suburbs into modern living spaces that have been driven by location and buyer demand have changed the faces of many for the better. HTW focuses on suburbs within 20 to 25 kilometres of the CBD as the primary location for this shift.
Sydney South
Starting with the southern end of Sydney, we have seen Engadine and Kirrawee in the Sutherland Shire as two of the standout performers with significant growth and redevelopment changing these areas. The buzz has mainly come from the affordable price point for first-home buyers and upsizers.
In addition, the re-zoning for duplexes and new unit complexes has created an increase in current DA applications.
The Engadine shopping precinct has expanded over the past decade with the big three supermarket chains along with a number of restaurants and cafes drawing people to the suburb. Engadine is seen as ideal for buyers wanting to live within one of the few regions in Sydney bounded by national parks, close to Sydney’s southern beaches and with direct access to the CBD which is less than 50 minutes by train. The next five to 10 years in Engadine will see more development of high density units and duplex style dwellings. Engadine has seen median house prices increase from $600,000 in December 2012 to $885,000 in February 2016 with unit median prices increasing from $415,000 to $617,500 over this time period (source: realestate. com.au).
Property Observer found a few recently sold units around the median range on realestate.com.au.
<img src="/images/2016/04/13/image2-2.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="431">
1. A two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-engadine-121990510">11/6 Preston Avenue Engadine NSW 2233</a> (above) sold for $595,000 recently.
<img src="/images/2016/04/13/main-1.jpg" alt="" width="510" height="383">
2. Another recent sale was that of a three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-engadine-121423654">1/1084 Old Princes Highway Engadine</a> (above) NSW 2233 sold for $630,000.
On a larger scale, Kirrawee is seeing huge redevelopment with a new $8.5 million hotel development on a site on the Princes Highway which was once home to a service station and motor mechanic. The new hotel will be almost opposite the Brick Pit site which sits at the junction of the existing retail strip, industrial factories and residential development, only 200 meters from Kirrawee train station. This site, approved for approximately 750 residential apartments between six and 14 storeys with a large commercial and retail presence, will be constructed at a cost of approximately $500 million.
A similar large-scale development is already under construction at Woolooware Bay which neighbours the Cronulla Sharks Football Stadium. The former car park and playing fields will be transformed into approximately 600 apartments with resortlike facilities including pools, spas, massage room, rooftop theatre and BBQ area set amongst lush gardens. There will be a retail, cafe and dining precinct, with the entire development adjoining foreshore parklands. 
A few recent sales in Kirrawee are 
<img src="/images/2016/04/13/image4.jpg" alt="" width="569" height="427">
1. A two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-kirrawee-122032070">31/602 Princes Highway Kirrawee NSW 2232</a> (above) for $580,000
<img src="/images/2016/04/13/main.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="421">
2. A two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-kirrawee-121869534" target="_blank">20/494-496 President Avenue Kirrawee</a> fetched $545,000
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Sydney's fringe suburbs of Engadine and Kirrawee hold promise for FHBs: HTW

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The new chief of Bauer Media in Australia, Nick Chan and wife Peggy have listed their Roseville family home after 16 years ownership.
Chan was made CEO earlier this week following his departure as chief operating officer from Seven West Media last year.
The couple paid $1.7 million for the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house/nsw/upper-north-shore/roseville/284620" target="_blank">1930s Clanville Road residence</a> in 1999, when he was in the Packer media camp.
Set on a 2083 sqm parcel, the four bedroom home also features a wine cellar, full sized tennis court and an in-ground pool.
The property is listed through Philip Waller of McGrath Linfield who has a price guide of between $5 million and $5.5 million for its May 7 auction.
Chan is also the chairman of online wagering business TopBetta.
Chan looks to be betting that oversea buying interest is still hot in Roseville.
The house price record was set late last year when a six bedroom mansion on 4000 sqm sold for $6.75 million to the Tan family.
This narrowly bettered the $6.63 million record set in May last year for a five bedder with tennis court and swimming pool sold on Shirley Road that sold to the Mak family.
The median house price in Roseville $2.25 million, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
Chan replaced Darren Goodchild who returned to Bauer in the UK in October.
This article was first published in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

CEO Nick Chan lists 1930s Roseville trophy home

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The site of popular watering hole, the Evening Star Hotel in Sydney's Surry Hills, will go up for auction on May 3.
The pub, which tapped its first keg in 1873, is located at <a href="https://www.gunningre.com.au/1P3893" target="_blank">360 Elizabeth Street</a>.
It is pictured before the apartments went up above it around 2006 and below after renovations.
<img src="/images/2016/04/11/lt-1-1P3893-145679489287956429-rsd.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="409">
The listing agent is Daniel Gunning of Gunning Real Estate. 
“It is a secure and well leased investment,” Gunning said. “The redevelopment of the hotel in 2006 consisted of retaining its façade and the floor space being reduced to a single storey premises as it is today, the rest of the land was developed into a high-rise residential building known as Icon."
<img src="/images/2016/04/11/lt-1-1P3893-145679491315796114-rsd.jpg" alt="" width="669" height="446">
Tenant, the Marvan Hotel group, has recently signed a new seven-year lease with a further five-year option.
“The Marvan Hotel group has also committed to a major renovation of which will capitalise on its positioning close to China Town and Haymarket. The focus will be on gaming and TAB facilities," he said.
<img src="/images/2016/04/11/lt-1-1P3893-145679494002630847-rsd.jpg" alt="" width="659" height="439">
Marvan Hotel group also operates other hotels, including the Sea Breeze, Nelson bay; Lidcombe Hotel, Lidcombe; The Flynn, Sydney; The Bald Face Stag, Leichhardt; The Westmead Tavern, Westmead and The Merrylands tavern, Merrylands.
“Outside of the lockout law precinct, 360 Elizabeth Street represents good value for future leasing opportunities and with the tram coming through in the area in 2017/2018, we believe demand will be high for this property.
He added that the property has the potential to be subdivided into multiple smaller retail shops or remain “as is” in-one-line.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Evening Star pub in Sydney's Surry Hills up for auction 

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I’m not sure just how closely you have been following Australia’s property markets but what I can add is we are now starting to see some amazing trends emerging that will have both negative and positive outcomes.
This week we read that despite our national apartment building boom rents continue to rise. With approximately 30,000 apartments nearing completion in Sydney I predict that we have seen the rental peak. Unbeknown to many the major banks have already started black spotting many areas across Australia – where they are now no – go areas for future lending. For example, where you have an area that has undergone unprecedented new apartment high density developments you can expect values to start decreasing quite rapidly.
In Sydney the areas on ignore include, Darling Harbour, Dawes Point, Haymarket, Millers Point, Sydney, Sydney South, Waterloo, Annandale, Zetland, Homebush and Arncliffe. It will only be a matter of time before these areas spread further given the sudden – impact of oversupply where the vast majority of these properties will be left fighting it out in this newly created competitive rental market. It is quite unprecedented to see the lenders adopting this strategy given they are creating their own problems although they did approve the respective loans.
 
Gen Y (or Gen Why? as I call them) should stop complaining and consider themselves lucky that they missed most of this modern day apartment investment boom. Since December 2008, when the Rudd government moved the off – the – plan apartment overseas buying ratio from 50 per cent to 100 per cent where the large percentage of these buyers came from Asia, which has a combined population of approximately 4 billion people compared to our 24 million. Whilst I certainly don’t agree with this decision we have introduced foreign owners although the debt remains local – another big problem.
Then of course it would be remiss of me not to mention that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has gladly accepted the role of “Big Brother” where every single property transaction in Australia dating back to 1985 now being scrutinised. Whilst the ATO has been remarkably quiet on the announcement side of developments this is an election year and the decision to hand the ATO total ownership of Australian property data was a decision by the present government, so we can expect this to figure prominently in the forthcoming election debate.
Now if developments were not getting interesting we now have the Panama Papers (the largest leak in journalistic history) which the ATO would be all over given 800 Australians managed to make guest appearances as a direct result from the leaked papers.
Just what the exposure to Australian property markets is remains to be seen although I did read in The Guardian this week – “Which is exactly why today’s revelations about the connections between tax havens and property ownership are so important. Revealed in the leaked documents was the fact that 2,800 Mossack Fonseca companies are connected to more than 6,000 UK title deeds, worth at least £7bn. On top of this, according to Guardian analysis, more than 90,000 properties in England and Wales are listed in the Land Registry to overseas owners, at least 75,000 of which are owned by companies or individuals registered in tax havens.”
Now can you start to see why raising the overseas buyers’ ratio from 50 per cent to 100 per cent could have a serious impact on our Australian property markets? Given all that is presently going on it would be sage advice to closely monitor exactly what is going on in these areas of high density development.
To be fair many areas saw very little development so they will go through this with minimum downside to property prices and rental returns. Having said that the property aggregators bundle all the statistics into the one bundle so rents will then show signs of easing although in some areas it will be quite the opposite.
I have no doubt that the role the ATO is currently playing within the tapestry of the Australian property markets will have a defining outcome that will result in many forced sales. Just what effect this will have on property prices is way too early to call although I see the investment market under significant pressure with all presently going on. Then again there will be a knock – on effect with all the new developments which are presently in the re – zoning and planning stages more particularly, those areas that already that are already marked as being over developed – over supply.
On the other hand the owner operated housing market has just been ambling along and looks to have well and truly dodged this modern day investor bullet. If there were to be an investor market collapse the owner occupiers would then be placed again with the opportunity of a lifetime with record low cash rates coupled with an investor market collapse. Yes, we have seen such markets before although never on this grand scale.
In my opinion, these are the markets you should be closely following on high visual alert.
<h5>MOSMAN – 2088</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 56
• Number of houses on the market last week – 45
• Number of houses on the market this week – 43
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 53
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 46
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 48
<h5>CREMORNE – 2090</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 0
• Number of houses on the market last week – 5
• Number of houses on the market this week – 6
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year – 8
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 26
• Number of apartments on the market this week – 14
<h5>NEUTRAL BAY – 2089</h5>
• Number of houses on the market this time last year – 0
• Number of houses on the market last week – 7
•Number of houses on the market this week – 11
• Number of apartments on the market this time last year– 42
• Number of apartments on the market last week – 26
*Number of apartments on the market this week – 24
 
ROBERT SIMEON is a director of <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/" target="_blank" title="RWM" rel="nofollow">Richardson Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay</a> and has been selling residential real estate in Sydney since 1985.  He has also been writing real estate blog <a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/news/" target="_blank" title="Virtual Realty News" rel="nofollow">Virtual Realty News</a> since 2000. 
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robertsimeon-hRNTwJyXkQ

Why property markets keep confusing us: Robert Simeon

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The home auction market is picking up after the slight pause for Easter holidays, with 1,677 capital city homes scheduled to go under the hammer this week, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
While Sydney had more auctions than Melbourne over the past two weeks, this week, Melbourne’s auction activity is set to rise, bringing the total number of residential auctions to 730, as opposed to the 624 scheduled for Sydney.
Auction volumes remain relatively steady across the remaining capital cities.
<img src="/images/2016/04/8/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-08%20at%2010.03.30%20AM.png" alt="" width="314" height="196">
Melbourne's 730 auction figure will be well ahead of last weekend’s 482 listings and higher than the 562 auctioned over the same weekend last year, wrote Domain Group’s chief economist Dr Andrew Wilson in his blog. 
Although auction activity is on the rise, overall autumn listings will likely remain below the levels recorded last year over the same period. Falling interest rates a year ago were a catalyst for a surge in housing market activity in Melbourne. 
The west will again clearly host the highest number of auctions this weekend with 126.  The north-east is next highest with 111 followed by the outer east (91), the inner south  (88), the inner city (82), the north (77), the inner east (54) and the south-east with 53 auctions.
Mount Waverley has the highest number of auctions listed this weekend, with 16, followed by Preston with 14, Reservoir and East Bentleigh, each with 13, Pascoe Vale with 10 and a number of suburbs with nine auctions scheduled including Glen Waverley, Essendon, Noble Park and Hawthorn.
The robust Melbourne home auction market resumed last weekend without missing a beat following the Easter holiday break.
Melbourne recorded a clearance rate of 73.8 per cent, which was just below the 74.1 per cent recorded on the pre-Easter weekend a fortnight ago and also below the boom-time 77.5 per cent recorded over the same post-Easter weekend last year.
Last Saturday’s result was just below the average weekend rate of 75.4 per cent recorded over the previous nine Saturdays, with a high of 79.2 per cent and a low of 73.4 per cent reported over that period.
Low interest rates continue to fuel buyer activity in both Melbourne and Sydney's housing markets, said Dr Wilson. This week the Reserve Bank predictably decided to leave official rates on hold over April at the record low two per cent for the 11th consecutive month. 
A near-term cut in rates, however, remains on the cards with continuing mixed reports on the health of the national economy. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data indicates that the recent home building boom has peaked, the trend for retail sales growth is declining, house prices are flat or falling, inflation remains low in an increasingly lifeless economy and the Australian dollar continues to track well above the preferred levels of policymakers.
Sydney auction numbers are down this weekend with the local market straining to regain momentum after the Easter holidays.
This Saturday, just 509 homes are scheduled to go under the hammer. This is below the 539 listed last weekend and also well below the 535 homes auctioned over the same weekend last year, he said.
Sydney auction levels this autumn remain far below those recorded over the same period last year. Falling interest rates a year ago were a catalyst for an unprecedented surge in housing market activity in Sydney, but so far in 2016 they have remained on hold. 
Sydney’s inner west has the highest number of auctions listed this weekend, with 82, followed by the upper north shore (78), the south (74), the city and east (58), the lower north (56), the south-west (34), the west (31), Canterbury Bankstown (28), the northern beaches (27), the north-west (19) and the central coast (17). The Blue Mountains have no auctions scheduled. 
Mosman, with nine auctions, will be the busiest this weekend followed by Ryde, Randwick, Carlingford, Killara and Marrickville, each with seven, and Blacktown with six. There are also several suburbs with five auctions scheduled on Saturday, including Epping, St Ives, Lane Cove North, Strathfield and Bexley.
The Sydney weekend home auction market returned from the Easter holidays in the same robust form it has consistently produced so far this year, notes Dr Wilson.
Sydney reported a clearance rate of 73.7 per cent last weekend, just below the 74.1 per cent recorded on the pre-Easter weekend the fortnight previous and also below the boom-time 86.8 per cent recorded over the same post-Easter weekend last year.
Last Saturday’s result was just below the average weekend rate of 74.5 per cent recorded over the previous nine Saturdays, with a high of 76.9 per cent and a low of 71 per cent reported over that period.
Over the week ending April 3 there were 1,582 capital city auctions with CoreLogic collecting results for 1,434 auctions, accounting for almost 91% of all auctions.
The final clearance rate was recorded at 66.6% which is down from the previous week and the lowest clearance rate in three weeks. The number of auctions increased from just 554 over the previous week. Excluding Sydney and Melbourne, clearance rates rose in Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart but fell elsewhere. Auction volumes were also higher this week across all regions except Tasmania. 
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