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.

Joel Robinson

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

&nbsp;

Developer GURNER™ Group has revealed $1.65 billion in residential sales nationally across the 12 months to December 2025, driven largely by the continued momentum of its Docklands wellness-focused precinct, Elysium Fields.

The sales result was generated across seven projects in Victoria and New South Wales, headlined by Elysium Fields, GURNER™’s $2.75 billion mixed-use precinct planned for Harbour Esplanade in Docklands.

The project has recorded more than $500 million in sales across the first three towers, equating to around 580 apartments sold.

The first tower, Helios, has now sold out of its 240 private residences, with GURNER™ preparing to release a premium penthouse collection comprising 15 three-bedroom penthouses in coming weeks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370975]

Elysium Fields is being developed on the long-held 20,000 sqm Docklands site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade, which had remained undeveloped for more than two decades prior to GURNER™ taking over the project around four years ago.

Construction has now commenced across four towers ranging between 18 and 30 storeys, with Hamilton Marino and Maxcon appointed as builders.

Once complete, the precinct is expected to comprise around 1,100 residences, alongside retail, hospitality and public realm uses integrated throughout the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370981]

Designed by Fraser &amp; Partners in collaboration with GURNER™ Design House, the project has been positioned around the developer’s broader focus on wellness-led residential living.

“We don’t sell apartments. We create a true luxury lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market today,” Founder and Executive Chairman Tim Gurner said.

“To deliver that requires an extraordinary level of detail, coordination and discipline across multiple verticals, from design and hospitality through to wellness and service.”

“We’ve always believed that living extends far beyond the physical residence. It’s about how you feel the moment you arrive, how you live day-to-day, and the ecosystem that supports that.” 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370977]

The project’s design places a heavy focus on landscaping, wellness amenities and biophilic design principles.

Plans include around 3,700 sqm of landscaped gardens and open space throughout the precinct, alongside a retail and dining offering spanning approximately 5,000 sqm.

The broader public realm strategy centres around what GURNER™ describes as the “Path of Life”, an urban forest and landscaped pedestrian environment intended to connect the various buildings and wellness spaces across the precinct.

The apartments themselves will incorporate a range of wellness-focused inclusions, including purified air and water systems, circadian lighting, antimicrobial surfaces, and optional in-home wellness upgrades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370980]

Gurner said the company’s experience through its Saint Haven wellness clubs had directly informed the residential offering now being incorporated into Elysium Fields.

“We’re seeing a clear global shift toward longevity, performance and proactive health,” Gurner said.

“Our role is to deliver that in a way that feels seamless, highly private and beautifully resolved within the environments we create.”

A large component of the wellness offering is planned through the resident amenity and health facilities proposed within the precinct.

That includes plans for bathing and recovery facilities spread throughout the towers, incorporating mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, flotation therapy, red light therapy and wellness lounges.

The developer is also seeking approvals for what it describes as a “reverse ageing medical clinic” within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370978]

According to project information released by the group, the proposed facility would include cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, infrared and dry saunas, PEMF beds, MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans and blood analysis services.

Within the first tower, Helios, residents will also have access to a dedicated amenity offering known as the Sky Private Club.

The upper 15 levels of the building will include private lounges, dining spaces, rooftop amenities and optional private wellness studios integrated within residences.

The Helios tower itself comprises 260 apartments ranging between 60 sqm and 300 sqm, including a collection of penthouses.

That includes a planned two-storey penthouse spanning around 600 sqm with uninterrupted bay views.

The Elysium Fields precinct is being delivered in partnership with Digital Harbour Holdings, a consortium that includes the Liberman family, which controls the development rights across the Docklands site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370979]

The sales result comes as GURNER™ continues expanding its national development pipeline beyond Victoria.

“We have a strong pipeline across Australia and are now focused on scaling into key markets including New South Wales and Queensland, while continuing to build on our Melbourne base,” Gurner said.

“We currently have more than $3 billion in the market, growing to over $5 billion by October, and expect to materially outperform last year in the 2026 calendar year.”

The result also reflects the continued strength of the upper-end apartment market in Melbourne, particularly for owner-occupier-focused product with large-scale amenity and lifestyle offerings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144441]

Record result anchored by the Group’s “utopian” Elysium Fields precinct – defying market headwinds in Docklands.

Elysium Fields drive Gurner to $1.65 billion in apartment sales over 2025

National Australia Bank (NAB) will fund <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera</a>, a $1 billion, 52-level luxury residential tower being developed by Central Equity in one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held coastal locations at Northcliffe.

The project, launched recently by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a>, one of Victoria’s largest private residential developers, comes at a time when construction funding for large residential developments has become increasingly competitive as lenders tighten exposure to the sector.

Multiplex has been appointed the builder, and construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365784]

Since its first project, Central Equity has delivered more than 85 residential developments with a combined end value exceeding $8 billion.

Palmera reflects Central Equity’s growing focus on the Gold Coast luxury apartment market and continues a relationship between Central Equity and NAB that dates back to the late 1980s, when the bank funded one of Melbourne’s earliest inner-city residential towers at a time when high-rise apartment living in the CBD was largely unproven.

“NAB’s funding of Central Equity’s $36 million CBD development in the late 1980’s to the financing of the billion-dollar tower today highlights the long-term relationship between the two organisations in delivering major residential projects” said Central Equity Founder and Chairman Eddie Kutner.

He said NAB’s early support was instrumental in helping establish the company’s development model.

“When we commenced our first residential tower in the late 1980s the concept of funding off-the-plan apartments was still largely untested in Australia,” Kutner said.

“NAB recognised the opportunity early and supported the project when others were uncertain. That relationship has now continued for more than 37 years across many developments.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Central Equity was established in 1987 when Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank precinct were still dominated by warehouses and commercial buildings. Fewer than 100 residents lived in Southbank at the time, and large-scale residential development in the inner city was not widely considered.

Recognising changing demographics and lifestyle preferences, the company began developing high-rise residential projects designed to bring permanent residents into the city centre.

Central Equity has provided accommodation for approximately 40,000 residents across Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank, while also incorporating supporting infrastructure including essential lifestyle facilities like retail spaces, childcare facilities and neighbourhood activity centres.

Central Equity has spent many years assembling the Palmera development site on the corner of Garfield Terrace and Frederick Street in Northcliffe, creating a supersite of around 3,300 sqm.

The developer said the Palmera apartment tower reflects its long-term view of the Gold Coast as a growing and increasingly diversified economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365768]

Supported by infrastructure including the light rail network, major road upgrades expanded education, hospital and medical facilities and continued expansion at the Gold Coast Airport with more international and domestic flights.

Positioned in the tightly held Northcliffe precinct, the 52-level tower will deliver 347 apartments, targeting buyers seeking a high-end coastal lifestyle, from downsizers to interstate investors.

Designed by Marchese Partners with interiors by DBI, Palmera has been conceived as a next-generation residential offering, featuring a collection of oversized apartments, with premium three-bedroom residences offering sweeping northern views stretching from Surfers Paradise through to Burleigh Heads.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

NAB funds $1 billion Surfers Paradise apartment development, Palmera

Two years after completing one of the newest developments in North Sydney, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> is turning its attention to the rapidly evolving St Leonards apartment market.

The developer, which completed AURA by Aqualand on North Sydney's Walker Street, has lodged plans for a 5,918 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/33-37-herbert-street-st-leonards-nsw-2065">33-37 Herbert Street, St Leonards,</a> seeking approval for a pair of residential towers rising above a shared podium opposite Royal North Shore Hospital.

The proposal forms part of the broader transformation underway across the St Leonards-Crows Nest precinct, where former industrial and commercial sites are increasingly being redeveloped into high-density mixed-use projects tied to major transport infrastructure.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc428cf-fe70-4cac-9cd5-264ad53af62c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=otKSnHtbjAvAddOnovyXQMgcAwE6DMe1" />

According to the planning documents, the site sits “within the St Leonards–Crows Nest Strategic Centre, identified by the NSW Government as a key area for accommodating future jobs and housing across Sydney.”

The proposal has been designed by fjcstudio, formerly FJMT Studio, and is being progressed through the State Significant Development pathway due to its scale and affordable housing provision.

The scheme would comprise 413 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses fronting Herbert Street. The project would also include communal open space, landscaping, a swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s play areas and podium-level resident amenities.

Planning documents show the development would consist of a part-13, part-39 storey tower form positioned above a four-storey podium.

“The development comprises a unified podium that activates the street interface, and two setback towers to accommodate new housing supply while maintaining an appropriate human scale at ground level,” fjcstudio noted in its Design Report.

The northern and southern towers have been shaped to respond to the surrounding skyline while also limiting overshadowing impacts to nearby public open space, particularly Talus Reserve.

The design report said the differing tower heights were intended to “contribute to a varied skyline while responding to the surrounding built form context and solar access considerations.”

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36da62dc-ff9e-41f2-a7e3-7be38373751c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.45%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=Mo6Rp2r.XRLTzIfg_PEEpw8NepDH8UBs" />

The site sits directly opposite Royal North Shore Hospital and within walking distance of both St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

While the site itself sits just outside the formal Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development boundary, the planning documents repeatedly reference its alignment with the broader TOD objectives reshaping the Lower North Shore.

“The site is located adjacent to St Leonards Station and in close proximity to Crows Nest Metro which is within the Crows Nest Transit Orientated Development Accelerated Precinct which has been identified by the NSW Government to support housing delivery,” the Design Verification Statement noted.

According to fjcstudio, the project has been designed to respond to the broader transition occurring across St Leonards, where increasing residential density is being concentrated around transport infrastructure and employment hubs.

“The broader precinct is undergoing significant change, with a mix of existing mid-rise buildings and newer high-density developments,” the report stated.

“Recent and approved projects indicate a consistent shift toward taller built form, typically organised as tower-and-podium typologies with more active ground levels.”

The proposal includes close to 6,000 sqm of retail and commercial space across the ground floor and podium levels, designed to create a more activated street edge along Herbert Street.

Aqualand’s plans would also introduce a landscaped podium shared between the two towers, with communal open space in the form of a podium rooftop designed to support resident interaction and improve urban greening outcomes. The scheme would also introduce pocket parks at the northern and southern ends of the site, including a landscaped area at the corner of Herbert and Ella streets designed to improve pedestrian amenity and soften the streetscape.

&nbsp;

The proposal is being progressed through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway, which was introduced to accelerate housing supply across the state. The application was declared State Significant Development in April 2025 following an expression of interest process.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="faf6d97d-2671-454f-b85a-fe1c6a7be608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=diVd28OBVr5.YV.7prrOz.uAanwwwm7a" />

St Leonards has been particularly active with new developments in recent weeks. Developer SP Setia’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-sp-setia-targets-st-leonards-skyline-with-40-storey-tod-tower">plans for a new 42-storey tower</a> recently went on exhibition through the same pathway, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">Stockland’s 52-storey tower proposal</a> was also recently unveiled.

Aside from the St Leonards project, which is expected to take around nine months to move through the approvals process ahead of a potential 2027 launch, Aqualand is also preparing to launch Boronia, a new apartment project in Roseville comprising around 111 apartments on Larkin Street.

The developer also has approvals in place for the next stage of the Barangaroo precinct, which will feature new residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, alongside a new metro entry across the five-hectare site.

More than 50 new retail destinations are planned for Central Barangaroo, alongside a 270-metre-long boulevard connecting Hickson Park to Nawi Cove. Together with Harbour Park, more than 50 per cent of the precinct will comprise public open space and parkland.

First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party

Victoria

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The mid-century modernist Boyd Baker House in Bacchus Marsh has been listed for August 31 auction with $1.3 million plus price hopes.
Designed by architect Robin Boyd, the house has been listed by the lawyer Peter Mitrakas who bought the house in 2006 from the original owner, Dr Michael Baker, the academic mathematician. 
The heritage listed property located on 7.7 hectares on a large scrubby bush block surrounded by the Long Forest Conservation Reserve was commissioned by Michael and Rosemary Baker in 1964, two years after they arrived from England.
<a href="https://www.boydbakerhouse.com.au/index" target="_blank">The 1966 Long Forest Road house</a> bears Boyd signatures internal courtyard and local stone finishes. Highly geometric in its form, it is a square building with small central pond.
Andrew Macmillan of Jellis Craig Bennison Mackinnon and Kay &amp; Burton agent Alex Schiavo have the offering.
Peter and Mary Mitrakas opened it to paying guests in 2007 after paying around $1.11 million for the modernist masterpiece in 2006. 
In 2008 radio broadcaster Tim Ross wed Michelle Glew at Boyd Baker House in Bacchus Marsh, which is about 45 minutes from Melbourne.
There is the adjoining dower house, on 4.6 hectares which traded at $555,000 in 2006, which will be also offered to the buyer.
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The Baker House group comprises three buildings designed by architects Robin Boyd and Roy Grounds. The Baker House (1966) and the dower house, also known as the Elizabeth Sticklen House (1968) were designed by Boyd and the library, built during the 1970s, was designed by Roy Grounds.  
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Modernist Boyd Baker, Bacchus Marsh masterpiece listed

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Lagoona Park, the Victorian rural property where the Poseidon gold nugget was discovered, has been listed for sale.
There are $4.5 million hopes for the 914-hectare property in Newbridge in the Loddon Shire in central Victoria.
It has been listed by Colin Harris, whose family established the well-known Gloroy Poll Dorset sheep stud in 1956. 
The 30 lot Lagoona Park auction is scheduled for August 14 <a href="https://www.eldersrealestate.com.au/rural/buy/property-mixed-farming-vic-newbridge-587295" target="_blank">through Martin Skahill of Elders Real Estate</a> possibly in four separate offerings, ranging in size from 170 hectares to 312 hectares.
Martin Skahill is marketing the property as the home of the nugget, on the Lot 2 Rumbolds 180 hectare portion.
The Loddon River runs through the property which is suited to cropping, meat and wool production or as a stud farm.
Lagoona Park is less than two hours from Melbourne and 30 minutes from Bendigo. 
The nugget was <a href="https://www.tarnagulla.org/photogallery/gallery3/index.php/mining/nugget2" target="_blank">discovered on Melbourne Cup Day in 1906</a>.
The famous Poseidon nugget, weighing 26.6 kilograms (860 ozt) was found in 1906 after interest in alluvial mining was renewed when Jack Porer discovered the Poseidon field at Tarnagulla. The nugget was named after the racehorse Poseidon, winner of the 1906 Caulfield Cup, Victoria Derby and Melbourne Cup.
A replica of the nugget, worth about $1.3 million at current prices, is on display at Museum Victoria.
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Golden nugget farm Lagoona Park listed sans Poseidon gold nugget

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Craigieburn was the outer Melbourne suburb with the most auctions in the first six months of this year.
There were 107 auction offerings with a subsequent 71% success rate under the hammer, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.
"It did not even make it into the top 10 last year," the REIV chief Enzo Raimondo said.
Craigieburn is 26 kms north of Melbourne's central business district, in the local government area of the City of Hume.
There were three on the weekend, with two passed in, with a $380,000 pre-auction sale of 6 Tusmore Rise (pictured above). 
TOP 10 HIGHEST NUMBER OF AUCTIONS MELBOURNE OUTER SUBURBS – FIRST HALF 2014
<table style="width: 460px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Suburb
</td>
<td nowrap>
Total Auction
</td>
<td nowrap>
Sold at auction
</td>
<td nowrap>
Clearance rate
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">CRAIGIEBURN</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
107
</td>
<td nowrap>
76
</td>
<td nowrap>
71%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">WHEELERS HILL</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
95
</td>
<td nowrap>
70
</td>
<td nowrap>
74%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">PARKDALE</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
91
</td>
<td nowrap>
69
</td>
<td nowrap>
76%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">RINGWOOD</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
80
</td>
<td nowrap>
66
</td>
<td nowrap>
83%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">MORNINGTON</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
71
</td>
<td nowrap>
40
</td>
<td nowrap>
56%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">NOBLE PARK</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
71
</td>
<td nowrap>
45
</td>
<td nowrap>
63%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">RYE</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
68
</td>
<td nowrap>
35
</td>
<td nowrap>
52%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">MULGRAVE</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
67
</td>
<td nowrap>
56
</td>
<td nowrap>
84%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">ROSEBUD</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
67
</td>
<td nowrap>
36
</td>
<td nowrap>
54%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
<a href="/news">KEYSBOROUGH</a>
</td>
<td nowrap>
62
</td>
<td nowrap>
35
</td>
<td nowrap>
57%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Source REIV
Recent results at Craigieburn included:
<img src="/images/2014/07/14/jc-july-14-one.jpg" alt="">
The REIV is expected about 540 auctions across 226 Melbourne suburbs this weekend.
There was a 74% success rate based on initial returns, up compared to 71% last weekend and 73% this weekend last year. 
"Aside from the clearance rate, the strength of demand from buyers can also be gauged from the share of homes sold before auction," REIV chief Enzo Raimondo said.
"In the year to date, about 14% of homes scheduled for auction have been sold before, which is the highest level since 2010.
"In some suburbs, such as <a href="/news">Wantirna</a>, nearly half of all homes scheduled for auction were sold beforehand," he said.
The top weekend auction locations were <a href="/news">Richmond</a> (9 auctions), <a href="/news">South Yarra</a> (9 auctions), <a href="/news">Mount Waverley</a> (8 auctions), <a href="/news">Doncaster </a>(8 auctions) and <a href="/news">Cheltenham </a>(8 auctions).
The clearance rate has been above 70% for the past four weeks, which is higher than the 10-year average of 69% for this time of year. 
Based on forward estimates, about 2,300 auctions are expected to be held in July which is higher than the decade average as auctions continue to be popular.
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Coming in from the outer, Craigieburn gets cracking with auctions

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Recent data from Fitch Ratings Agency shows that mortgage delinquencies are on the increase in Victoria. At a time when interest rates are low and house prices are generally increasing, this comes as a surprise.
Victoria as a whole has performed the worst, seeing a delinquency rate of 1.37% as of March 2014. However, it was the only state or territory to see negative performance in the year to March.
Unexpected events and costs in life, as well as changes in your situation (such as losing your job) can cause you to suddenly be unable to pay your mortgage. While Property Observer suggests that you should prepare for any eventualities – some will not until the situation comes to a missed repayment.
If you are finding yourself struggling with repayment then there are some things you can do to keep your head above water.
Firstly, this is what is likely to happen if you stop paying your mortgage.
If you miss a repayment, the first thing you’ll likely receive is notification from your lender – often in the form of a letter.
If you then fail to pay, you will likely be issued a default notice that gives you 30 days to get back up to date with your mortgage.
If you then do not pay, you may be issued a statement of claim or a summons for the debt, or repossession of your property.
After this, you will receive a legal order to take possession of your home. After this, you will then see an authority come to evict you and change your locks.
Don’t think that lenders actively enjoy putting anyone through this process, and don’t think that there’s nowhere you can go for help. As you can tell from the above, you will not be immediately pushed out of your property, however you do need to act to stop the process from happening.
Firstly, if you think you’re going to miss a repayment or if you do miss a repayment – get in touch with your lender immediately. Regular, clear communication is going to assist you with stopping the above process from occurring.
HARDSHIP VARIATIONS
If you are in difficult circumstances, and your loan is at a certain value, you may be able to apply to your lender for a hardship variation.
The government <a href="https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/managing-your-money/managing-debts/trouble-with-debt/hardship-threshold%20" target="_blank">lists what the contract value must be</a>, however if your contract was entered into on or after March 2013 you can apply for a hardship variation regardless of your loan’s value.
Essentially, your lender will vary the terms of your contract. This will make your repayments more affordable, however is likely to extend the loan term and cause more interest to be paid overall. However, this stops you losing your property – and there is the possibility of making extra payments down the track when you’re in a better situation.
Lenders should be fairly helpful with this process. If you find yourself unfairly refused a variation, contact the financial ombudsman.
Get your information organised for when you approach your lender – many of them will want to see payslips, employment letters, budget plans (for instance, this is the <a href="https://www.commbank.com.au/content/dam/commbank/about-us/who-we-are/personal-money-plan.pdf" target="_blank">Commonwealth Bank's required budget form</a>), accountant’s letter and other appropriate details to your case (for instance, a doctor’s certificate or a Centrelink statement). Financial counsellors can often speak to the bank on your behalf.
CHECK INSURANCES
If you were sick, or suddenly found yourself unemployed, had you previously taken out an insurance policy to cover this? It may be time to put in a claim to cover yourself for your mortgage if you’d sufficiently covered yourself previously. Double check your policies.
CONSOLIDATING AND REFINANCING
Consolidating and refinancing to bring down your overall repayments and to manage them can suit some, however only if you’ll pay less in fees and interest. It may only be a short-term fix, and you will still need to be able to meet the repayments, plus it may cost you more over the long-term. Watch for hidden fees and costs.
SELLING OR RENTING YOUR PROPERTY
This will not be an option for everyone, but if it’s looking as though you may not be able to afford the home, particularly in the long-term, it may be time to downsize or to look to renting. Beware; this is a costly process, so you will want to run your numbers carefully beforehand. Also remember that it can take a lengthy period of time to sell a property for a price you are happy with, and if the property has dropped in value then you will be facing debt even on the other end of the transaction.
Another alternative is to rent out a room in your house to create some additional income to assist with the repayments.
SPEAK TO AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL
There are many professionals available for free across Australia, both in terms of finance and legal assistance, that can help you if you get into hardship.
<a href="https://www.financialcounsellingaustralia.org.au%20" target="_blank">Financial counsellors </a>can provide assistance and information, while <a href="https://www.naclc.org.au" target="_blank">free legal advice</a> can assist with credit disputes and debt recovery through courts.
PLAN AHEAD
Remember, mortgage repayments are about more than just the next one coming up. You’ll need to be putting into place a forward-thinking budget and plan to ensure you’re in a comfortable situation.
The government’s Money Smart suggests avoiding borrowing more money or using credit cards, borrowing from friends or family, consolidating/refinancing if there are hidden fees and costs, switching home loans or accessing your super.
YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ
Divorce, death, debt and default: <a href="/guides/divorce-death-debt-and-default-six-questions-smsf-trustees-should-be-asking">Six questions SMSF trustees should be asking</a>
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/you-insure-your-home-so-why-not-your-income">You insure your home, so why not your income?</a>
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Victoria’s mortgage delinquency on the rise, how you can stay above water

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Propertylink, a Sydney-based property investment and asset management company, has bought two Victoria sites for $23.54 million.
The properties, 82 Taryn Drive, Epping, and 18-24 Ricketts Road, Mount Waverley (pictured above), were bought under their Propertylink Australian Industrial Partnership. This includes $230 million in nationwide assets.
Managing director of Propertylink, Steve Day, said that they have a track record of industrial ownership and development.
“The Epping asset features 100% occupancy from a single tenant, Stanley Black &amp; Decker, a Fortune 500 company and one of the world’s largest and most renowned provider of industrial tools, household hardware and security products,” Day said.
He notes that the asset was chosen partly due to its modern and functional style and 8.75% yield. The gross building area covers 10,500 square metres, while that of the Mount Waverley purchase covers 8,806 square metres.
“We expect yields for these types of high-quality assets to continue to tighten in the short to medium term,” he said.
Head of property at Propertylink, Peter McDonald, said that the Mount Waverley purchase is 50% office, 50% warehouse with 82% occupancy at present.
“This is located in the tightly-held prime south-east precinct of Melbourne and we see a real opportunity to bolster the property yield to around 11.5% and add value through strata sub-division,” McDonald said.
“We continue to see significant amounts of capital chasing large prime, long lease assets. However, our strategy is to look for opportunities to add value through repositioning of assets to achieve higher returns.”
They <a href="/expert-insights/investing/propertylink-adds-10-industrial-properties-to-portfolio">recently purchased 10 industrial properties from Abacus Property Group</a>, totalling $106 million.
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Propertylink adds $23.54 million of Victorian property to portfolio

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An art deco icon of the Great Ocean Road, the Lorne Theatre, sold to an anonymous buyer.
The theatre, built in 1937, was offered for the first time since it was purchased by the vendors in the 1960s, with vendors <a href="/expert-insights/buying/iconic-lorne-theatre-up-for-auction-tomorrow-with-2-5-million-plus-hopes">expecting bids over $2.5 million</a>.
Some Lorne residents have been worried that the sale will bring an end to the landmark cinema. While the theatre was on the market, a public meeting with Heritage Victoria was held to discuss potential development on the site.
Prior to the sale, selling agent Shaun Venables of Burgess Rawson told Property Observer that developers were among the potential buyers, but that most were keen to retain some aspect of the theatre’s heritage.
“Most of the developers we’ve spoken to are sympathetic to the theatre’s current use – they’re considering redevelopment, rather than development,” Venables told Property Observer.
According to Venables, the 530 seat theatre had only been filled once in the past 25 years.
The cinema’s lease is due to finish in 2016, with the operators paying $78,180 a year in rent. The 715 square metre corner site has 56 square metres of dual frontage onto the Great Ocean.
Meanwhile, another Lorne site with development potential and Great Ocean Road frontage is currently on the market.
Colliers International’s Jonathan Lumsden and Andrew Lewis are selling a 3,480 square metre site at 14-16 Great Ocean Road, a three minute drive from the Lorne Theatre.
The Residential 1 zoned plot with a 1980s style five bedroom, two bathroom house at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-lorne-501171687" target="_blank">14-16 Great Ocean Road</a> (pictured below) will be auctioned this Saturday.
<img src="/images/2014/07/02/colliers.JPG" alt="">
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Iconic Lorne Theatre sold

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The eastern section of the East West Link has been given approval, as well as a full report of the East West Link Project Assessment Committee.
The 18-kilometre multi-billion dollar road connection looks to help with those looking to commute from the east to the west, and not into the CBD.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy called it a “critical transport connection for Victoria” that looks to improve traffic flows in the inner-north.
“The East West Link will improve transport throughout Victoria – this  vital piece of infrastructure is the missing link in our road transport  network,” said Guy.
The approval is subject to the Linking Melbourne Authority (LMA) progressing design refinements to the eastern flyover, the connection from CityLink at Parkville and the Port of Melbourne.
“I have also determined that the  Elliott Avenue interchange as proposed will not proceed and instead will  be replaced by access to Flemington Road, subject to further detailed  design work,” Guy said.
Additional plans for aspects of the project and a process for providing information to owners and occupiers of land where design refinement is occurring are being established.
“The purpose of this process is to balance project benefits with community impacts, and to work out how to minimise the impacts on the community. LMA will be required to prepare a Property Impact Report to ensure ongoing  management of the project’s impact,” he said.
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Victoria's auction clearance rates down for June: REIV

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A Georgian-inspired Toorak mansion on a 1,178 square metre block sold for $6.01 million was the weekend's highest sale in Victoria.
It was listed through Tim Derham and Jock Langley of Abercromby’s Real Estate, inconjuction with Australian Professionals Property Service, with three bidders competing at the auction. 
The initial price guidance was given as $4.5 million plus. The opening bid was $4.8 million, with the formal on the market announcement made at $5.25 million.
It offered the potential for multi-unit development subject to council approval sitting within City of Stonnington’s draft general residential zone, which allows for medium density development of up to three stories.
The five bedroom home sat at the rear of a L-shaped block at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/42-washington-street-toorak/Property-Details-buy-residential-7161159" target="_blank">42 Washington Street, Toorak</a> which last sold in 1976 at $212,000.
Melbourne recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 72% according to the REIV.
THE TOP 5 HOUSES
42 Washington Street, Toorak $6,010,000 
2. 13 Oxford Street, Malvern $4,225,000 
3. 9 Brynmawr Road, Camberwell $2,815,000 
4. 15 Raven Street, Kew $2,810,000 
5. 57 Athelstan Road, Camberwell $2,350,000 
CHEAPEST 5 HOUSES 
1. 127 Eighth Avenue, Rosebud $241,000 
2. 46 Booth Crescent, Dandenong North $310,000 
3. 32 Bellbird Avenue, Launching Place $310,000 
4. 5 Parkstone View, Craigieburn $340,000 
5. 17 Millstream Pass, Craigieburn $345,000 
Source: REIV
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Toorak home with medium density potential fetches $6.01 million

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There were no loss making property sales detected in just the two Melbourne, Victorian municipalities during the March quarter, according to the latest RP Data Pain and Gain report.
They were Murrindindi and Moorabool.
The highest volume of loss-taking was the 19.1% that sold for less than last time in the increasingly problematic Melbourne municipality where the typical loss was $35,000, followed by the 13.4% in the Whittlesea municipality were the typical loss was $17,500.
The biggest losses were taken in the Macedon municipality at a typical $161,500 drop.
Some 22 of the 35 municipalities secured gains well in excess of the biggest loss, with the biggest being a typical $458,000 gain Bayside and a $455,500 gain in the Manningham municipality.
Some 7.4% of Melbourne homes which re-sold over the March 2014 quarter sold at a loss, down from 9.3% at the same time a year ago but up from 6.1% the previous quarter. 
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Source: RP Data
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