Brisbane-based <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co Developments</a> has officially launched its $250million COMO apartment development in Varsity Lakes, while simultaneously commencing construction.&nbsp;

Building work is now underway at COMO following the appointment of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/5point-projects">5Point Projects</a> as contractor to deliver the boutique development which will rise on a 2857 sqm site overlooking Lake Orr at 22 Lake Street.

When completed, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO</a> will comprise 156 apartments across 16 levels located in the heart of Varsity Lakes.

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The project, which will sit alongside Bond University, will deliver a diverse array of apartment designs comprising one-, two- and three-bedroom residences that have already attracted interest from local and interstate investors as well as an array of owner occupiers looking to gain a foothold in the precinct.

Red &amp; Co, which has largely focused on the Brisbane market in recent years where it has delivered more than 500 apartments and townhouses across 26 projects, has designed COMO to combine tranquil, lakeside living with the vibrant urban convenience of the vibrant Varsity Lakes village.

“We’re thrilled to announce a start to construction of COMO in conjunction with the official launch of the project, our first for the Gold Coast,” said Red &amp; Co Director and Co-Founder David Laverty.

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“COMO is superbly positioned to capture the essence of the Varsity Lakes village lifestyle and its thriving café and dining precinct, while delivering a much-needed diverse supply of premium residences for the local market.

“Pre-launch inquiries have been strong among both local and interstate investors and owner-occupiers, including downsizers and upgraders who appreciate the value proposition that COMO represents.”

Prices at COMO start from $1,000,050.

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, the COMO development incorporates an extensive range of amenities for residents including a 25-metre rooftop lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, as well as multiple rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts, a wellness and activity centre, gym, sauna, plunge baths and landscaped gardens.

“COMO presents a rare opportunity to secure a stylish, lifestyle-focused home in one of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after neighbourhoods,” added Laverty.

“The rooftop will be the epicentre of fun for residents with an array of amenities for residents that are quite unique for a boutique project such as this, all while offering spectacular vistas across the Gold Coast as far north as Southport and south to Burleigh.”

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Red &amp; Co has chosen the Varsity Lakes site for its proximity to top-tier schools, major shopping hubs, such as Robina Town Centre and its CBD offering, as well as key Gold Coast transport links, including Varsity Lakes Train Station.

COMO will be located just a short walk to shops, cafes and restaurants in Varsity Lakes and just a 10-minute drive to the Burleigh Heads beachfront.

With construction currently underway, Red &amp; Co anticipates COMO will be completed in 2028.

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Joel Robinson

Red & Co to launch debut Gold Coast development Como Varsity Lakes as construction commences

Longstanding Gold Coast developer Raptis has acquired a prime development site on Surf Parade for its next Broadbeach apartment project.

Progressing towards completion of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-sterling-broadbeach-6-8-george-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Sterling Broadbeach</a>, 90 apartments on nearby George Avenue, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a>, led by second-generation family man Evan Raptis, has picked up a block on the corner of Surf Parade and First Avenue.

The site had been earmarked for a luxury apartment project with 33 full-floor apartments across a 37-storey tower. Raptis will go back to the drawing board and create a building more appropriate for the site. The development application will be lodged later this month.

Evan Raptis told Apartments.com.au the site ticks all the boxes.

"Broadbeach is a suburb we've developed several buildings over the years. Surf Parade ticks all the boxes for the type of apartment development we want to deliver."

Raptis had several pre-lodgement meetings with council to ensure they are aligned in the development.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0d58573-07a4-47a8-9f5e-fbf35fb03dc3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-03-05%20at%204.58.23%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=iczZEd_4_o4UL0PHMPJGfy_q3tv96J5i" />

Surf Parade has emerged in recent years as one of the most popular streets in Broadbeach for development.

South East Queensland developer Mosaic Property Group kicked it off with Marella by Mosaic. Bassar Group sold out Infinity on the street, while for its&nbsp;first Gold Coast development, Polycell grabbed a Surf Parade site for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-rochester-broadbeach-143-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Rochester</a>, which is nearly sold out.

Melbourne-based developer Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched its fourth Gold Coast project on the exclusive strip. The Eveleigh Broadbeach will have 100 apartments across a 31-storey building designed by Rothelowman.

GV Property Group site development specialists Antonio Mercuri and Luke Reaby, who both amalgamate sites and sell shovel-ready sites to developers up and down the Gold Coast, sold Surf Parade to Raptis.

Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development

Less than two years after breaking ground, Gardner Vaughan Group is celebrating the topping out of Bask, its second development in the exclusive coastal enclave of Bokarina on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.&nbsp;

Located only minutes from the beachfront, the two seven-storey luxury apartment towers, known individually as Mydas and Caretta, offer a selection of one-to-four-bedroom residences with views of Lake Kawana, the Glasshouse Mountains, and Bokarina Beach.&nbsp;

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Gardner Vaughan Group Commercial Director Sam Gardner said the milestone marks the home stretch for construction, with first residents expected to be able to move in from Spring 2026.&nbsp;

“This is a significant milestone in bringing this development to life and represents our confidence in this region’s long-term growth and appeal,” Gardner said.&nbsp;

“With 85 per cent of apartments already sold, buyers are joining an established, coastal village that offers the very best of the Sunshine Coast – seasonally patrolled surf beaches, renowned restaurants, and links to established health and retail.&nbsp;

“The final collection of three- and four- bedroom apartments range in size from 127sqm to 300sqm, each with two or three secure car parks and storage, and with construction fast approaching completion we don’t expect the last few apartments to remain on the market for long.”&nbsp;

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Local restaurateur Luke Stringer, who co-owns and manages the award-winning Bocca Italian and Playa Mexican restaurants in Bokarina, has lived in the beachside suburb for 18 months and worked there for more than three years, and said the beachside suburb was thriving.&nbsp;

“It’s fair to say Bokarina is finally stepping into the sun and there’s a lot to love about the place,"&nbsp;Stringer said.

"It’s such a great community, where you see the same smiling faces every morning and everything’s within easy reach – it’s the perfect hub in the middle of the Sunshine Coast.

“When we first opened Bocca Italian, we were the lone restaurant, but it’s been amazing to see how the area has grown. The more venues that open, the busier it gets for everyone. When Playa Mexican opened its first Saturday night, Bocca had a record night and Playa was packed too, which blew us away how everyone is thriving.&nbsp;

“There’s a great energy around the place now, and people are really embracing Bokarina as a food and lifestyle destination.”&nbsp;

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Stringer joined other buyers at Bask Bokarina and the Gardner Vaughan Group team to celebrate the topping out at a special event in February.&nbsp;

Located in Kawana Waters, midway between Caloundra and Maroochydore, Bokarina locals enjoy scenic walking paths around Lake Kawana, playgrounds, beachfront boardwalk and parklands, alongside all the convenience of a masterplanned beachside community.&nbsp;

“You see people jogging or swimming in the morning, then grabbing coffee at the cafes, people are really embracing the area and all this growth is bringing more people to Bokarina,” Stringer added.&nbsp;

To take advantage of the vistas, each of the 135 apartments at Bask is designed with full size windows and high ceilings that provide an abundance of natural light.&nbsp;

Prices for the remaining three-bedroom apartments start at $1,599,000 and four-bedroom apartments start at $3,149,000.&nbsp;

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The mixed-use development also features ground-level retail space for cafés, dining options and boutiques, including the soon-to-be-opened ‘Corner Shop’, by the team behind Noosa’s well known ‘Organika’.

Sam Gardner said Gardner Vaughan Group’s 37-year history building and developing across South East Queensland has contributed to the success of its second development in Bokarina, which follows the recently completed Zinc Apartments.&nbsp;

“We care how people live and this is reflected in the way we approach the design and delivery of every development,” he said. “Furthermore, as a builder-developer we have full control over the construction program and our 100 per cent completion rate is something people can draw confidence from.”&nbsp;

Founded by civil engineers Guy Gardner and Darryl Vaughan in 1989, the family-owned business has evolved from a consultancy firm to an award-winning builder-developer, with projects across the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

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Gardner Vaughan Group tops out Bask Bokarina apartments

Prolific Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> has launched its fourth new Gold Coast development in as many years.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a>, led by Daniel Faigen and backed by Eddie Hirsch, co-founder of United Petroleum, has unveiled The Eveleigh, on a prime 1,100 sqm site at 7-9 Surf Parade in the heart of Broadbeach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a> will deliver 100 apartments across 31 levels, making it the company’s largest Gold Coast project to date. It builds on the success of its three earlier developments, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/hemingway-1267-1273-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach">The Hemingway in Palm Beach</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/emerson-kirra-100-musgrave-street-coolangatta">The Emerson at Kirra</a>, both completed, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yves-mermaid-beach-7-9-mermaid-avenue-mermaid-beach">Yves Mermaid Beach</a>, which is nearing completion.

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The announcement of The Eveleigh affirms the company’s sustained confidence in the Gold Coast market which continues to remain undersupplied. It also increases the value of Hirsch &amp; Fa​igen’s Gold Coast development portfolio to more than $700 million since the company first entered the market in 2021 with Hemingway.

The company has enlisted its preferred architecture firm Rothelowman to design The Eveleigh, which will offer a thoughtfully curated lifestyle, including a substantial wellness precinct, communal recreation areas, children’s play spaces, work-from-home facilities, and shared lounge and dining areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

Designed for the prime market demographic of downsizers and interstate lifestyle investors in mind, The Eveleigh has been crafted to offer an increasingly rare blend of affordable luxury in a tightly held market. Uniquely positioned in the heart of the Gold Coast’s most sought-after lifestyle suburb of Broadbeach, the project will also boast uninterrupted beach and hinterland views.

The Surf Parade site is just a short walk to the bustling Broadbeach dining and retail precinct, Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and convention centre, and an easy stroll to Kurrawa Beach and the recreational amenity of Pratten Park on the Broadbeach foreshore.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

“We’re excited to be proceeding with our fourth project on the Gold Coast in what is certain to become the new luxury precinct in Broadbeach,” says Anthony Bueti, the CFO of Hirsch &amp;a​mp; Faigen and a shareholder of the group.

“With the likes of Mosa​ic and Abedian &amp;a​mp; Co also launching quality projects in the area, the transformation will cement Broadbeach as the premier lifestyle and amenity suburb on the Gold Coast.

"After four years in the Gold Coast market, and with three successful projects completed, The Eveleigh is the product of everything we have learned to love about the Gold Coast and it will be an incredible addition to our growing portfolio in one of the most vibrant property markets in the country. We continue to remain very confident in the high-end Gold Coast property market.”

Urban Activation Director Matt George is handling sales for The Eveleigh, having sold out The Emerson, The Hemingway, and Yves, all before construction was completed.

Melbourne builder MAXCON has already commenced construction on The Eveleigh. They are forecasting a mid-2028 completion.

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Hirsch & Faigen unveils The Eveleigh in Broadbeach

Two years after securing development approval for the final stage of its award-winning Thornton Precinct on the doorstep of Penrith Station, Urban Property Group is set to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/mayfair-on-penrith-172-lord-sheffield-circuit-penrith-nsw-2750">Mayfair on Penrith</a>, around 400 apartments designed to reflect two of Sydney’s most iconic structures.

The builder-developer has continued refining the design plans for the two-building development on a significant 8,280 sqm site on Sheffield Circuit, recognising the importance of the prime parcel as one of the closest developable sites to the station.

UPG enlisted architecture firm SJB to design the project. The team said they drew inspiration from both the General Post Office in Martin Place and East Circular Quay to help shape the design. The two-level colonnade, in particular, reflects the famous GPO building, which dates back to the 1860s.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362014]

There will be one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments on offer, with interiors by Cox Architecture. Residences will sit above a retail podium featuring hospitality and lifestyle operators such as One Playground and Volcano’s Steakhouse, contributing to an activated ground plane within the broader Thornton precinct.

A communal rooftop with a pool and views towards the Blue Mountains will provide shared open space for residents. The development is positioned between Ron Mulock Oval and Westfield Penrith, with the Nepean River and Great River Walk also nearby, placing daily amenity and green space within walking distance.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362015]

Mayfair is being delivered by Urban Property Group, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly 40 years’ experience across Sydney. The project will be the first in Penrith to be offered with Resilience Insurance’s 10-year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) policy, which Urban Property Group has adopted across a number of its recent developments. The developer also has a 4.5-star iCIRT rating, one of the best ratings in market providing further confidence to buyers.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said providing additional assurance to off-the-plan buyers has become increasingly important.

“Anything we can do to give confidence in our product is a plus,” Elias told Apartments.com.au.

“Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. They’re making their single large investment, which is their home, and providing confidence is something that we feel is paramount.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=136726 project_image_fid=362020]

The LDI policy provides a 10-year warranty covering structural defects, with independent inspections carried out during construction and protection for owners if defects arise post-completion.

Mayfair represents Urban Property Group’s sixth and final development within Thornton, consolidating the masterplanned precinct immediately east of the station.

The developer, which builds its own projects, has already commenced construction. SRM Residential is handling the sales campaign.

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Urban Property Group to close the curtain on award-winning Thornton precinct with Mayfair on Penrith release

Albury

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The property market in Albury-Wodonga and surrounding region on both sides of the border appears to be holding quite well, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The valuation firm suggest in locations across the nation, the downtime delivered by isolation has spurned on owners looking to improve their assets through maintenance and upgrade. This month’s HTW report highlights where renovations are on the rise and the price points and outcomes those markets can expect.
"The cases of COVID-19 have been very, very low and the community has been adhering to all pandemic measures.
"Most agents are reporting a hold and wait type behaviour across the board, which resulted in significantly reduced sales activity for April and May, with an uptick in this third week of May as restrictions ease and the reopening of schools is now approaching for both New South Wales and Victoria," the valuation firm said. 
"With the number of final inspections on new homes and construction reports on proposed new dwellings increasing, we will continue to observe and analyse the likely effects on the tourism industry and the investor market in our region." 
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If the carpark at Bunnings is any indication, home improvement has been front of mind for many with the expected result surely being property of all types receiving TLC, running second only to the amount of extra dog walking being witnessed across the country.
"Pre-pandemic vendors making the extra effort in property presentation were certainly reaping the rewards, so post-pandemic we might be set for a very good looking property offering in spring with gardens spruced, DIY updates of bathrooms and painting refreshes creating the longest lines at home improvement centres," the valuation firm said. 
Overall the renovation market in our area is quite targeted, due to property owners’ mobility in the market created by our housing affordability, the report noted. 
The risk of over-capitalising property is real if the price point and location are not spot on.
The house flippers are mostly purchasers with skill sets to renovate on a budget and this has been very evident in North Albury reaching further north now to Lavington and also parts of south Albury.
A renovated three bedroom unit in Lavington has recently been sold for $226,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-lavington-132385398" target="_blank">2/585 Heathwood Avenue </a>home (pictured below) comes with open plan living, contemporary kitchen and three bedrooms.
The unit is located in a well-maintained complex of only two. 
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The report suggests the other active market segment for renovations are high end additions and renovations of character dwellings in central, small pockets of North Albury and all of old East Albury.
A three bedroom house located in Albury's iconic Jones Street is currently on the market with a price guide of $649,000.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-albury-133673950" target="_blank">722 Jones Street home </a>(pictured below) comes with renovated bathroom, update kitchen, and open plan dining and lounge. 
It also features enclosed sunroom, triple length single garage and undercover carport. 
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With only a select few master builders available, waiting times for these projects can be expected, up to two years for some builders, so substantial planning and patience is required in these good locations.
Renovation is not for the faint-hearted and the decision to renovate may sit below upgrading to a newer home, moving to a better location, building from scratch or demolishing and rebuilding.
The rewards are there for the very astute home owner or investor, however regional cities do not enjoy the same capital growth as the metropolitan property markets, so often a smart update rather than a full renovation can assist owners to enjoy some uplift to take the next property step or secure a better tenancy.
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"On inspection, we often hear the lamentation that home improvement takes money and time and striking that balance can be challenging.
"Hopefully over the past couple of months property owners have had the time and been able to save some money by taking on projects themselves or calling in the professionals," the valuation firm said. 
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Smart update or full renovation in Albury-Wodonga? HTW residential 

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The Albury-Wodonga region boasts around 110,000 people, enjoying one of the most vibrant cross-state regions combining all the Murray River has to offer and beyond north and south of the New South Wales and Victorian borders, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
<div>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</div>
"The drivers of the property market are affordability, access to finance, lifestyle, tourism and the buoyancy or otherwise of the Melbourne property market. Different purchasers behave and benefit accordingly," the valuation firm said. 
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First home owners have options due to a good supply of existing entry level stock and competitive house and land packages from a range of builders in new suburbs on both sides of the border. 
Similarly the upgrading or relocating family in the region can buy existing stock, build or in many cases buy to occupy and also purchase an investment property, often positively geared, the report noted. 
As the regional property market has proven to be a long game, the downsizers, whether local or relocating, receive the benefit of long term growth and a good choice of lower maintenance homes with room for the van or golf buggy.
Over the past few years, both Albury City Council and Wodonga City Council have undertaken large scale redevelopment projects aimed at revitalising city centres and involving the community in local events, the idea being that the cross city vibe should be complementary rather than us and them.
The report notes Wodonga is certainly gaining ground with strong sales activity and good growth as locals and visitors alike tap into the north-east offering. 
"The local outlook is much the same as the attitude of the region, positive, proactive, productive and steadily more diverse. It is all here bar the beach and people tend to focus on the things they can change, which from a property perspective is the ability to move within the market and invest further in the market.
"No one external big picture factor dominates as low volatility goes hand in hand with stable markets, however as we reach submission deadline, the effects of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic may reach and influence all drivers of all markets," the valuation firm said. 
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A Californian bungalow inspired townhouse in Albury has recently been sold for $675,000.
The three bedroom, two bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-nsw-albury-132951854" target="_blank">692 Jones Street </a>(pictured above). 
It features open plan living, dining and kitchen, oak timber flooring and ample storage. 
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A current listing is a 1940s family home located just moments from the Albury CBD.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-albury-133379730" target="_blank">717 Jones Street</a> home (pictured above) has been offered for sale with a price guide of $895,000 - $915,000.
Set on a 1,076sqm allotment, it comprise four bedrooms, formal lounge, renovated kitchen, and separate dining room. 
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Note regards COVID-19
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This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks. 
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<div>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</div>
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COVID-19 pandemic may influence all drivers of Albury property market: HTW residential 

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Albury-Wodonga has started the year with a semi circle of serious bushfires from north, north-east and south on both sides of the border, with the north-east of Victoria very much in the area and very much affected, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The report suggests the effects of this disaster are significant, however many townships were spared. Regardless, it will be a long bushfire season and it will take its toll on the entire region.
Shorter term recovery efforts will commence and in the longer term the full extent will be evident.
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"The underlying challenges will also exist for our tourist towns that were evacuated several times (Bright, Corryong, King Valley) and drove visitors away and no doubt local businesses will feel this along with farmers who have suffered loss of stock, infrastructure and income," the valuation firm said. 
"No one can predict the future but Australian communities working together in the face of disaster is a sure bet and like many other regions affected, the Albury-Wodonga region will display resilience and strength in 2020," they added. 
 This will likely mean that property markets across the region have a subdued start with less stock available and possibly many participants preoccupied by the effects of the bushfires personally, locally or regionally.
The upshot remains that the region offers many property options for home owners and investors alike. 
Overall, sales activity in 2019 was lower than 2018 and this trend may continue in 2020, the report noted. 
Median property prices across the region have held or increased by around four to five percent. The areas to watch in 2020 are Myrtleford, Wangaratta, Corowa and Mount Beauty/Tawonga/ Tawonga South and Benalla.
A Corowa three bedroom house was sold for 180,000 in January.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-corowa-132709378" target="_blank">110 Redlands Roads</a> (pictured below), the renovated house comprises three bedrooms, open plan living and big back yard.
It was last sold for $166,000 in 2018. 
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In Albury-Wodonga, value remains in North Albury, West Albury and Thurgoona.
A recent sale in Thurgoona was a four bedroom, two bathroom house situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-thurgoona-132801634" target="_blank">40 Hinchinbrook Court </a>(pictured below). 
The north-facing home has been sold for $775,000 in January.
The house features open plan living, study, rumpus room, entertainer's kitchen, and remote-control double garage. 
It last sold for $751,000 in 2018. 
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"We are yet to have a smoke free day in the region this year. Let’s hope that when the smoke finally clears, we all appreciate how fortunate we are to have homes in such a terrific part of the country," the valuation firm concluded. 
 
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Albury-Wodonga markets have a subdued start in 2020 due to bushfires: HTW residential 

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The Albury prestige property market offers discerning purchasers a choice of location, size, quality and an array of ancillary improvements, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 
The report notes thus far in 2019 there have been 27 dwelling sales in the $700,000 to $1.4 million range, with only four over $1 million.
"Despite the very strong central Albury market dominated by character dwellings, the best address has proven to be modern Chamberlain Close, with three sales over the past two years all between $1.1 and $1.2 million," the valuation firm said. 
The most recent transaction was off market in April when 15 Chamberlain Close sold for $1.2 million.
This is a modern well-appointed circa 2012 home with a pool on a 744 square metre level block within walking distance of the CBD.
This segment of the market is stable and thinly traded due to the sought after location and the very limited stock of new or modern homes in a central location.
"Rest assured that if you have a million dollars to spend in Albury, there won’t be anything to spend once you move in," the valuation firm said.
Just up the hill from the central flats, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-albury-129626926" target="_blank">699 Uralla Place, Albury </a>(pictured below) sold for $1.08 million in January.
The property is a highly renovated circa 1965 part two level, four-bedroom, three-bathroom, four-car-garage with a pool on a moderately sloping 930 square metre block, proving the market will pay for someone else to do the renovation work.
"The aerial images highlight that at the top end of town, size and amenities matter, but if you are feeling a bit claustrophobic from all house no yard, the prestige residential lifestyle property might tick all the boxes," the valuation firm said. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/11/18/699%20uralla%20pl.jpg" alt="">
"In February, 4 Hawksview Road, Wirlinga (pictured below) sold for $1.1 million, so is comparable to our in town examples price wise," the valuation firm continued. 
Set on 8,098 square metres, there isn’t room for horses however the property comprises the original 1930 cottage in addition to a very well appointed colonial style four-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car brick home with wrap around verandahs, pool, tennis court and large workshop.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/11/18/4%20hawksview%20rd%20.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
Albury and only one kilometre from Lake Hume.
"The prestige rural lifestyle market segment again is thinly traded, highly sought after and has a small pool of potential purchasers," the valuation firm stated. 
"To conclude our Albury wish list with the biggest and the best, in March,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-table+top-129258174" target="_blank"> 26 Old Sydney Road, Table Top</a> (pictured below) was the highest sale at $1.35 million."
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/11/18/26%20old%20sydney%20rd.jpg" alt="">
Everything about this property was top notch for the area.
A circa 2005, five-bedroom, two-bathroom, three- car residence (324 square metres of living) set on established manicured gardens with panoramic countryside views on 3.15 hectares featuring pool and large workshop only 16 kilometres from town with Lake Hume just down the road.
"There are currently three listings in Albury in the $1 million price bracket. Interestingly, these include a character dwelling in town, a character dwelling on large block in Thurgoona and a rural lifestyle in Table Top, so take your pick, Albury offers the lot," the valuation firm concluded. 
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Albury prestige rural lifestyle market segment is thinly traded: HTW residential 

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Manenti Quinlan &amp; Associates, in conjunction with John Hannigan Real Estate Services, have listed the renowned, Ettamogah Pub, Albury.
The Australian icon is located off the Hume Highway, just 16 kilometres north of Albury on a 4.81ha site.
The original creator of the Ettamogah Pub was Ken Maynard who started drawing images of the Ettamogah Pub in 1959. 
It was made famous through his regular cartoons in The Australasian Post. The Ettamogah Mob cartoons, an iconic series of weekly cartoons, were published in the national magazine for nearly 50 years.
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As a boy Ken would cycle around a water hole called Ettamogah, an Aboriginal word meaning 'place of good drink'. This struck Ken as an ideal name for a pub and hence the infamous Ettamogah cartoons were born.
The actual pub dates back to 1987 when built by Albury businessman Lindsay Cooper.
Albury Ettamogah was used as the base to bring the Ettamogah brand into a themed restaurant and pub chain across Australia. 
Continual development has turned the Albury Ettamogah into a well- known tourist destination.
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In addition to hotel trade, the Ettamogah site offers a village with five retail shops, a reception centre, and large dining barn with structures close to completion. Lease negotiations are currently underway with a hairdresser and supermarket operator.
Leonard Bongiovanni of Manenti Quinlan and Associates said it best suited a hands-on operator.
The property has a mid-$3 million price guide with expressions of interest closing June 7.
It has been listed by Leigh O’Brien, who now has projects overseas, with the pub currently operating under management.
The sale includes Ettamogah memorabilia and a 25-year licensing agreement for the Ettamogah Pub name, with a further 25-year option, operating under a royalties scheme.
O’Brien previously held other Ettamogah pubs including one at Kellyville Ridge, in Sydney’s north west, now owned by Woolworths’ ALH, to which he licenses the Ettamogah name.
 
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The original Ettamogah Pub at Albury hits the market

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First home buyers are significantly active in Albury-Wodonga, according to the valuation firm, Herron Todd White.
Its first home owners appear to be enticed by their first home being a new home and often this is achievable if they have been living at home or renting affordably whilst saving a deposit. 
However, recent increases in vacant land prices may have given rise to first home owners reconsidering existing dwellings as their starting point, HTW noted.
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It noted the detached dwelling sub $200,000 market diminish significantly, in most part due to investors rather than home owners.
"First home owners appear reluctant to buy the basic starter house despite a good supply of dwellings available sub $300,000. 
"Upgraders seem to be on the move with better prices being achieved for basic housing stock and they are paying more as a result for the next home or trying to keep the first home as well."
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First home owners have options in Albury-Wodonga and a budget of between $280,000 to $350,000 will secure a detached dwelling in a new housing estate or sub $300,000 budget gives options in the existing dwelling market.
A three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-albury-126207782" target="_blank">1/300 Norfolk Street</a> (above) in Albury has just sold for $285,000 through Steam Nicholls.
A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-albury-126171606" target="_blank">427 Schubach Street</a> in Albury was snapped up for $315,000. The estate agent was Tom Sanderson of Wodonga Real Estate.
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The upgraders’ budget is around $350,000 to $450,000 depending on the property they are jumping up from and can be spread evenly between new and existing stock.
 The forever home owner has the largest budget range of between $500,000 to $800,000 which may be a build or fully renovated dwelling. 
The downsizer’s budget may also be dependant on where they have divested and is usually between $400,000 and $600,000 - low maintenance, central, all done or ready to tackle major renovation in prime locations with cash to spare. 
HTW noted the last two categories are experiencing competition from many cashed up ex-Sydney or Melbourne relocators and the lower end of market is facing competition from out of town investors. 
Around Albury-Wodonga 85% of dwellings are detached, with the remainder semi-detached with very few units. 
The new housing stock is predominantly 3- to 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom detached dwelling on varying allotment sizes.
There have been some new developments completed with small allotments with a mix of homeowners and renters occupying these dwellings.
HTW noted there was also a recent spike in duplex construction usually with configuration of 3-bedrooms and 1- or 2-bedrooms, although the majority were marketed and sold to the investor market.
"Overall, probably due to the expectation of living in the country, a detached dwelling is preferable, in plentiful supply and still top of mind for most home buyers." 
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Albury-Wodonga's affordability attracts first home buyers 

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The former federal health minister Sussan Ley has upgraded from North Albury to West Albury.
The Member for Farrer who fought doggedly to hold on to her cabinet portfolio in January has recently settled into her new home with her Gold Coast businessman partner Graham Johnston.
The charming residence, set in her enormous southwest NSW electorate of Farrer, cost $850,000.
It was settled within just 12 days of signing the paperwork. The price well above the $362,000 median house price for the suburb, according to CoreLogic.  
Set on 2100 sqm, her new family home was marketed by Chapman Gould Estate Agents as "epitomising period elegance and beauty while incorporating contemporary luxury and style."
It comes with four bedrooms plus office not far from the Botanic Gardens, the Murray River and the Albury CBD.
Ley was caught up in a summer scandal when details emerged of her so-called off-the-cuff 2015 purchase Main Beach, Gold Coast apartment on Johnston’s Gold Coast and her associated travel expenses.
Ley has now reportedly rented out her former Albury residence as has Johnston done so with his.
Ley, now on a backbench salary, has signalled she will probably sell her old house to fund her new residential mortgage with the local lenders, Hume Bank. 
This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Sussan Ley upgrades Albury homes

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The regional city of Albury in New South Wales was a rising market for houses while for units, it was at the start of recovery, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's property clock for both April/May. 
The clock is a simple broad brush means of suggesting where property prices are and the direction they are headed.
Over the past few years there has been an increasing trend for people to purchase land on the outer edge of the two cities in the suburbs of Thurgoona, Glenroy, Killara and Baranduda and construct a new dwelling.
The outer edges of the two cities are generally a maximum of 10 kilometres from their respective CBD’s and are therefore not far to commute.
We are also seeing an increase in demand for vacant rural lifestyle and general residential allotments and in the towns surrounding Albury/Wodonga, such as Tangambalanga, Kiewa, Ebden, Howlong, Jindera and Ettamogah, as once again people are preferring to build a new home rather purchase one that may require renovating.
The twin cities have no real areas to avoid with the exception of some government housing areas, although demand for these areas is reflected in their relative low value overall compared to other parts of the twin cities.
We see an ongoing trend for the outer markets to continue to perform and grow because of opportunities of development with large tracts of englobo residential land.
There has however been a recent increase in prices being achieved for vacant land and as such we see these markets as a long-term proposition. 
Property Observer looked up some recent sales in Albury's fringe locations such as Thurgoona and Baranduda on www.realestate.com.au. 
1. The median price of a house in Thurgoona was $340,000 while for units, it was $215,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data. A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-thurgoona-120707105" target="_blank">4 Charolais Court Thurgoona NSW 2640</a> fetched $330,500.
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2. The median house price in Baranduda was $335,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data. No data was available for units. A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-baranduda-122000690" target="_blank">10 Paterson Avenue Baranduda Vic 3691</a> traded for $300,000.
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Albury's fringes show long-term potential: HTW

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Melbourne-based developer Hudson Conway has appointed CBRE to sell its Somerset Rise project in NSW's Albury, with offers expected to exceed $10 million. 
The developer wants to exit the project to focus on those closer to its base in Melbourne.
Spanning nearly 42 hectares, the project has already delivered 76 houses across stages one, two and three.
The land holding has been developed over the past few years into a development for house and land buyers, underpinned by its location just minutes from Albury Airport and reputed educational facilities nearby.  
"There are 51 lots ready to be sold or developed as well as 288 undeveloped lots in future stages. We are selling the project as a whole, with the buyer to benefit from the work completed by the vendors to date," said Wizel. 
Wizel expects offers from a range of local developers, from South Australia, Victoria and greater New South Wales.
The average block in Somerset Rise has sold for around $132,500 in the past 18 months.
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Hudson Conway to sell remainder of Somerset Rise land holding in Albury

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Investor activity from out-of-towners chasing returns underpins the residential property market in the Albury/Wodonga region according to Herron Todd White's February Month in Review.
HTW reported good back-to-back ski seasons, strong events and promotional programs for the region, the area’s move towards the gourmet food and wine industry and proximity to Melbourne all strong factors, with suburbs Bright, Porepunkah and Beechworth worth keeping an eye on.
"In addition Wodonga and Thurgoona are also seeing some growth with new development… the Wodonga CBD is currently undergoing a multimillion dollar redevelopment since the railway diversion and is currently seen as one of the fastest growing Victorian regional towns.
"Thurgoona is also rapidly developing into a large suburb with more land being subdivided and infrastructure continuing to be improved. 
"Affordable residential housing is still available in the surrounding towns of Howlong, Jindera, Holbrook and Tallangatta. They are an easy commute to Albury and provide a relatively inexpensive option, particularly in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. 
"In Albury, the suburbs of Lavington, Springdale Heights and Hamilton Valley continue to remain good value along with parts of North Albury and some of the older established areas of Thurgoona."
 
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