The Victorian Government has secured the passage of the Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Bill 2026, introducing a suite of reforms aimed at improving consumer protection and confidence in the apartment market.

Resilience Insurance, Australia’s leading Latent Defects Insurance (LDI) provider, has welcomed the move.

The LDI elements of the Bill passed with bipartisan support and now moves to the Legislative Council where debate and passage are expected later this month. It represents a significant milestone in the national shift toward stronger, longer-term protection for apartment buyers.&nbsp;

The reform would deliver practical benefits across the housing system. Apartment owners will have stronger protection if major defects emerge, developers and builders will have a clearer quality framework to work within, and the State will reduce the risk of serious building failures becoming a long-term financial and social burden for households, communities and government.&nbsp;

LDI helps support apartment delivery while providing stronger protection for buyers and encouraging better construction outcomes.&nbsp;

Resilience LDI provides apartment owners with 10 years of insurance-backed cover for major structural defects from completion, with direct claim access to the insurer. This means owners are not required to first pursue developers or builders through costly legal action before accessing protection.&nbsp;

Resilience Insurance has been operating in Australia since 2022 and has already insured hundreds of development projects covering many thousands of apartments across Australia.&nbsp;

At approximately 1.8 per cent of build cost, it is a cost-competitive alternative to the traditional two per cent Strata Bond, bond while delivering significantly broader and longer protection.&nbsp;

“The Victorian Lower House vote shows that reforms like this succeed when they are practical, evidence-based and supported by industry," says Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance.

"Victoria is moving quickly on a reform that will make a real difference for apartment buyers, while supporting better building outcomes and greater confidence in apartment delivery.

“This is step one. We look forward to the Bill completing its passage through the Legislative Council and to working with government and industry to implement the framework effectively.”&nbsp;

Fast Facts: What is Resilience LDI?&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI): Covers major structural defects for 10 years from completion.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Consumer-first: Direct claim access, no need for lengthy legal action.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Cost advantage: At approximately 1.8% of build cost, LDI is typically priced below the traditional 2% Strata Bond while offering broader protection.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Market leader: Resilience Insurance is the first approved LDI provider in NSW.</li>
</ul>

The Building Legislation and Treasury Legislation (Tax Relief) Amendment Bill 2026 has passed the Victorian Lower House, putting Victoria on track to become the first state to legislate an industry workable LDI framework as a formal alternative to the Strata Building bond. 

Joel Robinson

10-year Latent Defects Insurance for new apartment buyers set to land in Victoria

Just a few months after acquiring a prime Broadbeach site on the corner of First Avenue and Surf Parade, family-run developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/raptis">Raptis</a> has filed fresh plans for a new apartment development.

Raptis is seeking to deliver a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-19-first-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4217">29-storey tower with 73 apartments</a> on the 818 sqm site. It will be the developer's seventh project in the suburb, as they are approaching completion of The Sterling on George Avenue.

There will be a pool, barbecue and outdoor dining area, residents lounge and dining, sauna and steam room, gym, and a Yoga and Pilates studio.

<img alt="Raptis" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b554da3f-7344-49aa-b1c9-44cf459af0d7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%2010.41.45%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=zzjWu1iO1wnuYv4EV4fyOyf5nSXjGYut" />

Raptis Joint Managing Director, Evan Raptis, says they remain&nbsp;committed to developing quality infill sites across the Gold Coast in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"This project continues our long track record of delivery in Broadbeach, and we look forward to bringing another premium development to this thriving precinct."

The announcement follows strong delivery momentum for Raptis, with The Sterling Broadbeach nearing completion and construction well underway on the final stage of the Waterpoint community adjacent to Harbour Town. The developer's continued investment in the Gold Coast reflects confidence in the region's apartment market fundamentals, underpinned by sustained Southeast Queensland population growth.&nbsp;

The outlook for the region is further bolstered by infrastructure investment tied to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, which is expected to drive continued economic and population growth across the SEQ corridor.&nbsp;

Subject to a favourable response from Gold Coast City Council, construction on the new First Avenue tower is targeted to commence before the end of 2026.&nbsp;

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/it-s-all-in-the-family-four-decades-later-raptis-continues-to-shape-the-gold-coast-skyline">It’s all in the family: Four decades later, Raptis continues to shape the Gold Coast skyline</a>

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/raptis-secures-prime-surf-parade-site-for-next-broadbeach-apartment-development">Raptis secures prime Surf Parade site for next Broadbeach apartment development</a> 
&nbsp;

Gold Coast developer brings seventh Broadbeach project to market, targeting construction commencement before year end

First look: Raptis lodges plans for new 29-storey Broadbeach tower 

Brisbane development veteran Kevin Seymour's Seymour Group is set to deepen its presence on one of Brisbane's most tightly held riverfront addresses, lodging revised plans for a luxury apartment development on Oxlade, just a few doors down from The Oxlade, which it completed in 2024.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/70-72-oxlade-drive-new-farm-qld-4005">new project at 70-72 Oxlade Drive</a>, directly north of The Oxlade, will have 27 apartments across a seven-storey building&nbsp;overlooking the Brisbane River and Merthyr Park. It's a revision from a 2021-approved design.

Designed by bureau^proberts, the project has evolved from the previously approved 26-apartment scheme, introducing an additional penthouse level while maintaining a low-density, boutique character. The development will comprise 26 three-bedroom apartments and a single four-bedroom penthouse, supported by two basement levels with 86 car spaces and 34 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response is centred around two distinct building forms separated by a landscaped open-air atrium.&nbsp;"This dual composition captures and embraces Brisbane’s subtropical environment whilst breaking down built form and scale," the submission to the Brisbane City Council noted.

<img alt="First look: Seymour Group returns to Oxlade Drive with revised riverfront apartment plans in New Farm" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c12d84d0-bc11-4067-b46f-5bd2d786a34d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/new%20farm%20landscape.png?VersionId=YEPc2k5CAdh6aAPlu4uVpgZadh4MEfRd" />

A defining feature of the design is a deep landscaped void running through the centre of the building, creating what bureau^proberts describes as a "natural ravine" that enhances airflow, daylight penetration and resident amenity. The design report notes that the separation of the two building volumes is intended to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and outlook while strengthening connections to the surrounding riverfront setting.

Curved balcony edges, integrated planting and extensive landscaping throughout the façade reinforce the subtropical design approach. The building's façade is softened by elevated gardens and planter beds, creating a green edge that complements the established landscape character of Oxlade Drive and neighbouring Merthyr Park.

New Farm has become one of Brisbane's most sought-after suburbs for developers delivering premium downsizer-focused apartments.

GRAYA has been particularly active in the precinct, completing both Chalk and York in recent years, while construction of Moray House, being delivered for Spyre, is now nearing completion. Architect-turned-developer Joe Adsett recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/arcilla-new-farm-by-joe-adsett-28-maxwell-street-new-farm-qld-4005">Arcilla on Maxwell Street</a>, an exclusive collection of just nine apartments.

First look: Seymour Group returns to New Farm's Oxlade Drive with riverfront apartment plans

A new residential tower will be the first piece of a broader mixed-use precinct set to reshape a prominent Newcastle West site, with local developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> bringing its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/cambridge-quarter-newcastle-west-12-denison-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Cambridge Quarter</a> vision to market.

The first release, Tempo, will introduce 87 apartments across a 24-storey tower, marking Stage 1 of the residential component of a larger urban regeneration project planned for the western end of Newcastle's city centre, encompassing the former Cambridge Hotel site.

Positioned on Denison Street, Tempo has been designed as the inaugural building within Cambridge Quarter, a precinct that will ultimately combine apartments, retail activation and revitalised public spaces including the revamping of the Cambridge Hotel.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368853]

The tower will comprise a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including layouts with multipurpose rooms, catering to a broad cross-section of owner-occupiers. Apartment sizes range from around 60 sqm to 192 sqm, with a number of residences oriented to capture views across Newcastle Harbour, the city skyline and coastline.

GWH has emphasised liveability in the design, with open-plan layouts extending to generous balconies and terraces. Residents will have a choice of two interior palettes, while specifications include engineered stone benchtops, SMEG appliances, full-height bathroom tiling and secure building access. Premium upgrade packages will also be available.

Multiple rooftop resident retreats will provide communal outdoor space overlooking the harbour and city, offering an elevated amenity layer above the activity of the precinct below.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368851]

The broader Cambridge Quarter vision extends beyond the residential tower itself. Ground-level retail activation and landscaped public areas are planned throughout the precinct, creating a walkable neighbourhood environment connected to the surrounding renewal of Newcastle West. The Cambridge Hotel is also earmarked for future redevelopment into a family-friendly hospitality venue integrated with the new precinct.

The project is strategically positioned within walking distance of Newcastle Interchange, providing access to light rail, regional rail services and direct connections to Sydney. Residents will also be close to Honeysuckle, Newcastle Harbour and the city's beaches and coastal walkways.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135876 project_image_fid=368852]

For GWH, Cambridge Quarter represents one of its most significant Newcastle developments to date. The locally based developer, which has operated in the Hunter region since 1995, describes the project as a new chapter in the ongoing transformation of Newcastle West.

GWH Executive Director Jonathan Craig said the project had been shaped by a focus on creating lasting community connections.

"We take pride in creating places that last. Spaces where people feel connected, comfortable and a genuine sense of belonging," Craig said.

"Cambridge Quarter is something we are truly proud of, a place shaped by local knowledge, built with care and designed to be part of Newcastle's next chapter."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135876]

GWH unveils first release at landmark Cambridge Quarter precinct in Newcastle West

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ss-projects">S&amp;S Projects</a>,&nbsp;Rainbow Bay's busiest developer,&nbsp;has officially lodged plans for the largest development in its booming local portfolio, seeking approval for a further 88 apartments on Boundary Street.

The proposal&nbsp;at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">209–213 Boundary Street, Coolangatta</a>,&nbsp;marks the next chapter in the developer's transformation of the southern Gold Coast beachside precinct. It will be its fifth in the area, having already delivered Flow, Awaken and Esprit, while construction continues on the 38-apartment Radia. The new project would rise 57 metres above a consolidated 1,518 sqm site, on the same street as Radia and Esprit.

&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, the proposed development comprises 88 two and three-bedroom apartments across a contemporary podium-and-tower form that integrates extensive landscaping from street level through to the rooftop.

The tower would be delivered above a basement and multi-level podium accommodating resident and visitor parking, with the residential component commencing from level three. The design incorporates cascading planting throughout the façade, landscaped podium edges, and deep planting zones along the Boundary Street frontage.

<img alt="First look: S&amp;S Projects lodges plans for 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677e6615-b5c0-4b6c-b4f9-efb14fcde1a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ss%20da%20pers.png?VersionId=YOnPKQm7IFXv0M5H326djEpxk80500Hi" />

A key feature of the development is its expansive rooftop wellness and recreation precinct. Plans reveal a resort-style pool deck, gymnasium, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, rooftop terraces, barbecue areas and landscaped relaxation spaces positioned to capture views across the southern Gold Coast coastline.

The rooftop wellness focus builds on the vision S&amp;S Projects first outlined when it acquired the site for $20.25 million last year.

"We are taking every advantage to create a truly unique rooftop wellness experience with a natural feel for residents, offering stone features throughout and an underlying theme that emulates a botanical garden," S&amp;S Projects founder and director Paul Gedoun said at the time.

The proposal seeks a 57-metre building height, representing a 50 per cent uplift on the site's mapped 38-metre height limit. Planning documents argue the additional height is consistent with recently approved and emerging towers in the immediate Boundary Street and Rainbow Bay precinct.

Urbis, acting as planning consultant, said the development would provide "88 dwellings, comprising a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments, contributing to housing choice and supply within an established medium to high-rise coastal urban neighbourhood."

The scheme has undergone extensive pre-lodgement consultation with the City of Gold Coast, with the design refined following feedback relating to architectural expression, landscaping, traffic access and podium treatment.

<img alt="S&amp;S" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a2d70fd-62ac-4b83-97c6-b798fc1243dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-05%20at%209.16.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yHmghUwKM3IVGpBktQU1mE.0Lpf3WimG" />

The architectural team is led by Brisbane-based Cottee Parker, one of Australia's most active residential design studios, with landscape architecture by Dunn + Moran. The consultant team also includes ADG Engineers, Windtech and Acoustic Works.

S&amp;S Projects has become one of the most influential private developers operating on the southern Gold Coast. Since entering Rainbow Bay in 2022, the company has assembled a portfolio exceeding $1 billion in end value, establishing itself as a key player in the area's evolution into a premium apartment destination. Pezet Matheson will again handle the sales for S&amp;S.

Coolangatta is entering another wave of apartment development, following the delivery of several prominent residential projects in recent years.

John Kearney's Immerse Projects will launch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kaiya-kirra-beach-5-haig-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Kaiya on Haig Street</a>&nbsp;soon, meanwhile, Palm Beach-based Sherpa Property Group is preparing to bring its debut Coolangatta development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-viver-87-griffith-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Flourish Viveré</a>, to market later this year, subject to approvals.

First look: S&S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street

Bitcoin

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A Surfers Paradise apartment, priced at $320,000, has followed the trend and is willing to accept Bitcoin as legal tender
The<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-surfers+paradise-127084094" target="_blank"> two bedroom apartment</a> will be sold tenanted at $370 a week, which would reflect a strong six percent yield for the buyer. The lease expires in February 2018.
Set in Cannes Court, the three storey walk up complex between Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise, the partly furnished apartment features an open plan living area which opens to a balcony.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/5/Surf2.jpg" alt="">
It last traded for $285,000 in 2008.
Ray White Broadbeach/Mermaid Waters agent Melissa Sekulic has the listing.
Buying property in Bitcoin has flooded the markets in the last two weeks.
The first home to hit the headlines offering Bitcoin was a home in Melbourne's The Basin. The vendor was only interested in a part Bitcoin payment for the home.
A home in Far North Queensland followed, willing to accept a 100% payment in Bitcoin for the $1.2 million home. That would equate to 100 Bitcoin at its current average price of around $12,000.
The 32 hectare rural estate known as Wooroonooran Falls at the foot of Mt Bellenden Ker, is happy to take the full transaction in Bitcoin.
The home is steeped in history. It was owned by one of the first settlers in the area, the Hon. Victor Nelson Hood, the nephew of Lord Nelson and the Godson of Queen Victoria.
The four bedroom, one bathroom Queenslander was built in 1948. Views from the front verandah look over the sugar cane fields.
Grandview, another Victoria home, this one north of Melbourne at Mount Macedon, was advertised as happy to also take full Bitcoin payment for the home, priced at $2.5 million.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Surfers Paradise apartment accepting Bitcoin payment

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A land parcel at Helidon, near Toowoomba, has been listed for sale with the option to purchase in Bitcoin.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-qld-helidon-201976810" target="_blank">600 sqm parce</a>l in the Bella Vista Heights Estate master planned community is the first land parcel to be listed for sale using the cryptocurrency.
Coronis - LUTWYCHE agent Craig Gillies is marketing the block (below)
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/6/Bitcoinland.jpg" alt="">
“We want to make buying, renting and selling as simple as possible for our clients and that includes adopting new innovations in technology and currencies,” Gillies said.
“The idea of using bitcoins in real estate transactions has been discussed in recent years, but at Coronis we’re excited to be one of the first major Australian agencies to make it a reality.
“We’ve received a lot of enquiries and messages recently about the use of bitcoins in real estate transactions, particularly from our landlords and tenants, so it will be interesting to see the how this marketing campaign will go.
“Logistically, it will speed the settlement process up as the buyer can transfer the agreed amount directly to the seller eliminating the wait time involved with banks, so we could see properties in the near future legally transfer hands within 14 days allowing time for conveyancing and building and pest inspections etc.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rSMXSQ6PJKs" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe>
Some estate agents aren't listing their properties for Bitcoin transactions, however are suggesting in the marketing that their property is 'a better investment than Bitcoin.'
Bitcoin has risen over 1000 percent in the last 12 months. To my mind, no property has done so.
A number of houses this week have been listed for sale with Bitcoin.
At Melbourne's The Basin, a home is willing to accept a part Bitcoin payment, while a home in the Gold Coast, one in Mount Macedon and a vast estate in Far North Queensland are both happy to accept a full Bitcoin payment.
 
  
 
 
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Block of land near Toowoomba for sale with Bitcoin purchasing option

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Despite the ups and downs in the value of bitcoin, Australia’s top experts and economists don’t think the cryptocurrency is a “foolish” investment, according to finder.com.au.
Results from the December <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/bank-interest-rates" target="_blank">finder.com.au</a> <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/rba-cash-rate" target="_blank">RBA Survey</a>, the largest of its kind in Australia, show all 33 respondents are forecasting a cash rate hold this Christmas.
There is widespread agreement among the panel (87%) that when the cash rate next moves, it will be in a positive direction.
However, opinions are divided about when the next move will happen, with a significant number of respondents predicting a long wait until the rate is adjusted.
Graham Cooke, insights manager at <a href="https://www.finder.com.au" target="_blank">finder.com.au</a>, says it’s probable there won’t be movement until the latter half of 2018.
“Even if it does nudge next year, it’s likely to be in the third or fourth quarter,” he says.
One third of the panellists aren’t expecting any cash rate movement until 2019.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Royal Commission into the banking industry may shake things up in Australia. Nerida Conisbee from REA group believes consumer confidence is the cornerstone of a well-run economy.
“It’s too early to tell what the impact of the Royal Commission will be. For Australians who feel the banks have at times been operating illegally or unethically, the Royal Commission will hopefully provide better ways for them to resolve their grievances,” she says.
Mr Cooke warns Australians not to get caught up in the Royal Commission.
"Nobody knows what the next year will have in store, and what skeletons the banks may have in their closets. However, the fact that the banks have asked for this inquiry may indicate a belief that their closets are fairly empty. Only time will tell," he says.
Meanwhile, with the value of bitcoin soaring to over US$10,000 this year and then falling sharply last week, experts weighed in on cryptocurrency as an investment.
 Most respondents (11, 79%) don’t consider bitcoin a “foolish” investment.  <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/press-release-nov-2017-blockchain-is-the-real-power-behind-bitcoin-say-experts" target="_blank">L</a><a href="https://www.finder.com.au/press-release-nov-2017-blockchain-is-the-real-power-behind-bitcoin-say-experts" target="_blank">ast month’s finder.com.au </a><a href="https://www.finder.com.au/press-release-nov-2017-blockchain-is-the-real-power-behind-bitcoin-say-experts">RBA</a><a href="https://www.finder.com.au/press-release-nov-2017-blockchain-is-the-real-power-behind-bitcoin-say-experts" target="_blank"> survey</a> showed the real impact from the bitcoin revolution could be the blockchain system behind it. "The blockchain essentially works as an unhackable record of transactions and interactions. It therefore has a wide range of applications outside of bitcoin. "Blockchains are being developed today to keep track of property ownership records and to allow expatriates and immigrants to send funds home to their families faster and cheaper than ever before – this could have far wider implications than the cryptocurrency itself," Mr Cooke says. Here’s what our experts had to say: Jordan Eliseo, ABC Bullion (Hold): "The RBA will be happy to sit tight as we approach Christmas, and monitor incoming data. With housing starting to roll over, retailers facing a tough holiday period,  and a stubbornly high Australian dollar, we remain confident that the next move will be a cut, but this will take time to play out. " Shane Oliver, AMP (Hold): "Strong business conditions, strong employment and the RBA's own expectations for stronger growth point to an eventual rate hike but low inflation, record low wages growth, the slowing housing cycle, uncertainty around consumer spending and the still too high $A argue for flat or even lower rates. So the outcome is likely to be on hold for the 16th month in a row." Alison Booth, ANU (Hold): "The fundamentals don't justify any change for the moment." John Hewson, ANU (Hold): "Insufficient data." Darryl Gobbett, Baillieu Holst Ltd (Hold): "RBA comments suggest even more uncertainty about the inflation forecasts, when falling wages growth will stabilise and the very high and rising levels of household debt, which might justify ending the very low  cash rate, but this being offset by the concerns at what a rise may do to the $A and household consumption. So hold off." Paul Dales, Capital Economics (Hold): "The RBA doesn't want to cut interest rates for fear of inducing households to take on more debt, but equally economic growth and inflation aren't strong enough to prompt it to raise interest rates." Saul Eslake, Corinna Economic Advisors (Hold): "RBA has again made it clear it has no appetite for cutting rates further, but nor will it start raising them until there is a more solid basis than presently exists for confidence that inflation will return to within the target band, that economic growth will return to trend, and that spare capacity in the labour market is being steadily absorbed." Scott Morgan, Greater Bank (Hold): "Data does not support a move at this stage." Mark Brimble, Griffith University (Hold): "While the economy could do with support and the lead into the holiday season could be a great time to generate consumer confidence, the RBA is likely to not move due to ongoing concerns in housing and credit markets." Shane Garrett, Housing Industry Association (Hold): "Australia needs interest rates to stay low at the moment. General inflationary pressures are well under control - but several components of demand are below par and need a supportive interest rate backdrop." Paul Bloxham, HSBC (Hold): "Inflation remains below target, but growth is lifting." Alex Joiner, IFM Investors (Hold): "No economic justification for a rate rise. As house price growth decelerates pressure on the RBA to raise rates dissipates. Its outlook for inflation does not warrant any move or indeed even any more of a hawkish stance." Robert Montgomery, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (Hold): "There has been little change in economic indicators, so the cash rate will continue to remain on hold." Michael Witts, ING (Hold): "The economy continues to perform in line with the RBA's expectations, so there is no need for RBA action at this time." Leanne Pilkington, Laing+Simmons (Hold): “The OECD has recently signalled that the winds of change in the Australian economy may be preparing to blow, and that a rate rise may come sooner than previously thought. Even so, this would be 12 months away. In our view, with the heat gone from the housing market, and with wages, unemployment and inflation steady, there’s no impetus for the RBA to tinker with interest rates in the near term." Nicholas Gruen, Lateral Economics (Hold): "They've signalled they will." Mathew Tiller, LJ Hooker (Hold): "The soft outlook for GDP, inflation, and wages growth, combined with the moderation in property price growth, should keep the cash rate on hold over the short term." Stephen Koukoulas, Market Economics (Hold): "The RBA continues to ignore the signals that point to the need for an interest rate cut - low wages growth and inflation, weak consumer spending and moderate growth." Michael Yardney, Metropole (Hold): "The official RBA interest rate is likely to remain at 1.5% throughout 2018.  Australia's economy is still operating below its potential with economic growth not strong enough to justify an interest rate increase.   The positive signs of jobs creation, falling unemployment and rises in full-time employment are being offset by slow wages growth, sluggish retail sales and a benign inflationary environment.  Fortunately, the RBA will be pleased our property markets are cooling and will not feel the need to use rising rates to slow the market." Mark Crosby, Monash University (Hold): "The RBA has signalled no increases in rates for the foreseeable future. Whether or not this is wise doesn't matter, the RBA will sit on their hands for the next 6 months at least." Jessica Darnbrough, Mortgage Choice (Hold): "Anaemic inflation, combined with a drop in consumer sentiment, and non-existent property price growth over the last month, will encourage the Reserve Bank to leave the cash rate on hold once again." Alan Oster, Nab (Hold): "Still watching wages and house prices." Jonathan Chancellor, Property Observer (Hold): "The bank doesn't move unless it has to, and there's no reason now to." Matthew Peter, QIC (Hold): "The economy still contains sufficient slack to keep underlying inflation at low levels. The RBA will need to keep rates on hold well into 2018 to support our export and import competing sectors, which are currently the drivers of growth." Noel Whittaker, QUT (Hold): "House prices flattening - wages growth slow - why raise?" Nerida Conisbee, REA Group (Hold): "Economy is still too weak to increase and I would say the RBA is waiting to see what the data says early next year. " Christine Williams, Smarter Property Investing (Hold): "Overall the economy has not changed in the last month  Retail is still quite slow leading up to the festive seasons spending." Janu Chan, St. George Bank (Hold): "Low inflation and ongoing spare capacity will keep the rba from raising rates despite a more upbeat outlook for business investment and the labour market." Brian Parker, Sunsuper (Hold): "The data flow over the last month won't have significantly changed their view on the outlook for inflation or growth." Clement Tisdell, UQ-School of Economics (Hold): "No reasons to expect a change." Nicki Hutley, Urbis (Hold): "Modest demand and inflation outcomes present no risk or need to raise rates." Tim Nelson (Hold): "Inflation and wage growth remain low. Both are expected to increase only gradually over time. Further progress is expected on reducing spare capacity in the economy and current rate settings appear consistent with sustainable growth and achieving the medium-term inflation target." Other participants: Bill Evans, Westpac (Hold).
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Bitcoin is no foolish investment, say 80% of Australian experts

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A Gold Coast home has become the fourth home in as many days to be listed with a Bitcoin payment.
The Sovereign Islands mansion has been listed by financial planner David Jenkins and wife Sandra for 500 Bitcoins, or offers over $5.15 million in layman's terms. 
David Jenkins told realestate.com.au he noticed other users of the currency were swapping major assets for the digital money.
“People had mentioned Bitcoin over the years and I didn’t know anything about it,” Jenkins said.
“When I ended up looking into it I realised it was a pretty good opportunity so I become involved. 
“It needs to be clear though that this is a personal investment only – I can’t advise my clients on it.”
It is unlikely a whole transaction can be made using Bitcoin, with the state laws needing to be worked around given legal sanctity of the trust fund accounts.
The home (below), that cost David and Sandra $3.4 million in 2015, is set in the pricey Knightsbridge precinct of Sovereign Islands.
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All four levels are serviced by a commercial lift, including the top level penthouse with ensuite, walk-in wardrobe and a balcony with panoramic views of the Broadwater and the hinterland.
It has four bedrooms, a 10 seat gold class style home cinema, wine cellar, home office and garaging for 10 cars.
The full concrete home was built by a former prominent politician.
The first home to hit the headlines offering Bitcoin was a home in Melbourne's The Basin. The vendor was only interested in a part Bitcoin payment for the home.
A home in Far North Queensland followed, willing to accept a 100% payment in Bitcoin for the $1.2 million home. That would equate to 100 Bitcoin at its current average price of around $12,000.
The 32 hectare rural estate known as Wooroonooran Falls at the foot of Mt Bellenden Ker, is happy to take the full transaction in Bitcoin.
The home is steeped in history. It was owned by one of the first settlers in the area, the Hon. Victor Nelson Hood, the nephew of Lord Nelson and the Godson of Queen Victoria.
The four bedroom, one bathroom Queenslander was built in 1948. Views from the front verandah look over the sugar cane fields.
Grandview, another Victoria home, this one north of Melbourne at Mount Macedon, was advertised as happy to also take full Bitcoin payment for the home, priced at $2.5 million.
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
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No slowing down in property listings willing to accept Bitcoin payment

Grand View in Mount Macedon is being marketed as the first property in Victoria ready to accept 100 percent Bitcoin as payment by Unique Estates agent Dominic Romeo.

Unique Estates have yet to respond as to whether Bitcoin can be used for a deposit. Grandview is up for $2.5 million, which is around 208 Bitcoin.

Their current valuation is around $12,000 per Bitcoin.

The six bedroom home spanning 480 sqm sits high on Mount Macedon in nearly four acres of historic gardens.

<img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/29/Grandview2.jpg" />

The seller of the home approached Unique Estates with the idea. &ldquo;The kids are getting bigger and we won&#39;t be needing all this room let&#39;s sell Grand View for Bitcoin.&rdquo;

Unique Estate&#39;s Dominic Romeo said that when he first heard the proposal to sell for Bitcoin I saw it as a great opportunity to try something new.

&quot;A good agent is always ready to listen to a vendor and negotiate the right terms,&quot; said Romeo.

When being explained Bitcoin, Romeo said the owner put him through a crash course and &quot;he even sent me $10 in Bitcoin.&quot;

The property is of course also for sale with &#39;real money&#39;.

Property listings accepting the virtual currency have been popular in the last week.

At the start of the week the vendor for a home in The Basin in Victoria was accepting a part Bitcoin payment.

The vendor of Wooroonooran Falls, a Far North Queensland home, is prepared to accept a full Bitcoin payment for the $1.2 million property.&nbsp;

Bitcoin was invented in 2009 and has risen over 1000 percent in the last 12 months.

Grand View in Mount Macedon another property offering to accept Bitcoin payment

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Wooroonooran Falls, a rural estate in Far North Queensland, is the latest to be swept up in the Bitcoin sales process.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-babinda-125115502" target="_blank">innovative listing</a> follows one in Melbourne earlier in the week where the vendor of a home in The Basin was willing to accept a part Bitcoin payment.
The vendor of Wooroonooran Falls however, at the foot of Mt Bellenden Ker, is happy to take the full transaction in Bitcoin.
The 32 hectare Babinda estate with Queenslander homestead and its own waterfall has been listed for $1.2 million, or 100 Bitcoin, with their recent valuation climbing to around $12,000 per Bitcoin.
The home is steeped in history. It was owned by one of the first settlers in the area, the Hon. Victor Nelson Hood, the nephew of Lord Nelson and the Godson of Queen Victoria.
The four bedroom, one bathroom Queenslander was built in 1948. Views from the front verandah look over the sugar cane fields.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/29/Bitcoin3.jpg" alt="">
LJ Hooker Cairns South agent Cheyenne Morrison told The Cairns Post the vendor heavily researched Bitcoin before making the decision.
“After extensive research the seller has decided that the digital currency offers significant chance of appreciation over the coming weeks, and buyers at the current price would get a discount on the asking price by paying in Bitcoin,” Morrison said.
Morrison told the Cairns Post that listing the property through Bitcoin opened up a whole new market of potential buyers.
“I believe this will be the first property advertised for sale via Bitcoin in Cairns,” the agent said.
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“The seller and I are both big advocates of Bitcoin, and have personally invested in the crypto currency.
“It was my idea to offer the property for 100BTC because of the recent swath of publicity about Bitcoin, and the seller was enthusiastic about the idea.
“Up until six months ago the value of Bitcoin was just bouncing along, and now it has gone through the roof.
“There’s a lot of people in Australia who have Bitcoin, so you just never know who might come along.”
 
 
 
 
 
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Historic Far North Queensland home up for sale with Bitcoin accepted as currency

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<div>Well, it's certainly been a thrilling 12 months for Bitcoin price speculation, with the US dollar price surging an interstellar +1,065 per cent higher, although by the time I've finished writing this post the gains will probably be even greater (click to enlarge the chart)! </div>
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<div>There were record highs today in other cryptocurrency markets, including Ethereum, and, for all I know, probably a raft of others.</div>
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<div>Will the penny drop?</div>
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<div>It's not worth me wasting time even pretending to have any meaningful or unique insights into cryptocurrencies as an asset class.</div>
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<div>From a market psychology perspective, however, one assumes that many - if not most - of today's buyers haven't been around long enough to remember the dotcom bubble of 17 years ago. </div>
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<div>The worry with charts like the one above is that although new and existing participants become excited by the prospect of immediate gains, loss aversion - the tendency for people to be far more sensitive to losses than gains - can make the trip down very hairy, and sometimes catastrophic.</div>
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<div>Of course, it's perfectly possible that Bitcoin is here to stay. However, it pays to exercise caution when new and growing industries can have a nasty habit of chewing up and spitting out the brand names and entities that were once market leaders. </div>
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<div>In the shorthand parlance of internet chat forums: GLTAH!</div>
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Bitcoin up over 1,000 percent in the last 12 months

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A house in Melbourne’s outer east is on the market, and the seller is willing to accept part payment through Bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency.
The transaction for <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/1411-mountain-highway-the-basin-vic-3154-2014026324" target="_blank">1411 Mountain Highway</a> in The Basin, if settled through Bitcoin, could be the first cryptocurrency property transaction in Australia.
It comes as Bitcoin has surged past $US9,000 for the first time, less than a week after passing the $US8,000 mark, and taking its year-to-date rise to more than 850 per cent.
"The owner already has a bitcoin wallet and is fairly experienced in using the currency," said listing agent John Garnett.
The offer is part of a worldwide trend of the rise of digital currencies, and government regulators across the world are scrambling to set out clear guidelines for blockchain transactions.
Blockchain, the technology behind cryptocurrency, is an anonymous, secure database that records digital transactions. According to experts, it could change the property industry.
The house has been built by Rob, who did not want his surname printed, Fairfax Media said. He is an experienced builder who buys, renovates and flips houses.
The listing says the “owner is agreeable to accept part payment in Bitcoin”.  
“I see cryptocurrency at the moment as like the early days of the internet dot com era,” Rob told Domain. 
He said declaring the property Bitcoin-friendly could be the deciding factor in someone’s ability to purchase the house. 
“If it came down to two or three people, and both had their maximum borrowing capacity at a certain amount, and one has bitcoin — because the banks don’t look at Bitcoin as an asset — that could be something that could get them across the line.”
The listing agent, John Garnett of Harcourts, said it was the first time he was about to handle a sale through cryptocurrency.
“We’ve got to be careful because the state revenue office will want the stamp duty to be paid on market revenue,” he said. 
Because of the dramatic fluctuations in Bitcoin’s value, the day of the transaction could be tricky.
“The way it would be is if someone was going to offer $10,000 in Bitcoin, then that would be $10,000 in Bitcoin whenever they pay that,” Rob said. “So if the market goes up or down or drops, that’s it.”
Consumer Affairs Victoria said it was legal for the settlement amount to be paid in any asset or security agreed between the buyer and seller, including Bitcoin. 
But the deposit part of the transaction cannot be paid in the form of Bitcoin due to the regulations around trust deposits.
The Australian Taxation Office treats Bitcoin as an asset, and requires a full record of Bitcoin transactions to be kept. 
The state government recommends buyers, sellers and agents seek legal advice to ensure they meet the regulatory requirements for the holding of deposits in the form of Bitcoin. 
While the property will not be the first to be offered in Bitcoin (that was a $1.4 million home in Perth in 2013) it is attracting huge attention.
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