Fifty-nine residences across 37 levels. No more than two per floor. With 80 per cent now sold, what remains at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/madeline-by-mosaic-broadbeach-22-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Madeline by Mosaic</a> is a short list.

Madeline was always conceived at a scale that sits outside the normal register of Gold Coast apartment living. The residences are half- and full-floor configurations, with the largest spanning more than 400 sqm, dimensions that place them closer to the penthouse end of the market regardless of where they sit in the building.

That scale is the organising principle of everything else: how the floorplans are laid out, how the materials read, how the connection between inside and outside works.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355941]

The interiors were developed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser &amp; Partners</a>, the architecture practice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic</a> brought in as design partner for the first time on this project. The palette runs to natural stone, textured timbers, and soft metallics, materials chosen as much for their tactile quality as their appearance.

Light cleverly shifts across surfaces through the day, and the design is explicit about wanting that to be noticed. Full-height glazing runs across the primary living areas, and where the building faces east toward the ocean, those walls of glass are doing real work: framing a view corridor that the site's position directly opposite Broadbeach State School's playing fields keeps permanently open.

That outlook is the site's most consequential asset. In a suburb where new towers continue to rise, a protected view line is genuinely rare, and the Mary Avenue address secures it. Residents at Madeline will look out over open parkland rather than the rear of another building, a distinction that becomes more meaningful with each new development approved nearby.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355939]

The private outdoor spaces are sized to match the residences themselves. Terraces on the upper levels frame uninterrupted ocean panoramas, and the planning ensures that living areas extend into those outdoor zones rather than treating them as separate attachments. The flow between the two is part of the design intent, not an afterthought.

Inside, the finish specification reflects the same approach. Rich stone benchtops, warm timber joinery, bespoke hardware, each element specified to hold up over time rather than read as a moment in a particular trend cycle.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=3409]

Beyond the residences, the amenity offering extends that register. A lap pool and sun deck anchor the outdoor space, alongside a magnesium pool, cold plunge, steam room, and sauna.

A commercial-grade gymnasium, residents' lounge, library, and boardroom round out a programme that functions more like a private members club than a standard building amenity floor.

Construction has commenced under Mosaic's in-house building arm, with completion scheduled for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150135]

Joel Robinson

Madeline by Mosaic delivers penthouse-level living across every apartment

Developer Fortezza Group is the latest to take its new apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-belvedere-5-7-church-street-nelson-bay-nsw-2315">The Belvedere in Nelson Bay</a>, to the NSW Government.

Fortezza, predominantly a South East Queensland developer, is the latest to apply for State Significant Development&nbsp; status through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority, a pathway becoming favoured by developers to speed up the approval process.

They are planning 57 two- and three-bedroom apartments across 5-7 Church Street and 42 Donald Street, near d'Albora Nelson Bay Marina. The diverse apartment mix has sizes from just over 80 sqm to the largest three-bedroom penthouses that reach nearly 200 sqm.

<img alt="Fortezza" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="090360e1-66d7-43ad-b686-aba81f173bf2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-29%20at%2010.22.40%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=DMqF96eBZolqSAAAcugX0l66ueWng66m" />

Fortezza calls the project a "piece of Istria in Nelson Bay,"&nbsp;referring to the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea, shared by Croatia (90%), Slovenia, and Italy, which is known for its Roman history, Venetian-style coastal towns and inland hilltop villages.

They say the The Belvedere is strategically positioned at the apex of Nelson Bay, offering unrivalled views of the ocean, the bay and captivating topography of the area.

"Our commitment to maintaining the integrity of every view and sight line has been relentless," Fortezza Group says.

"Through extensive modelling and analysis, we ensure that each apartment enjoys the natural beauty of Nelson Bay, regardless of future developments. Each design element is carefully curated to harmonise with our European heritage, drawing profound inspiration from the Roman architectural marvels in Istria. The arches, the cascades of greenery and the stonework that define our project pay homage to the structures that once exemplified Roman grandeur."

Residents will have access to a pool, communal green spaces, an office and a coffee shop.

First look: Fortezza Group takes The Belvedere, Nelson Bay apartment development, to NSW Government

SEQ developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/keylin-group">Keylin</a>&nbsp;is the latest to jump into the hot Kangaroo Point market, filing plans for a prime site on Lambert Street.

The 52-unit development, predominantly made up of two-bed apartments, will sit on a 1,012 sqm site at 39 Lambert Street, within the&nbsp;Kangaroo Point Peninsula’s Shafston Precinct.

The 15-storey scheme by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/jackson-teece">Jackson Teece</a>&nbsp;is anchored by a strong focus on mid-sized apartments, with 48 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom dwellings forming the mix. The project includes three basement levels, as well as ground and mezzanine parking, delivering a total of 66 car spaces.

<img alt="First Look: Keylin targets Brisbane’s mid-market with 15-storey Kangaroo Point proposal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0df78d49-0723-442f-917e-fe29f4eb02c6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/2_1.png?VersionId=Ud0OP4FZCGFHLvwFWbaeTcYq8Fc2mtdh" />

Planning documents describe the proposal as “a high-density residential outcome that integrates with its context and encourages urban consolidation and the efficient use of land in a well-serviced, inner-city location.”

The building adopts a slender tower form across 15 levels, including a rooftop communal terrace. Its design is shaped by setbacks and orientation that respond directly to neighbouring buildings, achieving up to 20 metres of separation to the adjacent Point Hotel and between 9 and 17 metres to nearby residential developments.

A key design driver is the integration of subtropical and biophilic elements. The architectural concept, described as an “elevated garden sanctuary,” draws from the natural character of the Kangaroo Point cliffs, incorporating landscaped ledges, deep planting zones, and extensive greenery throughout the façade. Curved balconies and layered planting soften the tower’s vertical form, while the lower levels feature heavier landscaping and screening to create a more human-scaled street interface.

<img alt="First Look: Keylin targets Brisbane’s mid-market with 15-storey Kangaroo Point proposal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="95bc4974-fcbd-4a9a-9dfb-95b8e1977187" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/4.png?VersionId=o8hwItpcfKBglOaTH8Hv7MmVOphZF_Fg" />

Residents will have access to a rooftop amenity offering spanning approximately 262 sqm, including a pool and spa, gym, lounge areas, and flexible wellness spaces. Landscaping is embedded throughout the building, with over 280 sqm of planted areas integrated across the façade and rooftop.

Kangaroo Point has been popular for developers in recent years. Mosaic Property Group has almost sold out its two Kangaroo Point buildings,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-bedford-by-mosaic-16-30-prospect-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Bedford by Mosaic</a> on Prospect Street, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carter-by-mosaic-77-linton-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Carter Building on Linton Street</a>.

Kenlynn has <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/130lambert-112-130-lambert-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">130Lambert</a>, just up the road from Keylin's proposal, while Pikos has two projects in the area.

Keylin targets Brisbane’s mid-market with 15-storey Kangaroo Point apartment development

"A legacy to last 100 years."

That's the view of Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG), which has just been given the green light to develop its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Skyring Terrace, Newstead tower</a> on what is being pitched as "the last true riverfront address at Newstead."

CPG will now begin a VIP release, with buyer enquiries open ahead of priority outreach to registered clients in May.&nbsp;

Access to the as yet unnamed project will be limited, with CPG confirming a staged release strategy targeting a select group of buyers before any broader market launch.&nbsp;

<img alt="DA approved for last true riverfront address in Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f4ab3090-a2b8-46a8-a4f3-4ec16b5b25b9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Enscape_2025-09-18-13-10-37.jpg?VersionId=_9OV7Adc_zdCldf58WkP0iiagz3Ed3yd" />

Construction is scheduled to commence in August 2026, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hutchinson-builders">Hutchinson Builders</a> expected to be on site in the coming weeks preparing the sales office.&nbsp;

The approved development comprises 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower with more than 75% having northeast river views. There is also an absolute riverfront six-storey boutique building of only 12 residences which will each enjoy more than 21 metres of river frontage.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the project adopts a contemporary interpretation of Brisbane’s classical architecture, with a focus on enduring materials including brick and stone.&nbsp;

<img alt="DA approved for last true riverfront address in Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bfe7254d-25c3-44bb-9a46-ed658d0aab8a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Enscape_2025-11-05-00-57-36.jpg?VersionId=O29la.BVNnSLxL0JVzvEETE8NaYIn3XG" />

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke says the approval marks a significant milestone for the group’s $1.5 billion plus riverfront development pipeline including Gloriette at Yeerongpilly.&nbsp;

“This will be a new signature building for the Brisbane skyline and riverfront,” O’Rorke said. “We want this building to be considered one of Brisbane’s best in 100 years.”&nbsp;

CPG Head of Residential James MacGinley says the design prioritises longevity and permanence over short-term trends.&nbsp;

“Woods Bagot’s design will stand the test of time,” MacGinley said.&nbsp;

“First and foremost, these are beautiful homes designed to enjoy river views that will never be built out. However, the heart of this design goes beyond the ‘now’ and draws from the past to create an enduring legacy for the future. We expect these homes to become very tightly held and passed from generation to generation.&nbsp;

The project will form part of CPG’s broader riverfront portfolio, with a fully fitted out sales office opening later this year.

&nbsp;

"A legacy to last 100 years" as Consolidated Properties approved for Newstead tower

Nearly a year after purchasing the former Leo's Fine Food &amp; Wine supermarket in Kew for a reported $52 million, Melbourne developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/orchard-piper">Orchard Piper</a>, in a consortium with billionaire James Packer, has filed development plans for the site.

The proposal includes just under 200 apartments on the 6,835 sqm block, which spans <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/26-36-princess-street-kew-vic-3101">26-36 Princess Street and 11-15 Brougham Street</a>. Approval is being sought through the Department of Transport and Planning’s (DTP) Development Facilitation Program (DFP).

The buildings, designed by Wardle, will vary in scale and rise up to 18 storeys. One-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments will be offered, along with townhouses. Ten per cent of the total dwellings will be allocated to key worker housing.

The development will also include 19 new retail premises, comprising a mix of shops, restaurants and cafés, including a dedicated space for a high-quality produce offering similar to Leo’s.

<img alt="Kew" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="67cc85a5-a9d8-4eaa-95ae-fd93762d3297" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-29%20at%208.15.07%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=_p57VJNE2w16xNXB4ISvu3mnVHDDk86R" />

Orchard Piper noted the development is "designed to revitalise the Junction with high-quality housing and retail, while also improving the public realm."

"Assembling an expert team, we've been working with leading architects Wardle and landscape architects Oculus on a site-sensitive design. Wardle is one of Australia's pre-eminent architectural practices, and its founder, John Wardle, is a former long-term Kew resident with an intimate knowledge of the area.

"After close to a year refining the plans, our current opposition embodies Kew's unique character and meets the community's needs, including detailed consideration of the surrounding building design, streetscape conditions and broader planning context."

On top of the extensive retail component, the opportunity to deliver offsite public realm works, involving the council owned land to the south, would include a comprehensive new landscaped laneway strategy that connects Athenaeum Place into the site, a new public park, and the relocation of the public parking currently on the site to the adjoining council land.

<img alt="Kew" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="02da73ff-e9d9-4e6a-8b6c-75c6f4cb3b01" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-29%20at%208.15.12%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NXlzip8H0suSqc.X2H6nLKZr6LB1joJ." />

Orchard Piper, led by Luke Mckie and Rick Gronow, is currently delivering The Carter building on St Kilda Road and One Toorak Place in Toorak village.

Kew has been a popular suburb for new development in recent years. The likes of Piccolo, ANGLE, and Carpe are delivering projects in the area.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

First look: Orchard Piper, James Packer's Kew development revealed

Dwelling Sales

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GUEST OBSERVER
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At a national level, the six month average trend shows that the number of dwelling sales is starting to trend slightly higher. 
Of note is that settled sales peaked all the way back in July 2003, a time at which the population was around 4.7 million lower than it is currently. 
While the national population increased by almost 4.7 million persons between June 2003 and December 2016, a commensurate lift in transactions has not occurred. 
This is likely due to a number of reasons including the impost of stamp duty which discourages transactions, higher prices which lead to greater commission on sales and no real incentives for people to downsize homes when their children leave or they reach retirement. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-03%20at%209.49.56%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-03%20at%209.49.56%20AM.png" alt="">
Across the individual capital cities the number of sales and the transaction trends are somewhat mixed. 
Sydney – annual sales volumes are -0.9% lower year on year however, they have been trending higher from a recent low in April 2017.
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Melbourne – transaction volumes are slightly higher than their recent low however, annual settled sales are -7.6% lower than they were over the 12 months to July 2016. 
Brisbane – annual sales volumes are -9.7% lower over the past year and the number of transactions is clearly continuing to trend lower across the city. 
Adelaide – over the past year, the number of sales throughout the city was only -0.9% lower than over the previous year and the trend data indicates fairly stable transaction volumes. 
Perth – settled sales are substantially lower than their peak and annual sales have fallen by a further -1.1% over the past year however, monthly data points to a recent stabilisation in transaction activity. 
Hobart - the city has seen a substantial lift in transactions over the past 12 months with annual sales 10.9% higher over the past year. 
Darwin – on an annual basis, sales volumes have increased by 10.7% and they have shifted higher off an historic low base. 
Canberra – settled sales are slightly lower over the year, down -1.4% however, there has been a moderate lift in transactions recently.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-03%20at%209.50.53%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-03%20at%209.50.53%20AM.png" alt="">
 
The settled sales insights highlights that although some regions are seeing transactions rise they remain well down on historic high levels. 
The relatively lower volume of transactions across markets experiencing positive population growth highlights the ongoing inefficiencies in the housing market which discourage transactions. 
These inefficiencies (detailed earlier) also have an economic impact as the high cost of exiting and entering the housing market is likely to impact on labour mobility as home owners may choose not to move for employment because of these high costs. 
Note: Property transaction are an important component of the housing market, particularly for participants such as real estate agents and mortgage brokers that rely on turnover for their commission. Furthermore, transactions are an important source of stamp duty revenue for state governments. 
It is important to note the way in which property transactions are recorded. All data is based on settled sales which means off-the- plan sales are counted once the property settles. Upon settlement, which can be several years after the contract date, off-the-plan sales are recorded at their contract date which means recent years of sales will be subject to revision. 
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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ckusher-ujnxiKuFQs

Number of dwelling sales starting to trend higher

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Throughout the 2018-19 financial year, 26.0% of all houses sold nationally were under $400,000 and 32.5% of all unit sales were under $400,000.
Despite the weakening housing market the share of house sales under $400,000 was virtually unchanged from a year ago, down from 26.3% the previous year while the share of unit sales under $400,000 increased from 31.0% over the 2017-18 financial year.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20national%201.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20national%201.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
Across the combined capital cities, 13.9% of house sales over the 2018-19 financial year were under $400,000 and 24.6% of unit sales were under this price point.
The share of house sales under $400,000 was virtually unchanged from the previous year, recorded at 13.8% while the share of unit sales was noticeably lower at 22.3%.
Despite house and unit values falling -8.7% and -5.9% respectively over the year, it is interesting to note that the share of unit sales under $400,000 has increased much more for units than houses.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20combined%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20combined%20.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
Across the combined regional markets, 42.8% of all house sales over the past financial year and 54.3% of all unit sales were under $400,000.
Unlike the combined capital cities, the combined regional markets have seen the share of sales under $400,000 record a sizeable decline compared to the previous financial year when 44.1% of house sales and 55.6% of unit sales were below $400,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20sydney.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20sydney.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
Over the 2018-19 financial year, 2.3% of all house sales in Sydney were below $400,000 compared to 2.0% over the previous financial year indicating a slight increase.
It was a similar story for units with 5.7% of all sales below $400,000 over the past year compared to 4.4% a year earlier.
Despite the recent declines in dwelling values in Sydney, there has not been any substantial increase in the share of sales below $400,000.
In regional NSW, the decline in dwelling values over the past year has been significant but not as large as that in Sydney.
At the end of the 2017-18 financial year, 29.3% of all house sales and 42.1% of all unit sales were under $400,000.
By the end or 2018-19, the share of sales under $400,000 had reduced to 28.5% for houses and 39.5% for units, indicating that falling dwelling values had led to no increase in the share of sales under $400,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20mel.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20mel.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
Although Melbourne dwelling value shave fallen throughout the 20181-9 financial year there has been a further decline in the share of houses and units selling below $400,000.
The share of houses selling for less than $400,000 fell from 3.6% over the 2017-18 financial year to 2.9% over the 2018-19 financial year.
It’s a similar story for units that recorded a fall in the share of sales under $400,000 from 21.9% to 21.2% over the past two financial years.
The ongoing increases in values across regional Vic has resulted in a further decline in the share of sales under $400,000.
Over the 2017-18 financial year, 61.9% of houses and 81.2% of units sold for less than $400,000.
A year later, 56.1% of house sales and 78.5% of unit sales were less than $400,000.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20brisbane%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20brisbane%20.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
Although Brisbane dwelling values have recorded a moderate fall over the past year, the share of house sales under $400,000 has reduced while the share of units selling under that price point has increased. Over the most recent financial year, 23.2% of houses and 53.5% of units sold for less than $400,000.
By comparison, over the 2017-18 financial year 25.0% of houses and 51.5% of units sold for less than $400,000.
The share of units selling under $400,000 was last as high as it is currently in 2012-13 financial year.
Despite ongoing falls in dwelling values across regional Qld, there has been virtually no change in the share of sales below $400,000 over the past two financial years.
The share of house sales under $400,000 has held firm, tracking from 41.6% of all sales to 41.7% between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 financial years.
The share of unit sales under $400,000 has increased marginally, from 55.8% to 56.0% over the past two financial years.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20adelaide.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20adelaide.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
Over the 2018-19, financial year houses and units in Adelaide have recorded a reduced share of sales occurring under $400,000.
For houses, the share of sales under $400,000 fell to 35.8% from 39.6% the previous financial year while for units the share fell from 67.9% to 66.1%.
Although overall values have drifted slightly lower over the year, it hasn’t led to an increased share in sales under $400,000.
Although the majority of house and unit sales in regional SA are under $400,000, both have seen a reduced share of sales over the past year.
In June 2018, 80.8% of all house sales and 91.6% of all unit sales were under $400,000 compared to 76.1% and 88.8% respectively in June 2019.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20perth%20.jpghttps://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20perth%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20perth%20.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
With ongoing value declines over recent years across Perth, the share of sales under $400,000 for houses and units has increased over the most recent financial year, rising to 31.2% of houses sold from 28.7% the previous year while for units the  share has risen to 55.0% from 50.2%.
The share of house sales under $400,000 in regional WA is relatively unchanged over the past two years falling from 64.7% to 64.5%.
For units, the share of sales under $400,000 has fallen from 83.4% to 78.8%.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20hobart%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20hobart%20.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
The ongoing rises in housing values in Hobart has led to a significant decline in sales under $400,000 in recent years.
The share of houses sold under $400,000 is at a record low having fallen from 43.0% over the 2017-18 financial year to 31.8% over the most recent year.
For units the share of sales under $400,000 has fallen from 65.9% to 57.8%.
Regional Tas has also seen a decline in sales under $400,000 as values have increased.
Over the 2017-18 financial year, 77.1% of house sales and 91.0% of unit sales were under $400,000.
By the end of the following financial year, these shares had fallen to 70.3% and 85.8% respectively.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20darwin%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20darwin%20.jpg" alt=""> 
Source: CoreLogic 
As dwelling values have continued to fall in Darwin there has been a significant increase in unit sales under $400,000 while any increase in the share for houses has been much more muted.
Over the 2017-18 financial year, 26.8% of house sales and 61.2% of unit sales were under $400,000 compared to 26.0% and 67.4% over the most recent financial year.
In regional NT, the share of sales under $400,000 has increased over the past financial year.
Over the 2018-19 financial year, the share of houses sold under $400,000 was recorded at 39.0% and 77.1% for units.
For the 2017-18 financial year the share of sales under $400,000 were recorded at 36.4% for houses and 74.1% for units.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/15/sales%20canberra%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2019/8/15/sales%20canberra%20.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic 
In Canberra, the share of sales under $400,000 has continued to trend lower as values have continued to climb (albeit at a slower pace).
Over the 2017-18 financial year, 6.8% of all house sales were under $400,000 compared to 5.0% over the most recent financial year.
For units, the share of sales under $400,000 reduced from 39.6% over the 2017-18 financial year to 36.0% in 2018-19.
The next financial year could look very different to what we have seen over the 2018-19 financial year. 
We’re only in mid-August and we’ve already seen interest rates reduced twice, serviceability floors on mortgages reduced and some recent rises in dwelling values in the largest capital cities.
While a significant rise in dwelling values isn’t expected, there is an expectation of a moderate increase in dwelling values, as a result the 2019-20 financial year is expected to see fewer sales under $400,000 than those recorded in 2018-19.
CAMERON KUSHER is the head of research for the Australian branch of CoreLogic.
Kusher regularly posts on the <a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news" target="_blank">CoreLogic website</a>.
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Despite falling dwelling values, there’s no big rise in sales under $400,000: Cameron Kusher

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The HIA New Home Sales report has found sales volumes declined by 3.7 percent during July 2017 compared with June 2017 nationwide, with ales for the first seven months of this year 4.6 per cent lower than in the same period of 2016.
Tim Reardon, principal economist, HIA said a drop in new apartment sales have contributed to the continuing decline in new home sales nationally since they peaked in mid 2015.
“July’s result was driven by a 15.7 percent decline in multi-unit sales and a more measured reduction in detached house sales," he said.
"The large drop in multi-unit sales this month is in contrast to strong sales volumes late in 2016 and early 2017.
“This trend is consistent with HIA’s expectation that activity will decline modestly from these record high levels over a number of years.
“Victoria was the notable exception – as the only state to grow sales during July 2017. Sales were up by 9.8 per cent on what is already a very high level of activity.
“On the other hand, the Western Australian Government’s First Home Buyers grant ended on 30 June 2017 and as a consequence sales in July fell sharply from what was already a very low base.
"Sales of new detached houses during July 2017 fell by 0.4 per cent nationally to their lowest level since October 2014. Victoria was the only state to experience growth (+9.8 per cent). Detached house sales fell in South Australia (-16.2 per cent), Queensland (-16.1 per cent), Western Australia (-9.1 per cent) and New South Wales (-5.2 per cent) during the month. "
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/29/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-29%20at%2011.51.55%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

New home sales falling from record highs: HIA

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Houses in Newcastle, the NSW Central Coast and Coffs Harbour are still at market peak according to the August Property Clock from Herron Todd White.
The locations were at peak of market for houses in July as well, according to HTW.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/07/Screen%20Shot%202017-08-07%20at%209.38.46%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Herron Todd White said over 50 percent of residential sales in the Lower Hunter in the past financial year being to investors, this region is certainly a hot spot for property investment. 
"The number of investment home loans has dropped nationally over the past year and this trend is predicted to continue due to the regulatory clampdowns that have been imposed," HTW said.
"These regulations and the government’s efforts to cool the housing market especially in major cities would suggest that investment should slow down nationwide. 
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"This may not be the case in the Lower Hunter however; in fact it will probably buck the trend. 
"Newcastle is still an enticing prospect for investors due its close proximity to Sydney, its affordability compared to the capital cities and an excellent rental market with a current vacancy rate of just 2.3 percent. 
"With Newcastle being a university city there is a high investor involvement in good rental yield suburbs close to the university such as Jesmond and Wallsend. 
"However investors are also looking at inner city and coastal suburbs such as Cooks Hill, Wickham and Adamstown for higher capital gains. 
"Strong rental returns, larger blocks, competitive capital gains and the ability to find low maintenance 2- to 3-bedroom properties for under $500,000 means the region offers plenty of good investment opportunities for those who can’t afford the larger capital cities, especially Sydney."
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Houses in Newcastle, the NSW Central Coast and Coffs Harbour at market peak: HTW Property Clock

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GUEST OBSERVER
One of the most commonly asked questions when buying residential real estate is: what should I look for when purchasing a property to live in?
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is about a property that makes you feel at home, however there are some crucial elements you may want to consider when taking the plunge into property ownership.
Golden Age Development Group has noticed that when it comes to house hunting, everyone looks for something different. Affordability is often top criterion for most home buyers, however location, in a suburb with low crime rates and good proximity to schools, public transport and shops is perhaps the most important factor to consider. Location is vital both from a liveability point of view and also from a property appreciation point of view.  
Property located in suburbs with low crime rates, ample amenity, good infrastructure and public transport will appreciate much faster than those that are not. They are also likely to offer a much better quality of life. 
It’s also worth looking what plans are in place in terms of future development and infrastructure. If you purchase in a location with growth potential, this is likely to be reflected in the capital growth of your property.
A great example of a livable suburb with significant potential is Sydney’s Macquarie Park. Only 12km’s north-west of the CBD, Macquarie Park has benefitted greatly from recent infrastructure upgrades to its roads and public transport. It’s also home to a world-class university, hospital, several community parks and the largest suburban shopping centre in NSW. It is also home a thriving business centre, on track to becoming the nation’s fourth largest CBD, occupying over 200 hectares of previously industrial land.
Property in Macquarie Park is also likely to enjoy strong capital growth with significant infrastructure upgrades such as new roads and the expansion of the railway network servicing the area. 
Macquarie Park is a business precinct on the rise. Located just 12km north-west of the CBD, the area has quickly become Sydney's second largest business district, and is home to major global brands including Microsoft, Macquarie University, Foxtel, Oracle and Fujitsu. With well over 45,000 jobs (approx) located in Macquarie Park, this number is set to double in the next 20 years.
Macquarie Park is starved of residential accommodation – you have the university with 40,000 students and there’s been very little residential development in this area. As a result there’s a serious lack of rental accommodation.
This is why we have chosen Macquarie Park as the home of Golden Age’s premier Sydney project, Park One.  Located at 80 Waterloo Rd, Park One is just it is 100 metres to Macquarie Centre, 200 metres to Macquarie University, 300 metres to Macquarie Park CBD and 400 metres to Macquarie University station, meaning residents will have almost everything they need within a few minutes walk.
When it comes to deciding whether a location is right for you, it’s worth considering:
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Whether the property is in close proximity to your work and social network</li>
<li>Access to services you regularly use. This may include public transport, schools, day care, universities, medical centres, hospitals, community centres and shopping centres</li>
<li>Proximity to parks, beaches, town centres, cultural destinations, dining and bar precincts and nightlife, depending on your interests.</li>
</ul>
To get an idea on whether the suburb you’re looking to buy in is right for you, try spending time treading the footpath. If possible, visit the suburb at different hours for a snapshot of daily life. 
Remember, no location is perfect, and your home is very much what you make of it. But if you choose a property in a location with ample amenity, good growth potential and close proximity to transport there’s a good chance you could enjoy a great lifestyle and financial prosperity for years to come.
Dandan Zhao is marketing and sales director, <a href="https://www.goldenagegroup.com.au" target="_blank">Golden Age</a>.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

What to look for when buying a property to live in

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Selling your home? From property appraisals to price negotiations, DIY home-selling online platform buyMyplace.com.au promises to cover it all for a maximum of $4,595, saving you thousands in real estate agent fees. 
<a href="https://buymyplace.com.au/" target="_blank">BuyMyplace</a>, which will launch in Melbourne initially, follows a fixed fee Purplebricks-style operating model, according to an article in the Australian Financial Review.
With a Basic Package starting at $695, the online platform offers several options to sellers. Auctions will cost an additional $895 fee. 
For the full-service package, vendors can avail the services of a dedicated real estate agent.
Paul Heath, chief executive of the ASX-listed company, was cited by AFR as saying that vendors would save more than $15,000 in agent commissions.
He said offering a low-cost, fixed-fee model would complement the existing DIY business and was the "new order and way of doing things".
"Traditional real estate agents, which charge commission, are struggling in a lower-listings environment, while we are growing quickly," he said.
Heath said more vendors were becoming aware that there are other ways to sell their property, either by doing it themselves or through a low-cost offering.
"In the UK, Countrywide, the country's biggest real estate group, are closing 59 branches over the coming months. In Australia, traditional real estate agents are struggling to maintain momentum," he said.
The new business will be led by Melbourne real estate agent Cameron Fisher, who previously ran Changing Places Real Estate, which offered a fixed-fee commission structure.
Fisher said there was not always a significant difference in the effort and resources required to sell a $450,000 property compared with a $950,000 property, "yet the commission received by the traditional real estate agency is significantly higher, often double".
UK estate agent Purplebricks launched in Melbourne and south-east Queensland in September last year with a $4,500 flat fee combined with 24/7 service via an online platform. The company recently expanded its operations to Sydney.
Recently, First National Real Estate chief executive Ray Ellis claimed that Purplebricks' low-cost model had been rejected in Australia and it would only replicate its losses in Britain.  
 
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BuyMyplace offers Purplebricks-style property selling model with fixed fees

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The final weekend of October had the clearance rate remain high across all the capital cities, recording above 70 percent for the 14th consecutive week.
There were 2,246 auctions held across the capital cities, with a preliminary auction clearance rate of 77 percent, slightly down decrease over last week’s final clearance rate of 78 percent across 2,680 auctions. 
But it was much higher than the corresponding week last year when there was a 61 percent success rate.
Sydney has been the proven spring stayer this year with its auction clearance rate remaining above 80 percent.
Three weeks ago there were four capitals in the picture, but they all dropped off a little. 
Prices ranged across the country from $246,500 in Adelaide to $5.65 million in Sydney, with two strong challenges from prestige Brisbane offerings.
The result comes days before the key Melbourne Cup day interest rate decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia. 
"The strong clearance rate continues to be supported by exceptionally strong auction market conditions in Sydney where the preliminary clearance rate was recorded at 84.4 percent across almost 1,100 auctions, while the preliminary clearance rate in Melbourne (78.6 percent), Canberra (71.1 percent) and Adelaide (75 percent) also tracked above 70 percent," Kevin Brogan said.
Across Sydney, 1,096 homes were taken to auction this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 84.4 percent across 906 reported results.
Last week, the final clearance rate for the city was 82.6 percent, across 897 auctions.
One year ago, 1,391 Sydney homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was 60 percent. 
Clearance rates ranged fror 94 percent on the Northern Beaches to 67 percent in Parramatta. 
The most expensive house sold was a newly built six bedroom Strathfield home (above). 
The sale at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-strathfield-123713270" target="_blank">115 Homebush Road</a> for $5.65 million was $300,000 over reserve through agents Joseph and Sam Georges of Georges Ellis &amp; Co. They said prices were up about 30 per cent in the last year.
The 1120 sq m building block had cost $1.7 million in 2014.
Sydney's Paddington had its own dilapidated terrace story too. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-terrace-nsw-paddington-123733818" target="_blank">45 Iris Street offering</a> sold for $1.19 million - $190,000 more than it was purchased for just eight months ago.
The uninhabitable two bedroom terrace had three bidders with it sold to an investor who will implement the recently obtained development approval.
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-31%20at%209.29.45%20AM.png" alt="">
The terrace had been the home of the late artist Christina Coombes who had bought it in 1965 for £3200.
The distraction of the Spring Racing Carnival saw Melbourne listings down - and the preliminary clearance rate dipped from 80 percent to 78 per cent, though remaining well above the 65 percent clearance rate for the city one year ago.
Melbourne hosted around 629 auctions, lower than the 1,377 held last week and consistent with the same period last year.
The strongest performer was the North West region with a 91 percent of success rate. 
The top sale at Hawthorn was a 1000 sq m offering on the Lisson Grove estate which since the 1870s had been regarded as one Hawthorn's most fashionable avenues given the lovely Victorian homes set in large gardens.
Number 65 was one of four single storey villas built between 1884 and 1886 featuring a symmetrical façade with double bay windows.
"We have five young families bidding" Duane Wolowiec said.  
"There are strict heritage restoration conditions including the need to install slate roofing," he said.
Most buyers thought the restoration would cost at least $1.5 million, he added. Hawthorn's median house price currently sits at a record $1.85 million, according to CoreLogic.
There were 192 Brisbane homes taken to auction this week, with 114 results reported so far. The preliminary clearance rate for the city is 52 percent, up from 50 percent last week and also higher than one year ago, when 48 percent of the 188 properties taken to auction were successful.
Brisbane's top weekend result was $5.3 million in Paddington. 
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-31%20at%209.31.51%20AM.png" alt="">
The tri-level 2009-built contemporary home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-paddington-123651270" target="_blank">171 Fernberg Rd</a> (above) sold to a Toowong family.
There was also the $5.25 million sale of the former six decade long home of the late Sir John Pidgeon, a respected leader in the construction and property industry. 
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-holland+park-123667174" target="_blank">14 Otway St, Holland Park</a> (below) on 5275 sq m was purchased for $5.225 million by a local buyer. 
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-31%20at%209.32.52%20AM.png" alt="">
Sir John passed away in June.
The auction, through Dixon Family Estate Agents, attracted 36 registered buyers, according to the Courier Mail.
The living room fireplace is an authentic George III white marble inlaid chimney piece, the jamb centred with a relief of Diana and her Hound. 
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 75 percent across 166 auctions this week, up from 71 percent across 100 auctions last week. At the same time last year, 148 homes were taken to auction, with 57 percent recording a successful result.
Adelaide had the nation's cheapest sale at $246,500 in Elizabeth. 
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-31%20at%209.34.07%20AM.png" alt="">
The mid-1960s <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-elizabeth-123810514" target="_blank">three bedroom brick home</a> (above) had been listed with $210,000 hopes, having last sold for $92,500 in 2002.
Canberra’s preliminary auction clearance rate of 71 percent this week matched the 71 percent recorded last year. 
Perth and Hobart were the capitals with lower clearance rates than one year ago. 
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Sydney the proven spring auction stayer

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Capital city transaction numbers continue to trend lower through August, according to CoreLogic.
<a href="/images/2016/09/06/CoreLogic_Graphs/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-06%20at%201.25.30%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/09/06/CoreLogic_Graphs/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-06%20at%201.25.30%20PM.png" alt="">
 
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