National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Foreign Buyers

<html><body>
2014 is still motoring along very strongly. The lull we reported of the last few weeks seems to have been nothing more than another stair landing in the continuously rising price-staircase which began in October 2012.
This weekend was another Super Saturday, with over 150 auctions in Melbourne’s inner east and Bayside. It was a very solid test, in that bidders were spread out over a large number of auctions – i.e. there was significant choice. The bidder depth held up, in fact it increased marginally with over two bidders per auction on average – this is strong.
If you look at the roughly 200 $1 million plus auctions that took place across all of Melbourne, an average of two bidders means that not only were there 200 buyers, there were also 200 bidders who missed out. Most of those “wounded” bidders are not discretionary buyers – they have to buy and next time they will be more aggressive on price, even if only a tad.
<blockquote>
For a number of our Chinese clients, one of the reasons we are engaged is that they are concerned what other Chinese buyers may do and they don’t want to miss out.
</blockquote>
However, after next week it gets very tight for new stock going into the school holidays and Easter. So the pool of choice will diminish. That means many of those 200 “wounded underbidders” may well be competing against you over Easter but on lower stock levels. That means we’re likely to see 200 underbidders competing not on 200 homes, but on, say, 100 good homes which would double the bidders. If that number is spread out over 50 good homes, that will be four times the bidder strength we saw this weekend.
So what to do as a buyer? Maybe it’s time to wait until the steam goes out of the market?
For those buyers still waiting on the edge for a downturn – good luck. I’m not sure that is a proven good strategy.
But surely it can’t last forever!
Why has our market been so good for so long and will it last?
The Chinese community – simple demand and supply
The reason our market has been so good for so long is very simple – the overseas Chinese community.
Here are the top 10 reported sales on Saturday.
The Top 10 reported on Saturday
<ul>
<li>14 Selwyn Av, ELWOOD – Above $3,600,000</li>
<li>
21 Monash Av, BALWYN – $3,520,000</li>
<li>17 Rolls Ct, GLEN WAVERLEY – $3,416,000</li>
<li>
65 Metung St, BALWYN Above $3,200,000</li>
<li>30 Wills St, KEW Above $3,000,000</li>
<li>4 Mt Ida Av, HAWTHORN EAST  $3,235,500</li>
<li>69 Alfred Cr, FITZROY NORTH  $3,140,000</li>
<li>
2 Barnsbury Rd, BALWYN Above $3,000,000</li>
<li>9 Fairfield Av, CAMBERWELL  $2,888,000</li>
<li>
65 Yarrbat Av, BALWYN $2,850,000</li>
</ul>
40% of those sales were in <a href="/news">Balwyn</a> for new homes or land blocks to build new homes. Where is <a href="/news">Brighton</a>, where is <a href="/news">Toorak</a>? <a href="/news">North Balwyn</a> and Balwyn reported 13 bought from a reported 15 auctions. Brighton had 9 bought from 16 and Toorak and <a href="/news">South Yarra</a> just 7 from 12.
So how long will it last?
This is my potted history of Chinese involvement in Melbourne’s property market.
1973: I went to Camberwell Grammar in the early 1970s (I’m not sure they want me to advertise that fact – it could be bad for new enrolments). Camberwell Grammar is in Balwyn and a number of my classmates at that time were Chinese.
1983: Chinese start buying into Doncaster and Box Hill, which were then more affordable suburbs. I grew up in Doncaster.
1993: After economic reforms start having an impact in China, wealthy overseas Chinese start buying into premium Melbourne suburbs such as Balwyn and <a href="/news">Canterbury</a>. Why? Private schools. Chinese people want to give their children the best education (see 1973) and now a few could also afford to buy a home near the schools of their choice such as Carey, MLC, Scotch and Camberwell Grammar. But it was still difficult under Australian buying laws for overseas people.
2000: With restrictions on what Chinese people could buy and Chinese wealth increasing, off the plan properties became popular for many Chinese buyers. There were very few restrictions on Chinese people buying new properties and Chinese people were used to buying new apartments. High rises went up left, right and centre in Melbourne, many on the back of Chinese money.
2005: Chinese wealth had increased dramatically over the last two decades and as Chinese buyers became wealthier they also became more sophisticated in their knowledge about Melbourne properties and Toorak became a place where land banking became popular. It still is today.
2009: Australian government changes the laws making buying “second-hand” family homes in Australia a lot easier for Chinese people. This one decision really brought the inner Melbourne property market out of the GFC a lot quicker than other countries.
2013: By this time, every one of the bigger buying or selling real estate agencies, ourselves included, has at least one Mandarin-speaking staff member.
2014 : At this weekend’s Super Saturday, 40% of our Top 10 $3m+ sales were in Balwyn, rather than Toorak or Brighton.
So in my 55 year history I have seen this equation of simple demand (increasing Chinese buyers) versus supply (no new land in inner Melbourne) push prices up and up and up. I cannot see anything changing anytime soon. So waiting for the market to turn in 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 hasn’t in my mind proven to be a winning strategy. If you see the right home for you (emotionally, physically and financially) then you should buy it now.
You may be interested to know that for a number of our Chinese clients, one of the reasons we are engaged is that they are concerned what other Chinese buyers may do and they don’t want to miss out.
Auctions in Bayside see around half  the number of people attending as in Boroondara. A good auction in Brighton has 40 people while in Kew it would be 80. The Chinese community is nowhere near as well established in Bayside as it is in Boroondara.
Why not? There are some great private schools in Bayside! St Leonards, Haileybury, Caulfield Grammar.
Its a historical thing. But you can see more and more Chinese people considering say other areas such as Brighton when:
<ul>
<li>Chinese people become more comfortable with Bayside as a place to live, and</li>
<li>Demand in Boroondara and then Stonnington forces some Chinese people to consider other options.</li>
</ul>
Over time the Chinese community demand and supply equation will have the same effect in Bayside as it has had in Boroondara, unless China’s wealth begins to diminish.
</body></html>

maljames-vHwm28JUAa

Chinese buyers in Melbourne: A simple case of supply and demand

<html><body>
I am fast coming to the conclusion that despite having a total value of $5.02 trillion, real estate in Australia is one of the least understood industries.
During the global financial crisis (GFC) where property prices dropped on average by approximately 30% despite some market choruses calling for 50% plus price corrections. When we had clear evidence that the markets had bottomed we were then accused of falsely talking the markets up even though there was anecdotal evidence that this was in fact the case. So based on these observations with the markets now buoyant we constantly hear of the markets now being over – inflated and on the precipice of an almighty implosion.
To balance the argument I would make a few insider observations:
<ul>
<li>Historically real estate markets have always been valued from the top end down, so when the GFC arrived this actually skewed the valuation process as the top end markets experienced the greatest valuation decreases. The demise of the merchant bankers and their annual bonuses further stymied price growth as this once dominant market aggressor dissipated at a rate never seen before.</li>
<li>Post GFC we saw the markets bounce back from the bottom – end as against the previous top – end in the shape of investors. The Bureau of Statistics housing finance figures for December show investors now account for 39.8% of the value of home loans issued in December. That is the highest proportion of loans going to investors since October 2003, during the height of Australia’s largest recent housing boom.</li>
<li>What we are clearly seeing here is investors moving funds from the stock market back into bricks and mortar given the added attraction of negative gearing and self-managed superannuation funds is far too alluring to pass-up. Hedge funds and stock market manipulations have played a major role in this investor decision.</li>
<li>
Australia does not have, yet urgently needs, a housing strategy that would enable local, state and federal governments to work together on this blueprint over pork-barreling strategies every time an election comes around. Infrastructure Australia should be handed this responsibility especially in light of <a href="/expert-insights/buying/significant-dwelling-supply-problems-across-country-udia-report">significant dwelling supply problems across country.</a>
</li>
<li>
MP Kelly O’Dwyer is heading up the inquiry into Australia’s foreign investment policy in the context of residential real estate. Ms O’Dwyer wrote a vague insight the Australian Financial Review this week – <a href="https://www.afr.com/p/opinion/foreigners_and_real_estate_XzWUwJcAuIKXv0TRV7QdUP" target="_blank" title="Foreigners and real estate" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Foreigners and real estate</a> - where the focus is clearly on Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) data – which is about as useful as an ashtray on a motor bike. Real estate agents (the ones actually at the coal face) keep discussing the unprecedented explosion of online inquiries by Asian families from within Australia, I might add. So what percentage of acquisitions by overseas purchasers do not get processed, when they should, by the FIRB?
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/files/2014/03/13-03-2014-12-00-27-PM.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8482" src="https://www.rwm.com.au/files/2014/03/13-03-2014-12-00-27-PM.jpg" alt="13-03-2014 12-00-27 PM" width="682" height="369"></a>
Source: Digital Finance Analytics
<ul>
<li>Temporary residents in Australia are permitted to purchase an established dwelling although they are legally required to sell this property when they depart Australia. As if they are going to sell – it is much easier to simply transfer the name on the deed into another name so technically the property has been sold. What is the data from the relevant Stamp Duty offices on property transfers?</li>
<li>The latest figures from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) reveal overseas buyers purchased a record 5,091 established homes worth $5.4 billion last financial year, compared with 647 properties to a value of $810 million in 2009-10. Next year’s figures will in all probability be much higher again as there is a clear movement of new residents to Australia because they want to get their fortunes out of China.</li>
<li>Another great Litmus test will be this week’s Mosman trophy listing with price expectations around $40 million plus which would smash the previous record set at $22.500 million by double – <a href="https://smh.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/mosmans-top-price-to-shift-next-door-20140327-35jf5" target="_blank" title="Hopetoun Avenue">Hopetoun Avenue</a>.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.rwm.com.au/files/2014/03/13-03-2014-11-58-11-AM1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8483" src="https://www.rwm.com.au/files/2014/03/13-03-2014-11-58-11-AM1.jpg" alt="13-03-2014 11-58-11 AM" width="711" height="361"></a>
Source: Digital Finance Analytics
So I expect the Inquiry into Australia’s foreign investment policy which will not be released until later in 2014 to unveil nothing sinister simply because the terms of reference are not specifically examined to explore the current loopholes that can be easily manipulated without our federal government even knowing.
The state governments like it as they are receiving a double whammy in stamp duty, but I guess we are not supposed to be saying that as the evidence is inconclusive given there are no terms of reference to explore such ridiculous assertions.
Which brings me to where I started, why is Australian real estate one of the least understood industries despite having a conservative total value of $5.02 trillion? There are a lot of question that could be asked to better understand its make-up and composure; it's just that nobody in the government is really concerned about providing those answers at the moment.
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