Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
New forecasts released today say new home building will fall by almost 50 per cent, putting half a million jobs at risk over the next year.
In 2018/19 the industry engaged over 1 million people to commence building almost 200,000 new homes. Next year we expect to start just 112,000 new homes leaving up to 500,000 jobs at risk.
The shock to the economy from the halting of overseas migration, the absence of student arrivals and uncertainty over the domestic economy will see the market at a lower point in December 2020, than it was during the 1990’s recession.
It will then continue to decline though 2021, even with the return of overseas students and migration.
This shock will reverberate through the residential building industry, up and down the supply chain. Employment in the sector is not expected to recover within the next two years.
The loss of the international students and migration creates a temporary imbalance in demand for rental accommodation. The 625,000 overseas students enrolled in Australian education institutions equates to demand for the past two years of apartment construction. It is not clear how many of these left in March or how many will return.
For the past 20 years Australia’s economic growth has been underscored by stable population growth.
The nature of this shock requires significant and ongoing support from policymakers in Australia and amongst our trading partners. The risk that insufficient support will produce a decade of deflation, depression and human hardship, is present.
This means that of all the concerns facing government right now, debt should not be at the top of the list.
JobKeeper plays a very important role in supporting workers directly impacted by industry shutdowns. The building industry has been fortunate to continue operating.
Many small builders will not be eligible for the program as the downturn will impact the sector most significantly from September 2020 when the majority of projects under construction are completed.
Restarting the economy and allowing students to return are also necessary steps to a full recovery.
Drawing forward housing demand can also play a role in alleviating the emerging shock to new home construction and the wider economy. Traditionally, Australia has done this through empowering consumers to build new homes.
With the caveat that there is a high degree of uncertainty around the outlook, the disruption to migration and the elevated rate of unemployment will weigh heavily on demand for residential building beyond 2020. In financial year terms, dwelling starts in 2019/20 are now expected to be down by 18.3 per cent compared with 2018/19, and starts are forecast to decline by a further 30.5 per cent in 2020/21.
If this transpires, the commencement of new homes will have fallen nearly 43 per cent from last year, to next.
Graham Wolfe is the Managing Director of the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Half a million Australian jobs are at risk: HIA's Graham Wolfe

<html><body>
The number of homes that commenced construction in Australia fell from 225,061 in 2018, to just 174,770 in 2019, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA). 
This represents the second sharpest contraction ever experienced by the industry, only exceeded by that caused by the introduction of the GST. 
According to the HIA’s assessment, this contraction in in home building has played a major role in the slowing of the national economy.
“Despite this whopping contraction, we believe that the cycle had just about run its course and the overall housing market reached a turning point at the end of 2019, buoyed by interest rate cuts and house price growth,” said Tim Reardon, the association’s Chief Economist. 
A steadier rate of population growth means the pressure for new builds won’t, in the foreseeable future, reach the same fever pitch as they did in 2014 and 2018. 
An anticipated recovery in new home building is expected to be modest, with slow growth in coming years due to international factors. As a consequence, upward pressure on rents are predicted. 
“Unfortunately, international factors are likely to impact on the volume of home building in Australia over the medium term. The effects of trade and tourism restrictions with China pose a material downside risk to our forecasts. As these effects are still emerging we have not factored them into our forecasts,” Mr Reardon added. 
“If the impact on tourism and trade is short-term, and if the Australian Government’s infrastructure projects do finally flow through to work on the ground then Australia will continue its record run to 30 years of continuous economic growth.” 
HIA Economics predicts these dynamics to weigh more heavily on multi-unit rather than detached house construction. 
On average, during the 2014-2018 boom the industry was commencing construction on nearly 105,000 multi-unit homes per annum. HIA is forecasting that the industry will commence construction on 75,750 multi-unit homes in 2020/21, 77,390 in the following year and 80,980 in 2022/23.
They further predict that detached house construction will rise from 101,390 houses in 2020/21, to 102,750 houses in the following year and then to 104,350 in 2022/23.
</body></html>

wdavis-8cCN98p7xp

Housing Industry Association's Tim Reardon predicts slow recovery for home building

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="section">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
New home sales bounced back in September to return to levels seen during the latter half of 2018, according to HIA Economist, Angela Lillicrap.
The HIA New Home Sales report – a monthly survey of the largest volume home builders in the five largest states – saw sales increase for the second consecutive month.
Sales were up by 5.7 per cent.
"Despite these lifts, they remain down by 1.5 per cent compared to the June 2019 quarter,” added Ms Lillicrap.
“This improvement in sales is a welcome reprieve from the steady decline that emerged in late 2018. It remains too soon to confirm that we have passed the bottom of the cycle, but this result does highlight that we are not likely to see further material falls in new home sales.
“The easing of APRA’s lending restrictions and the RBA’s rate cuts have started to have a positive impact on the new home market.
“With the addition of the Governments First Home Loan Deposit scheme likely to see an additional increase in first home buyer activity, we expect that the improvement in new home sales will be sustained,” concluded Ms Lillicrap.
Across the country, new home sales increased for the month in all the states except for New South Wales which declined by 12.1 per cent to be flat (-0.3 per cent) for the quarter. 
Victoria increased by 11.0 per cent, Queensland by 1.7 per cent, South Australia by 18.0 per cent and Western Australia increased by 13.6 per cent during September. These gains were not enough to offset earlier weak results with Queensland being the only state to experience a significant increase (+6.9 per cent) compared to the previous June quarter. 
Victoria declined by 4.7 per cent and South Australia by 5.4 per cent. New South Wales and Western Australia were relatively steady compared to the previous quarter, down by 0.3 and 1.0 per cent respectively.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Confidence returning to housing market: HIA 

<html><body>
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the Federal Government’s focus on improving and reforming Australia’s Vocational Education and Training sector.
The VET sector provides the crucial pathway to growing and developing a skilled workforce for the residential building industry, strengthening the industry’s capacity to provide a roof over Australian’s heads. The benefits of a strong residential building industry have always flowed onto support the broader economy.
Guided by the Joyce Report into Australia’s VET sector, HIA’s is looking forward to the Federal Government engaging in a comprehensive consultation and review process.
Any steps to improve the operation of vocational education and training can hopefully enhance the interest of students in pursuing a career in the residential building industry.
HIA has provided comments this week to the Review of Australia’s Apprenticeship National Skills Needs List and we look forward to engaging with the Government in discussing positive ways forward for VET and its role in training our industry’s workforce.
Cooperation and consultation are the keys to walking a successful reform path. This must include the federal government, state and territory governments, industry, business and employers working collaboratively and building on COAG’s August commitment.
HIA looks forward to continuing a close engagement with all relevant parties to ensure the training pathways available to enter the residential building industry are clear and enticing.
HARLEY DALE is the HIA Executive Director – Skills and Industry Development
</body></html>

HIA encourage government focus on VET sector: HIA's Harley Dale.

<html><body>
Metricon Homes has been awarded the nation's number one builder by the Housing Industry Association (HIA).
They top the HIA-COLORBOND steel Housing 100 Report after making a total of 4,473 house starts across Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
It was the fourth consecutive year the home building giant secured top spot.
Following in second and shooting up the list was Meriton, the nation's largest apartment builder, who jumped from ninth to second.
They started 3,288 dwellings. The ABN Group were third with 2,987 starts.
<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/2019/9/25/Largest%2020%20home%20builders%20HIA.jpg" alt="">
Overall dwelling construction has dropped by 15 per cent over the year.
The number of new homes constructed by the Housing 100 builders was smaller, falling six per cent.
The home building market was still strong in Melbourne despite a modest cooling for most of the year, while Sydney experienced a much stronger contraction in the number of new home starts.
There was a larger volume of new apartments commenced by the Housing 100 builders this year which is reflected in a growth in the number of apartment builders on the list.
</body></html>

Metricon Homes named HIA's number one residential builder for fourth consecutive year

<html><body>
HIA welcomed the Government’s introduction of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation Bill (NHFIC) providing a platform to establish the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme announced during this year’s Federal election.
The organisation believes that the introduction of legislation by the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, to support the home ownership aspirations for 10,000 first home buyers is a key milestone in delivering their election commitment.
HIA Managing Director Graham Wolfe said “The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, scheduled to commence in January, addresses one of the greatest hurdles facing those enthusiastically saving to purchase their first home. Saving for a home deposit can take up to ten years or more."
The new First Home Loan Deposit Scheme will save an average first home buyer in Sydney, with less than 20 per cent deposit, an estimated tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their loan.
Mr Wolfe added, “The Government’s progress in bringing the Scheme to market is exciting news for first home buyers. “
"HIA also applauds the Government’s commitment to housing supply under NHFIC. Planning for the next 20 years of housing supply to match Australia’s population growth and demographic change, and funding the delivery of infrastructure to support new communities, requires national coordination and leadership."
“The Commonwealth Government has a key role in working with the states and territories to ensure that we can accurately forecast Australia’s housing and community based infrastructure challenges and manage the supply needed to meet the future demand,” Mr Wolfe concluded.
</body></html>

First Home Loan Deposit Scheme will save first home buyers tens of thousands: HIA

<html><body>
The commencement of new incentives to support apprentices in the residential building industry has been backed by an industry body. 
Kristin Brookfield, HIA chief executive, industry policy said several programs were announced in the 2019 federal budget to support young people move into residential building and other skilled trades.
“In particular the Additional Identified Skills Shortage (AISS) payment for employers and hosts of apprentices, and for apprentices themselves started on 1 July, with five of the ten trades included in the scheme being in residential building," Brookfield said. 
“Vocational education and training continues to be the cornerstone of Australia’s skilled labour force and new housing activity underpins much of our economic growth.
“Ensuring that Australia has the right quantity and quality of skilled tradespeople is critical to the ongoing success of Australia’s home building industry.
“While apprentice incentives offer one part of a solution, the existing systems for training the trades of the future continue to be challenged – to address new technology, to adopt changing apprenticeship models, to compete with other industries and to adapt to expectations of the next generation.
“HIA’s 9th Building Better Cities Summit Skills for tomorrow: Technology or training? to be held in Melbourne on 7 August 2019, will look at the changing nature of residential building and the training framework that underpins it.
"The Summit will open up the debate on how we can shape the industry’s workforce and be ready to build the homes of the future."
</body></html>

New apprentice incentives provide timely support: HIA 

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
EXPERT OBSERVER
First home buyers have kept Victoria at the top of the rankings in the HIA’s Housing Scorecard.
The HIA Housing Scorecard report presents analysis which ranks each of the eight states and territories based on the performance of twelve key residential building indicators.
Analysis in this edition of the HIA Housing Scorecard shows that Victoria is still supporting a strong level of building activity on the ground, despite a slowdown in the volume of new work entering the pipeline, added Mr Reardon.
First home buyers have been taking advantage of the improved affordability of homes.
The upside of the recent building industry cycle is that as activity levels have synchronised across the east and west coasts – and within each state - it has become easier for policy makers to coordinate policy settings.
National policy settings - including repeal of regulatory restrictions, lower interest rates and now income tax cuts - have shifted to encourage growth. The market now faces more consistent and appropriate regulatory settings across the economy which should, in turn, put a floor under the market downturn.
For much of the past decade there have been highly divergent market conditions between capital cities and even within each state. This has challenged policy makers who were attempting to cool the boom in Sydney and Melbourne markets and in doing so, inadvertently exacerbated the downturn in markets in Western Australia and Northern Queensland.
There is a convergence of conditions underway in the building industry as the markets in Sydney andMelbourne cool, meaning they have joined the resource intensive jurisdictions with more modest levels of building activity.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/7/19/HIA%20.png" alt="">
TIM REARDON is the Chief Economist for HIA
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

First home buyers Keep Victoria In top spot: HIA's Tim Reardon

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
The agreement by Building Ministers to establish a national approach to the implementation of the Shergold-Weir Report will assist the building industry, governments and the community to move forward with greater certainty and provides a significant recognition that a nationally consistent approach to improve community confidence in the building system is needed.
Whilst each state needs to take on board the recommendations of the Shergold-Weir report in a way that suits their existing regulatory frameworks, it is important that the end result after implementation will essentially be to deliver a consistent approach to the way buildings are approved, to the way building professionals are held responsible and to providing greater certainty for building owners.
HIA called on Ministers to include in this approach consideration of the current disjointed professional indemnity insurance arrangements with a view to ensuring that once implemented building professionals can move back to a situation where they can obtain affordable and appropriate insurance coverage.
National guidance is needed to limit the introduction of exclusions which go beyond combustible cladding.
HIA was pleased to once again be part of the Industry Forum with the Building Ministers, and we look forward to the Ministers releasing more details on the national approach and an ongoing dialogue.
Kristin Brookfield is HIA Chief Executive Industry Policy.
</body></html>

Agreement on national approach to combustible cladding building reforms an important step: HIA

<html><body>
Another industry body has lent its voice to the growing calls for tax reform around stamp duty. 
HIA’s Stamp Duty Watch report is a regular review of policies and the latest developments in the states and territories around Australia.
Replacing stamp duty with a more predictable and equitable tax would provide state governments with a more reliable source of revenue, explained HIA Chief Economist, Tim Reardon.
“State governments have become increasingly dependent on stamp duty revenues,” said Reardon.
“Stamp duty is an unreliable source of revenue and the increased dependence makes states heavily susceptible to housing market downturns.
“In NSW the downturn in the property market is forecast to cost $10.6 billion in lost revenue over the forward estimates.
“In Victoria where the decline in house prices has been more modest, revenue from stamp duty has been revised down by $5.2 billion.”
The sharp drop in revenues highlights the vulnerability of state budgets, Reardon said.
“In 2018/19 stamp duty revenues made up over one-fifth of all taxation revenue raised in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania,” he said.
“Victoria has the highest dependency on stamp duty revenues closely followed by NSW.
“The ACT, which is seven years into an ambitious 20-year tax reform program to replace stamp duty, has the lowest dependence on stamp duty.
“It makes up only 13% of total taxation revenue.
“Alternative broad-based tax measures could deliver a more consistent and reliable revenue stream.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/4/nsw%20budget.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/2019/7/4/nsw%20budget.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Hia

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Hia