<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> has lodged plans for a $750 million, three-tower mixed-use precinct that would complete the long-running redevelopment of Carlton's former Carlton United Breweries site.</p>

<p>The proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/185-195-queensberry-street-carlton-vic-3053">46-78 Bouverie Street and 185-195 Queensberry Street</a> spans a 6,468 sqm site, the last remaining undeveloped parcels within the former brewery's 2007 masterplan.</p>

<p>Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the development will comprise two purpose-built student accommodation towers and a third build-to-sell apartment tower above a shared commercial podium and basement.</p>

<p>Across the three towers, SP Setia is proposing 606 build-to-sell apartments and 1,499 student accommodation units containing 2,009 beds.</p>

<p>The apartments will sit in the tallest tower, which will rise nearly 200m and 55 storeys. It will become&nbsp;one of the more substantial new build-to-sell apartment projects at the northern edge of Melbourne's CBD.</p>

<p>The apartment mix is weighted toward smaller inner-city product, with 188 studios, 206 one-bedroom apartments, 192 two-bedroom apartments and 20 three-bedroom apartments</p>

<p><img alt="First look: SP Setia plans three-tower finale for Carlton’s former CUB precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8271bc87-1b0a-41b7-ac73-a425ee375261" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/3_2.png?VersionId=G4lw23o90B1boX4k4dj7rdz2ZEajS9wy" /></p>

<p>Part of the precinct will be a large-scale&nbsp;3,684 sqm supermarket and a further 2,198 sqm of speciality retail, creating close to 5,900 sqm of new commercial space within the precinct.</p>

<p>But one of the biggest components of the proposal is what sits between the buildings.</p>

<p>Around 4,650 sqm, or roughly 72 per cent of the site, will be publicly accessible open space, incorporating plazas, pedestrian connections, landscaped laneways and retail spill-out areas.</p>

<p>The ground plane is intended to finally complete pedestrian connections envisaged when the CUB masterplan was first approved nearly two decades ago, stitching together Victoria Street, Queensberry Street, Bouverie Street and Swanston Street through the former brewery precinct.</p>

<p>Urbis said the development would "complete the CUB precinct", with the public realm providing important north-south and east-west connections through what is currently the final undeveloped portion of the masterplanned site.</p>

<p>SP Setia is also exploring a new linear park within the Bouverie Street road reserve, with the concept to be developed further with the City of Melbourne through the planning process.</p>

<p>The proposal is being pursued through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program under Clause 53.23 for significant residential development with affordable housing.</p>

<p>The planning report acknowledges the proposed heights exceed those contemplated under the original Comprehensive Development Plan and masterplan, but argues the built-form context has changed considerably over the past two decades.</p>

<p>Urbis said the three towers would instead create a stepped transition between Carlton and the Hoddle Grid, rising progressively from the 94.1-metre Tower One along the Queensberry Street edge to the 199.44-metre Tower Three closer to the established CBD-scale buildings to the south.</p>

<p><img alt="SP Setia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e885a07a-592c-40fc-bf82-e6dbaf32da54" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.52.24%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7s_ErUkSKAdY1mAWp3GRZgMNCGtwhk5m" /></p>

<p>SP Setia plans to deliver the development across three stages.</p>

<p>Stage One would deliver the basement, podium and retail areas for the entire precinct alongside the first student tower. Tower Two would follow in Stage Two, before the 606-apartment Tower Three is delivered as the final stage.</p>

<p>If approved and delivered, the project would close out a redevelopment process that has been underway since the former brewery masterplan was approved in 2007, adding more than 2,600 student beds and apartments to a precinct already home to Swanston Central, the Barak Building, RMIT Design Hub and several large student accommodation developments.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Joel Robinson

SP Setia plans three-tower finale for Carlton’s former CUB precinct

<p>Melbourne developer Lowe Living is seeking to add to its growing bayside apartment pipeline, filing plans for a boutique eight-residence development in tightly held Middle Park.</p>

<p>Lowe Living, which has built much of its development portfolio across Melbourne's affluent bayside and south-east suburbs, is behind the plans for the 730 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/123-125-erskine-street-middle-park-vic-3206">123-125 Erskine Street</a>, just off Armstrong Street and within the Armstrong Street Neighbourhood Activity Centre.</p>

<p>The developer is seeking approval for a five-storey residential building above two basement levels, with just eight large-format apartments and 18 car spaces.</p>

<p>“This is a deliberately very different proposition for us,"&nbsp;Tim Lowe, Co-Founder of Lowe Living, said.</p>

<p>"Eight residences is exceptionally boutique, but that's precisely what this site calls for.</p>

<p>“There is a strong community in Middle Park and the surrounding suburbs who have spent decades building a life here. They no longer want the maintenance of a large period home, but they aren't prepared to compromise on space, quality or location. We think there is a real opportunity to capture that hyper local market. A site like this rarely comes to market.”</p>

<p><img alt="Lowe " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="875fe572-0f14-4d90-9e11-55b28dd07731" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.42.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GDNQRv9BfpR9r1zkZ5UDyUM4ZvpIksut" /></p>

<p>The low-density proposal has been designed by Cera Stribley and is being progressed through the Victorian Government's Great Design Fast Track pathway, having already secured eligibility from the Minister for Planning.</p>

<p>The Office of the Victorian Government Architect supported its eligibility after finding the proposal demonstrated consistency with the program's seven design principles, while the project's financial feasibility has also been independently confirmed by Invest Victoria.</p>

<p>The project is targeting the downsizer market, with the planning documents describing the homes as larger-format residences and noting the two penthouses could otherwise have been configured as four separate apartments.</p>

<p><img alt="Lowe 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="60ab0987-2da6-4175-adac-315dcf6053c6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.43.15%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=bOCPH0B2MFwlmaRW.TTCF9TzyifgVoQI" /></p>

<p>The site has dual frontage to Erskine Street and Canterbury Place and currently comprises a collection of commercial buildings used as offices, including a former heritage bakehouse, a former stable, a later gabled addition and a central courtyard.</p>

<p>It sits within the Commercial 1 Zone and the Armstrong Street Commercial Precinct heritage overlay, with the existing property classified as a contributory heritage place.</p>

<p>Heritage has subsequently played a significant role in Cera Stribley's design.</p>

<p>The front section of the former bakehouse facing Erskine Street will be retained, including its return walls, street-facing hipped roof and chimneys, while the Erskine Street façade and part of the western return wall of the former stable will also be incorporated into the new development.</p>

<p>Levels four and five will be set back five metres from the retained stable façade, while bricks removed through demolition are proposed to be salvaged and reused within the new building where possible.</p>

<p><img alt="Lowe 3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e97927a9-a2de-4a0f-83b6-65451238abfa" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.43.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=VR44AChLrX9q1XPB9GvVQV.ALXXbe4gC" /></p>

<p>Rather than presenting as a single five-storey building to Erskine Street, Cera Stribley has broken the development into a series of distinct forms.</p>

<p>A three-storey infill element will sit between the retained bakehouse and stable façades, with the upper levels recessed behind the heritage fabric. Canterbury Place will similarly feature two three-storey podium forms, separated by a central pedestrian accessway, before the upper two levels step back from the street.</p>

<p>A pedestrian through-link will run through the centre of the project between Erskine Street and Canterbury Place, creating entrances from both sides of the site and introducing landscaping and communal areas through the ground plane.</p>

<p>Landscape architect Acre has designed planting across the ground level, private terraces and upper levels, including a feature canopy tree at level three and integrated planting and arbours across the level four terraces. Five existing Erskine Street trees are proposed to be retained.</p>

<p>Sustainability is also a significant component of the Great Design Fast Track application. The apartments are targeting an average eight-star NatHERS rating, with no residence below 6.5 stars, while the project has achieved a 75 per cent BESS score. Seven of the eight apartments are designed for cross-ventilation, with the remaining residence using mechanically assisted natural ventilation.</p>

<p>The plans also incorporate an 8kWp rooftop solar system, a 5,000-litre rainwater tank and infrastructure allowing future electric vehicle charging for every residence.</p>

<p>Lowe has a strong portfolio across Melbourne's blue-chip suburbs. They recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House by Lowe Living</a> in Camberwell, their first development in the Stonnington LGA.</p>


Lowe Living unveils Middle Park apartment development

<p data-end="288" data-start="269"><strong data-end="288" data-start="269">Article summary</strong></p>

<ul data-end="888" data-start="289">
	<li data-end="442" data-section-id="8tsh6o" data-start="289"><strong data-end="374" data-start="291">DVB Projects is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development</strong>, with demolition now underway at 137 Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach.</li>
	<li data-end="573" data-section-id="1nyxl3e" data-start="443"><strong data-end="513" data-start="445">The 34-level tower will comprise just 49 ultra-luxury residences</strong>, including half-floor, full-floor and penthouse apartments.</li>
	<li data-end="717" data-section-id="oiyimj" data-start="574"><strong data-end="646" data-start="576">The launch follows strong demand at DVB's nearby Sea Glass project</strong>, which is more than 50 per cent sold and currently under construction.</li>
	<li data-end="888" data-section-id="epk9o9" data-start="718"><strong data-end="787" data-start="720">The development adds to the transformation of Old Burleigh Road</strong>, with premium beachfront apartment projects continuing to reshape the tightly held Broadbeach strip.</li>
</ul>

<p data-end="1011" data-start="790"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dvb-projects">DVB Projects</a> is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway on the Broadbeach site as the Sydney developer moves closer to bringing the ultra-luxury project to market.</p>

<p data-end="1296" data-start="1013">The 34-level tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/137-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">137 Old Burleigh Road</a> will comprise just 49 residences, ranging from half-floor apartments through to full-floor homes and a penthouse. The launch follows the strong sales performance of DVB's nearby Sea Glass development. More than half of the apartments at Sea Glass, on the other side of Broadbeach, have been snapped up, well ahead of its late 2027 completion</p>

<p data-end="1296" data-start="1013"><img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2944b4be-c84e-4b54-8dc1-c712e76704c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E02_Exterior_Street%20Level%20Entrance.jpg?VersionId=YoNig7pRdrE3HCue7sUj78LzJteeQf3H" /></p>

<p>The start of demolition at 137 Old Burleigh Road signals DVB Projects’ underlying confidence in the Gold Coast’s luxury beachside apartment sector.</p>

<p>“We see the Gold Coast as one of the most compelling lifestyle markets in Australia, particularly at the premium end where demand continues to deepen,” said Dean Brown, Managing Director of DVB.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“This project has been carefully designed to respond to that demand - delivering large-format residences with a level of quality, privacy and amenity that is still relatively rare in the apartment market on the beachside."</p>

<p>Brown says the site itself is "exceptional."</p>

<p>"Old Burleigh Road is one of the most tightly held beachfront strips, and opportunities to deliver a project of this scale and calibre in this location are extremely limited.”</p>

<p><img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="398f377a-c037-455e-9250-0c5e0d84c35b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/I12_FF%20Balcony.jpg?VersionId=NwOiRWGMubR1c8wthuEfggklcja7al9." /></p>

<p>The project will comprise 40 half-floor residences of approximately 260 sqm, alongside eight full-floor residences spanning around 524 sqm.</p>

<p>A single penthouse will crown the building, featuring a private pool, barbecue area, indoor gym and dedicated entertaining spaces.</p>

<p>Residents will have access to a resort-style suite of amenities, including a 20-metre pool with daybeds, a gymnasium, hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, and private residents’ lounge and dining facilities.</p>

<p><img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1642bb0-9a66-4427-a022-dfc0988c6287" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/A02_Pool%20to%20View.jpg?VersionId=c0IXPyn_Gp_Kn3XCwzMrqIVkAdCEwVXP" /></p>

<p>Sales agent Todd Matheson, of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/pezet-matheson">Pezet Matheson</a>, which is marketing both 137 Old Burleigh Road and Sea Glass, said 137 Old Burleigh Road would address a clear gap in the market for genuine luxury products.</p>

<p>“There are very few opportunities on the Gold Coast where buyers can secure a residence of this size and quality in a new building,” Matheson said.</p>

<p>“What we’re seeing is a growing cohort of downsizers and interstate buyers who still want space - they’re not willing to compromise on living area, entertaining or finishes.</p>

<p>“This project has been designed with that buyer in mind. It offers the scale of a home, combined with the convenience and security of apartment living, in one of the coast’s most desirable positions.”</p>

<p><img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59aae0ca-5639-4320-8aca-d0bf60f48e43" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E01_Exterior%20Hero.jpg?VersionId=DS8Zfy2WtgUEtdfe0TEUuf1W1GfcZq8S" /></p>

<p>Located on a 1,156 sqm site one block from the beachfront, the development will replace an ageing walk-up building and is expected to contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Old Burleigh Road strip into one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious residential corridors.</p>

<p>With the development moving into the delivery phase, 137 Old Burleigh Road is slated to hit the market later this year.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145141]</p>


DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

<p><a data-end="327" data-is-only-node="" data-start="250" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/norus-projects" rel="noopener" target="_new">Norus Developments</a> has lodged plans for a new apartment development in Clayton that would add further momentum to the suburb's emerging Green Street corridor.</p>

<p>Plans have been lodged for the consolidated site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1359-1365-centre-road-clayton-vic-3168">1359-1365 Centre Road</a>, where Norus is seeking approval for 218 apartments across a 12-storey apartment building designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/life-architecture-and-urban-design">Life Architecture</a>.</p>

<p>The proposal sits within the Clayton Major Activity Centre at the threshold of the planned Green Street corridor, a landscaped pedestrian connection intended to improve links through the precinct towards Clayton Railway Station.</p>

<p>The development would replace the site's existing collection of low-scale residential and commercial buildings with a single consolidated building, introducing significantly greater housing density to this part of Centre Road.</p>

<p>A retail tenancy is proposed at ground level to activate the Centre Road frontage, accompanied by transparent street interfaces and landscaping intended to create a more pedestrian-focused edge to the development.</p>

<p><img alt="First look: Norus Developments plans landscape-led apartment project for Clayton’s emerging Green Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a5a763a-d9e9-4253-af2f-88008de27ebf" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Clayton%20a.png?VersionId=S2WJJbat1XVkZwB9SnYtygirXgWHiklX" /></p>

<p>The building has been designed with stepped massing and upper-level setbacks to manage its transition towards surrounding residential properties. The planning report describes the approach as one that integrates the building into the landscape rather than treating landscaping as a secondary element.</p>

<p>"A strong landscape and public realm strategy underpins the proposal," Urbis states in the planning report.</p>

<p>"Public benefits include an affordable housing contribution, a new pocket park, generous landscaped setbacks, deep soil planting and integrated Water Sensitive Urban Design."</p>

<p>The report adds that these elements are intended to create "a permeable, pedestrian-focused ground plane that enhances walkability, supports urban cooling and reinforces the emerging Green Street character."</p>

<p>Biophilic and passive design principles extend through the residential levels, with planting, daylight, natural ventilation and views towards landscaped areas forming part of the amenity strategy.</p>

<p>Parking would be concentrated away from the public realm, with 145 car spaces proposed from the rear laneway rather than dominating the Centre Road frontage.</p>

<p>The proposal follows an extensive pre-application process with the City of Monash. Three formal meetings were held between the project team and Council from December 2025 to March 2026, with the scheme evolving through several concept iterations before the current design was lodged.</p>

<p>The project arrives as Clayton prepares for substantial change around its established activity centre and the wider Suburban Rail Loop precinct. Its position on Centre Road places the development within an existing concentration of shops, services and public transport, while the Green Street connection is intended to strengthen pedestrian access towards Clayton Railway Station.</p>


First look: Norus plans landscape-led apartment project for Clayton’s emerging Green Street

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a> has officially commenced construction on Bronze on Chevron, celebrating the sod turning of its first-ever Gold Coast development and marking a significant milestone in the company's continued expansion across South East Queensland.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following the successful delivery of premium residential developments throughout Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bronze-on-chevron-8-mawarra-street-chevron-island-qld-4217">Bronze on Chevron</a> represents Gardner Vaughan Group's entry into the Gold Coast market. Bronze will deliver 119 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments above two ground-level retail tenancies.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367193]</p>

<p>The recent sod turning ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel, President of the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, Cassandra Sedgman, project consultants, purchasers, project partners and invited guests to celebrate the commencement of construction.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gardner Vaughan Group Chief Executive Officer Simon Betteridge said Bronze on Chevron represented an exciting new chapter for the business.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We've spent almost four decades building homes that respond to the way people want to live, and we're excited to bring that experience to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chevron-island-qld-4217">Chevron Island</a>," Betteridge said.</p>

<p>"Bronze on Chevron is particularly significant because it marks Gardner Vaughan Group's first development on the Gold Coast following many successful projects across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast."</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367183]</p>

<p>Betteridge said the ground breaking is a proud moment for the&nbsp;team and their purchasers, who can now see their future homes beginning to take shape.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"As both developer and builder, we're able to oversee every aspect of the project from design through to construction, ensuring the quality and attention to detail Gardner Vaughan Group has become renowned for."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Designed by acclaimed architectural practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, Bronze on Chevron has been thoughtfully designed to complement Chevron Island's evolving streetscape while embracing its relaxed coastal lifestyle.</p>

<p>The development will offer generous residences with refined interiors, premium finishes and resort-style amenities, with completion anticipated in early 2029.&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107520]</p>


The development will offer generous residences with refined interiors, premium finishes and resort-style amenities, with completion anticipated in early 2029

Gardner Vaughan Group breaks ground on first Gold Coast development, Bronze on Chevron

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<p><span>Home owners in the Illawarra "tend to come in all shapes and sizes," according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes first home buyers compete with small time investors for lower value properties.  </span></p>
<p>It nominated a $600,000 house in Corrimal, a $400,000 unit in Wollongong, a $425,000 house in Dapto, a $400,000 house in Warilla or a $325,000 house in Nowra.</p>
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<p><span>"Most of the region’s more desirable locations such as the northern suburbs, Shell Cove and Kiama are priced out of reach for most typical first home buyers. Local real estate agents are currently reporting that demand from first home buyers for lower end stock is strong," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>A renovated two bedroom house with a big back yard in Warilla has recently been sold for $405,000.</span></p>
<p>Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-warilla-132634154" target="_blank">61 Lake Entrance Road </a>(pictured below), the house features separate lock up garage, outdoor entertaining area and off-street parking for 2 cars. </p>
<p><span>It is situated close to restaurants, pubs, shops and transport. </span></p>
<p><span><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/2020/3/23/warrila.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>Second home buyers are usually families looking to upgrade out of their first home for some more space or more modern comforts.</span></p>
<p><span> Higher incomes allow the budget to stretch further than a first home buyer and the type of property can vary depending on the buyer’s appetite for doing the renovation themselves or the desire to move straight in and not have to do any work. </span></p>
<p><span>Due to the higher budget, second home buyers are found throughout most parts of the Illawarra. </span>They could be looking at a $1 million house in Thirroul, an $850,000 house in Fairy Meadow or Figtree, a $750,000 house in Horsley or Albion Park or a $600,000 house in South Nowra.</p>
<p>A four bedroom house on a 929sqm of land in Thirroul has been listed for sale with $1.25 million to $1.3 million hopes. </p>
<p>Situated at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-thirroul-133054114" target="_blank"> 51 George Street</a> (pictured below), the house comprises separate dining, kitchen overlooking the back deck, undercover deck and veranda. </p>
<p>Other features include double garage, high ceilings, ornate cornices and under house storage. </p>
<p><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/2020/3/23/thirroul.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Upgraders are transforming some locations such as Fairy Meadow, Towradgi and East Corrimal where the proximity to the beach and Wollongong CBD are attracting families to knock down and rebuild or significantly renovate and extend older style dwellings, the report noted. </p>
<p><span>The last main category of home owner is the downsizer or retiree. Baby boomers are currently making up the vast majority of this category.</span></p>
<p><span>"The needs and wants of the downsizer or retiree will vary depending on a number of influences. Do their children and grandchildren live in the area or are they willing to move to a more comfortable location? Do they want to downsize in size but not in budget? Are they looking to change their family home to something in a lower value bracket that will allow them to use their equity during their </span>retirement?" the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>Semi-modern villas often appeal to this demographic or for those with a bit of cash, a nice modern Wollongong unit with ocean views can be on the agenda.</p>
<p>Harbour Square at 21 Harbour Street is a 2019 built, 33 unit development constructed by a well regarded local builder with two-bedroom units having sold between $900,000 and $1.15 million and three- bedroom units from $1.6 million into early $2 million.</p>
<p>The majority of the units were purchased by local downsizers.</p>
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<p><span>"The residential property market is traditionally made up of various demographics and buyer profiles across the Goulburn region," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The median house price of $430,000 </span>(Realestate.com.au), typically appeals to first home buyers looking to get their foot in the door with older style historic homes centrally located on tree lined streets and within close proximity to schools, parks and the CBD.</p>
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<p><span>However, the ornamental features do come at a cost for these older style properties, as they do require more upkeep and ongoing renovation works.</span></p>
<p><span>The report notes first home buyers are also attracted to the copious amounts of low maintenance house and land packages on offer in the numerous developments located further from the CBD such as the Teneriffe Estate and the Josephs Gate Land Development. </span></p>
<p><span>Many young families who are also priced out of Canberra </span>and the Southern Highlands see Goulburn as an affordable lifestyle alternative. These buyers are particularly more dominant in the executive style residential developments such as the Snow Gums Estate, Platypus Banks Estate and Run-O-Waters.</p>
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<p><span>"These developments are seen as good value for money and provide families with more elbow room for a larger home, shed and backyard," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

First home buyers compete with small time investors for lower value properties in Illawarra: HTW residential 

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<p><span>The Southern Highlands typically attracts a vast range of buyers within the local residential market, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The report notes the entry level market is dominated by first home buyers and typically makes up a value range of $450,000 to $700,000. </span></p>
<p><span>"For the very entry level, say sub-$550,000, think satellite suburbs such as Hill Top, Colo Vale, New Berrima. We tend to see a large portion of first home buyers unable to afford the more affluent suburbs such as Bowral, however we do see some smaller more affordable dwellings snapped up for under $600,000 on less desirable streets in Bowral such as Price, Thompson and Sheaffe," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>A refurbished three bedroom house in Colo Vale has recently been sold for $560,000.</span></p>
<p>Sitting on a 765sqm block, the house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-colo+vale-132125630" target="_blank">12 Banksia Street</a> (pictured above) comes with open plan living, deluxe kitchen, covered deck and garden.</p>
<p><span>It has easy access to the motorway and is close to Mittagong town centre. </span></p>
<p><span>"As the region continues to grow, we are beginning to see popularity increase for good quality villas and townhouses located within close proximity to central Bowral as well as quality built homes </span>on smaller lots being very popular with local downsizers," the valuation firm added. </p>
<p>Typically, these downsizers are selling large acre lots in Burradoo or surrounds and opting for easier to maintain parcels in good central locations. This area of the market is also popular for retirees from Sydney who come in droves and are chasing good quality product in good central locations close to local schools and townships.</p>
<p><span>The family market is a vast mix of an economic make up with more affluent families looking into prestige suburbs such as Burradoo, followed by new premium estates such as Retford Park and then into East Bowral which is predominantly 20 </span>plus year old project homes.</p>
<p><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/2020/3/23/burradoo.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>A single level designer home in Burrado is currently on the market with $1.695 million hopes. </p>
<p>The four bedroom, two bathroom house is located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-burradoo-133267898" target="_blank">14 Phillip Street</a> (pictured above).</p>
<p>The house features formal living with fireplace, casual lounge and dining, expansive kitchen, and rear garden. </p>
<p>"We are seeing an influx of families from Sydney beginning to populate the Renwick and Tahmoor and Thirlmere area as they are able to commute to Sydney as well as work from home and therefore are able to afford far bigger family homes at far more affordable prices than are available within Sydney," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>"Looking at shifting demographics within the region, the largest change we have seen over the past several years has been the gentrification of Moss Vale," the valuation firm stated. </span></p>
<p><span> Typically Moss Vale has been the administration capital of the Highlands and considered a working class strong hold and poor sister to Bowral, however over recent times we have seen the main street flourish with several homewares stores, cafes and bars opening their doors as well as many local families moving from other parts of the Highlands into the Moss Vale area. </span></p>
<p><span>"Generally, they are able to get far more bang for their buck than the other established suburbs of Bowral and Mittagong," the valuation firm commented. </span></p>
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First home buyers dominate $450,000 plus Southern Highlands entry level market: HTW residential 

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<p><span>In the lead up to the Northern Territory government election in August this year, there has been a major focus on the current situation regarding crime in Central Australia, with many locals believing it has worsened over recent months, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<div><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></div>
<p><span>"It seems to be the hottest topic of conversation around town and on local social media platforms, apart from COVID-19 of course. </span>People are asking the question regarding what impact (if any) this increase in crime might have on property values," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>Whilst there is anecdotal evidence of people leaving town because they have had enough of the increasing crime and other social issues, it has not become apparent yet that it has impacted on the property market. That is not to say it might be the cause of a downturn in the coming months.</p>
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<p><span>The other factor looming large as a real threat to the health of the local economy (no pun intended) is of course COVID-19. At the time of writing there is uncertainty about exactly how big the impact will be from this crisis, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>Central Australia has long relied on the tourism industry as a major employer and revenue generator. With travel restrictions imposed already and the likelihood of more stringent restrictions to come, the immediate future of the tourism industry does not look bright. These restrictions could not come at a worse time, leading into winter, which is peak tourist season.</span></p>
<p><span>"The longer term impacts of these events is difficult to forecast, however with a market that is already in a fragile state, it could prompt a downturn in values as people sell up and leave town or are forced </span>into selling due to financial circumstances," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>"With no significant capital growth being experienced in recent years, a sudden influx of properties being listed for sale is likely to create an over-supply.</p>
<p><span>"The coming months leading up to August 2020 and beyond have the potential to shape the residential market in Alice Springs for years to come." </span></p>
<p><span>A recent sale in the Alice Springs region is a four bedroom in Gillen. </span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nt-gillen-133053974" target="_blank">16 Underdown Street</a> family home (pictured below) which includes a granny flat was sold for $425,000. </p>
<p><span>The home features open plan living and dining, games room, alfresco courtyard area and double carport. </span></p>
<p><span><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/2020/5/25/gillen%201.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
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<p>A current listing is a three bedroom house in Larapinta priced at $329,000.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-larapinta-133561842" target="_blank">9 Saltwell Street </a>home (pictured below) features open plan kitchen and dining, outdoor veranda and carpeted bedrooms.</p>
<p>It also features kitchen with gas cooking, separate toilet and garden space. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/25/larapinta%201.jpg" alt=""></p>
<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></div>
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<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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How will COVID-10 pandemic impact Alice Springs property market: HTW residential 

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<p><span>Jobs and job security are major drivers of our local property market with both of these currently heading in the right direction prior to COVID-19 directives, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></p>
<p><span>"Over the twelve months since January 2019, we have seen a trend increase of 7.1 percent in the number of persons employed in the Townsville region. </span></p>
<p><span>"Our unemployment rate is on a downward trend and the higher levels of business confidence and strong rates of job advertising being observed bode well for continued strength in employment creation in the coming months," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>"We have a strong pipeline of projects proposed to commence in 2020 or currently underway, with completion of the North Queensland Stadium and its hosting of events now a reality." </span></p>
<p><span>The report suggests this is providing a positive driver along with other proposed inner city projects such as the SeaLink ferry terminal, the Cowboys Centre of Excellence and the 166-room Double Tree by Hilton hotel.</span></p>
<p><span>Detached housing in inner suburbs such as Belgian Gardens, North Ward and South Townsville in close proximity to entertainment and lifestyle hubs are </span>seeing sales rates quickening and selling periods reducing. Sales however are still price sensitive and price movements thus far have been minimal.</p>
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<p><span>"We are however entering a period of unprecedented global economic disruption with COVID-19. Just how this will translate in our local market in terms of jobs and job security will be a major indicator to watch over the months ahead." </span></p>
<p><span>A beachside unit in North Ward has recently been sold for $290,000.</span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-qld-north+ward-133163758" target="_blank">11/177 Mitchell Street</a> home (pictured below) comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms, multiple balconies and secure car space. </p>
<p><span>The complex features resort-style pool and entertaining area. </span></p>
<p><span><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/2020/5/25/north%20yard.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p>A current listing is a traditional Queensland cottage in South Townsville priced at $335,000.</p>
<p>The two bedroom, one bathroom is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-south+townsville-133146638" target="_blank">12 Sixth Avenue</a> (pictured below).</p>
<p>Positioned on a 721sqm block, it comes with modern kitchen, front veranda, internal laundry and huge yard. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/25/south%20townsville.jpg" alt=""></p>
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<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></div>
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<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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How will COVID-19 pandemic transform Townsville property market: HTW residential 

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<p>Of the many economic, social and political drivers that influence the South Australian property market, two major drivers continue to be the most prevalent - interest rate movements and political elections, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
<p><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></p>
<p><span> The report suggests these two factors are the most visible to the market being heavily publicised in both print and digital media. </span></p>
<p><span>"Interest rate movements are front of mind for first home buyers whilst they directly correlate to a current mortgage holder’s hip pocket," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span> A rate reduction can allow a first home buyer to enter the market whilst an increase could be the forcing hand for an investor to start selling. </span></p>
<p><span>"Political elections can act as both a hand brake and accelerator," the valuation firm said </span></p>
<p><span> In a pre-election time, market activity can slow given the many unknowns surrounding opposing parties’ election promises. Post-election, the market can see where the goal posts lie </span>and move forward with certainty and stability.</p>
<p>Additionally 100,000 South Australians making up nearly six percent of the state’s population are employed in the public service. Pre-election public servants would be wary of becoming active in the property market with the uncertainty a changing government could have on their employment.</p>
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<p><span>"On a micro level, property markets by region are influenced by a number local drivers," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Broadly the inner and middle rings are influenced by barriers to borrowing and lifestyle choices; the outer ring is influenced by affordability and local employment whilst regional South Australia is influenced by local industry, particularly mining and agriculture, and population movements.</span></p>
<p><span>Of most significance in the current market is the record low cash rate of 0.5 percent.</span></p>
<p><span>"Broadly, we are seeing first home buyers, upgraders, empty nesters and investors all active in the market. The mouth-watering prospect of finding either a fixed or variable home loan rate of sub three percent could be too good to pass up. The activity of these buyers in the market is driving demand for a broad range of property types," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Throughout the metropolitan area, character dwellings remain the most popular with the broad market, the HTW report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>Depending on location, entry points for these dwellings range from $500,000 to $800,000. Characterised by turn of the century cottages and quaint laneways, the inner south-eastern suburb of Parkside is popular for those seeking properties with heritage features.</span></p>
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<p>Achieving a sale price of $683,000, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-parkside-132255646" target="_blank">22 Robsart Street, Parkside </a>(pictured below) typifies this property type. This is a character single fronted cottage providing two bedrooms, one bathroom, off street parking all situated on an allotment of 426 square metres.</p>
<p><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/2020/5/25/parkside.jpg" alt=""></p>
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<p><span>Metropolitan Adelaide has seen an increase in higher density townhouse style development. Driving this market within the inner ring are cashed up empty nesters looking to downsize whilst investors and first home buyers are behind the wheel in the middle and outer rings. </span></p>
<p><span>Within the inner ring, entry price points can be well into the </span>$1 million range whilst within the middle and outer rings, $400,000 is typically the starting point.</p>
<p>Both the sales of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-linden+park-128602902" target="_blank">7A Linden Crescent, Linden Park</a> (pictured below) and 16A Egmont Avenue, Warradale which achieved sale prices of $1.25 million and $545,000 respectively represent these similar property types in differing locations, the report noted. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/25/linden%20park.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Appealing to downsizers, 7A Linden Crescent, Linden Park maximises accommodation on a small allotment and includes high quality fixtures and fittings and is located within walking distance of Burnside Village. Appealing to investors and first home buyers, 16A Egmont Avenue, Warradale provides a standard fit-out and accommodation expected of similar stock within the middle and outer rings.</p>
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<p><span>"The CBD apartment market is unique with each new tower providing product appealing to all buyer types," the valuation n firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Abiding by local planning guidelines and having knowledge of the broad market appeal, CBD apartment developers have to create a multitude of offerings at varying price points. </span></p>
<p><span>The recently constructed seven-level apartment complex Five O Six on Hurtle at 36 Hurtle Square, </span>Adelaide provides an example of this product mix.</p>
<p>Throughout 2019, this building had transactions of multiple apartments with varying floor plans with sale prices ranging from $465,000 for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, one car space, sixth floor apartment to $2.65 million for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom, four car space, seventh floor apartment.</p>
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<p><span>"There are a multitude of factors driving the South Australian property market on both a macro and micro level. These drivers aid in the decision making of both purchasers and vendors. </span></p>
<p><span>"Awareness of these drivers and the understanding of their effects on the market are critical to making the right decision when the time comes." </span></p>
<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></div>
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<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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Adelaide property market continues to be driven by interest rate and political elections: HTW residential 

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<p><span>Consumer sentiment is a big driver in Western Australia's property market and due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, at the time of writing, consumer sentiment is fragile to say the least, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The current COVID-19 pandemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></p>
<p><span> The report suggests there are many other key local, national and global drivers that influence the property market and these economic drivers are in a constant game of tug-o-war, continuously shifting along a scale between supply and demand - the result of which creates price movement within the property market. </span></p>
<p><span>"In Western Australia, our economy is most heavily influenced by the mineral and gas resources industry. The resources boom has been mentioned in almost every Western Australia segment of the Month in Review in recent years as it has impacted the state so significantly and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Mining projects throughout the state create thousands of jobs through construction work, maintenance, cleaning, machine operation, management etc. These jobs bring in hundreds and sometimes thousands of interstate and overseas workers in what can be relatively short periods of time, due to the enticing remuneration packages offered by large companies that compete for a limited workforce. </span></p>
<p><span>Conversely, when projects </span>come to completion, net migration can turn negative rapidly. The fluctuation of job vacancies and unemployment plays a large role in Perth’s property market as it influences our overall population in significant waves.</p>
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<p><span>"Net state and overseas migration statistics are directly linked to median house price and rental trends. We observe the nearly direct relationship of net migration and median house price growth, the effects of which have an approximate one-year delay," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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<p><span>Not only does resource sector employment influence migration, it also plainly affects total unemployment. Net migration partially determines the number of people moving into Western </span>Australia to soak up housing stock and unemployment shapes how many residents are in a suitable financial position to make purchases within the property market.</p>
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<p><span>"As we touched on in our September 2019 edition, increased resource investment in 2006 influenced the mining sector across the whole state," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Mineral exports were ramping up as the amount of iron ore Western Australia was capable of exporting quadrupled in value from 2006 to the peak in 2012. This enabled businesses across Perth and regional Western Australia to find space for a number of new job vacancies and in 2006 we saw 31,000 migrants flock to the state, including both net interstate (3,100 persons) and overseas migration (28,070 persons). It didn’t stop there though. </span></p>
<p><span>Migration figures increased again, then had a lull and eventually peaked in 2012 when we saw a total of 58,600 people travel to Western Australia to get their share of the revenue from the resources boom.</span></p>
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<p><span>As mining investment declined, so did the availability of jobs. Some mining construction projects came to completion and this began the increase in unemployment rates. </span>The construction phase had ended, temporary contracts did not get extended and we started to see a significant level of redundancies.</p>
<p>Suddenly businesses were consolidating their workspaces as they employed less and less people. Many office buildings, apartments and land developments were under construction and now coming to completion, however there were no tenants or home buyers to lease or purchase these spaces, the report noted. </p>
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<p><span>The CBD office vacancy rate skyrocketed to over 20 percent and supply severely overshadowed demand, reversing the economic cycle. From here consumer sentiment began to slip and less access to finance stopped any interest from investors and owner-occupiers. Residential rents, office rents and house prices started their slow descent to their current position. </span></p>
<p><span>Net interstate migration has been in the negative since 2014. In 2017, 14,000 people left Western Australia for other Australian states, however since then, both interstate and overseas migration has improved slightly.</span></p>
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<p><span>The trends mentioned above are demonstrated in Figure 3. BHP recruited over 10,000 new employees and contractors between 2008 and past the peak in 2012 as the construction phase progressed to operational. </span></p>
<p><span>When many construction projects came to completion, there was a significant shedding of employment forces. Figure 3 does </span>show that BHP has been ramping up Australian recruitment again in recent years, which aligns with the commencement of its South Flank iron ore development in 2019, and other companies are doing the same.</p>
<p>"The data is not as transparent as it once was, due to the level of employment via third party contractors, hence the clarity of the current situation is difficult to demonstrate," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>Recent investment into Western Australia’s natural resources has come as positive news for our property market and economy as a whole. </span></p>
<p><span>There are several projects already underway or awaiting commencement in Western Australia and iron ore is dominating the mining sector with an estimated $17 billion worth of projects that will or are generating around 11,000 construction jobs over the next few years, some of which started back in 2018. </span></p>
<p><span>These projects will also employ an approximate 3,000 continuing operational jobs. Many experts have suggested that this will create a mini-boom such as the one seen in the early 2010s, however on much smaller scale.</span></p>
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<p><span>Net interstate and overseas migration has reverted to positive figures again and this has helped to stabilise property values in the Perth metropolitan region.</span></p>
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<p><span>"So how is Perth faring at the moment? Greater Perth’s median house price settled at $478,000 for the December 2019 quarter, falling by 1.2 percent," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span> Negative house price growth has been easing off for some time now, however the disparity between Perth’s inner and outer suburbs has caused some confusion for homeowners on where we currently sit. A very positive sign for Western Australia is the rebounding of vacant land prices. </span></p>
<p><span>Between the March and December 2019 quarters the median price of vacant land saw three consecutive increases, rising 3.4 per cent from $236,000 to $244,000. Perth hasn’t seen an increase in median vacant land prices since mid 2017 and that only lasted for one quarter.</span></p>
<p><span>Perth’s apartment sector over the past 20 years has been very cyclical, but is maturing rapidly. From 2012 to 2015, Western Australia saw a boom of apartment construction, fuelled by the resource sector</span>.</p>
<p>During this time, demand was high and developers of all kinds jumped in to fill the void with mainly investor grade products and several prestige developments that commanded high values as the market matured. Unfortunately the timing of completion of these was poor and on the downward part of the cycle.</p>
<p>Today Perth’s apartment market is still reeling from a large oversupply in some areas and it does not appear that this supply line will be going away any time soon, with an estimated 1600 new apartments completed in 2019, as well as 800 more anticipated by the end of 2020.</p>
<p>Beyond then, 3,100 apartments are expected to reach completion in 2021 and 2022 (JLL, 2020). This coupled with the 2,400 units currently on the market could mean further price corrections in this segment which is exacerbated by current state government policy directing demand to new supply.</p>
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<p><span>First home buyer locations such as Baldivis, Byford, Ellenbrook and Alkimos have all experienced continued value decreases over the past few years, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span> Vast land development alongside Perth’s suppressed population growth has spelt disaster for this market segment. Advice from our valuers suggest that there has been little improvement </span>in these areas recently and we don’t hold much hope for the short term either. We do expect to see diminishing rates of negative growth over the medium term as long as economic conditions improve, however recent events have now cast doubt on this.</p>
<p><span>Moving closer to Perth, upgrader locations are faring slightly better than their outer rim counterparts. There has been a mix of value increases and decreases amongst various suburbs, however some recent positive signs include improving selling periods and declining vendor discounting. This can mostly be attributed to home owners heeding advice from their agents and pricing homes correctly from the get-go. </span></p>
<p>Kingsley is a suburb located 16 kilometres north- west of the CBD and is considered an upgrader location. The median house price in Kingsley decreased 0.3 percent during the December 2019 quarter, settling at $543,250. Negative house price growth has diminished over the past four years and hopefully we will see values increasein the medium term.</p>
<p>A four bedroom house in Kingsley is currently on the market with a price guide of over $579,000.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-kingsley-133547830" target="_blank">7 Chauncey Court </a>home (pictured below) comes with large family living, two bathrooms, home office, updated kitchen and double carport. </p>
<p>It is situated close to shops and schools. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/25/kingsley.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>Previous news of positive economic conditions has been a big driver for sales in established suburbs as owners take up the opportunity to upgrade before prices increase.</p>
<p><span>In the south-west part of the state, the recent uptick in activity in the resources sector has seen </span>the number of fly-in-fly-out workers begin to increase for the first time since the winding up of the mining construction boom. While the numbers are a far cry from the previous peak they are definitely improving.</p>
<p>There has been significant investment in the growth of the Talison lithium mine in Greenbushes (north of Bridgetown) as well as the associated infrastructure in the past few years.</p>
<p>On top of this there is a $1 billion lithium processing plant under construction in Kemerton (north of Bunbury). This was expected to bring a large number of workers to these regions however the reduction in the price of lithium has slowed these projects down.</p>
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<p><span>The south-west region relies a lot on local and international tourism. There is much anticipation for the start of the interstate direct flight from Melbourne to Busselton which started in March. </span>The timing, however could have been better as the slow down caused by the reaction to the spread of COVID-19 is likely to limit the number of travellers and tourists visiting the region at a time when it was hopeful there would be a significant increase in this sector.</p>
<p><span>There are a number of large residential subdivisions on the outskirts of Bunbury, Busselton and Margaret River which hold a large number of affordable properties.</span></p>
<p><span>A three bedroom unit in Bunbary was sold for $215,000 in April.</span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-wa-bunbury-133296874" target="_blank">10/180 Forrest Avenue</a> (pictured below) unit comes with open plan kitchen, meals and family room, outdoor patio area and double garage plus storeroom.</p>
<p>It is situates closed to shopping centres, schools and parks. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/25/bunbury.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p><span>The report notes first home buyer activity has been on the increase in these areas however this is also likely to stall due to the uncertainty over the outcome of the effects of COVID-19. It is anticipated that new building construction is also likely to stall as a result of this.</span></p>
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<p><span>The residential market in Cowaramup has outperformed most other towns in the region. As the number and quality of houses in the suburb increases and the town becomes more established, demand has also increased. Land sales were at their lowest level in ten years in 2019 which is an indication of the low levels of residential land now available in Cowaramup. With good demand and low supply of land, values are expected to increase in the short to medium term.</span></p>
<p><span>Kalgoorlie is the major city within the eastern goldfields region – located some 600 kilometres east of Perth. Known for its gold mines, there have been many excavation projects of all sizes here. KCGM Super Pit produces up to 800,000 ounces of gold annually. The Kalgoorlie-Boulder area has a median house price of $290,000, falling three percent over the December 2019 quarter, however the region has seen some positive signs of late as Piccadilly, South Kalgoorlie, Kalgoorlie and West Lamington experienced quartlerly increases between 0.2 percent and 14.8 percent.</span></p>
<p><span>Hannans, Kalgoorlie and West Lamington also showed annual improvements between 0.8 and 4.2 percent. The price of gold has a direct impact on this town’s prospects as many of the workers live in the region.</span></p>
<p>The report notes gold has been a relatively stable long-term investment over the past 20 years. The recent COVID-19 outbreak could potentially see gold prices increasing further due to investors selling stocks and moving to a safer venture in gold. Conversely, prices could also drop in the short term due to a lack of demand from Chinese manufacturers and jewellers.</p>
<p>In 2019, China held the largest portion of demand in the world for gold at 33 percent, so it will be interesting to see which direction the market shifts towards.</p>
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<p><span>"COVID-19 will no doubt have significant negative economic outcomes. Historically in times of uncertainty investors look to consolidate their capital instead of growing it through new ventures, and this will certainly slow the market down further. </span></p>
<p><span>"Government subsidies and cash rate cuts may come in hopes of stimulating the economy, although it will be hard to curb consumer sentiment when we are faced with a global pandemic.</span></p>
<p><span>"It’s not all bad news though - investors and residents with secure jobs may be able to find great value in the property market over the coming year," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19 </em></span></div>
<div>
<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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How will COVID-19 pandemic impact Western Australia property market: HTW residential

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<div>The greater Darwin residential market, like other cities, faces many influences and drivers of market sentiment and ultimately price movement, according to a recent Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </div>
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<div>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said. </div>
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<p><span>To begin, and more prominent for all regions and sectors of Australia, is the impending economic fallout from COVID-19 or Coronavirus.</span></p>
<p><span>"Without taking away from the seriousness and current health implications of this, we see the wider economic fallout from this virus having a much wider reaching and larger impact on our property market and all markets in general.</span></p>
<p><span>"Without sounding too negative, sentiment will take a battering in the short term, with the long term implications still unknown at this stage. Uncertain times ahead!" the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>Secondly, and most applicable to Territory markets, is population growth, the report noted. The growth or more correctly, lack thereof, has a very big say in how our local market will go. </span></p>
<p><span>As noted in previous Month in Review issues, Darwin and the wider Territory’s population has been either steady or in decline over the past two to three years, where all other states experienced growth. </span></p>
<p><span>Unfortunately not only does this create a smaller pool of buyers, but local community sentiment takes a hit. While the reduced population number is small, it’s<br>not an increase. </span>People and businesses see this as a negative.</p>
<p>"While we see the long term (two years plus) outlook as relatively positive due to large scale projects currently in the pipeline, this does not relieve current sentiment in the short term.</p>
<p>"Ultimately this leads to a reduction in prices across all sectors of the Darwin property market. We currently have the lowest median house price at $460,065 as at December 2019 (source: REINT) of any capital city and a big reason is due to lack of growth in our population," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>A four bedroom house in Darwin's northern suburb Leanyer is currently on the market with $469,000 hopes. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-leanyer-133068594" target="_blank">2 Ridgehaven Circuit</a> home (pictured below) comes with two bathrooms, family room, kitchen with electric cooking and double carport. </p>
<p>It also features covered patio area, in ground pool and garden shed. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/25/leanyer.jpg" alt=""></p>
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<p><span>The cash rate sits at 0.25 percent (as of 19 March 2020), the lowest in history for our country and with the impending effects of Coronavirus, is widely tipped to reduce further.</span></p>
<p><span>"We saw an uplift in sales volumes for the December quarter with 33.3 percent for dwellings sales across Darwin overall (source: REINT) yet no change, or zero percent in total dollar sales volumes for the quarter. </span></p>
<p><span>"What this is telling us is that the Territory market looks to be turning with regard to volume and we see this trend as likely to continue with lower median home values showing why we can have an uplift of one-third in sales volumes yet no increase in overall value.</span></p>
<p><span>"</span>We see this as a shining light and hopefully a shift in market sentiment that will continue," the valuation firm commented.</p>
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<p><span>A driver of the increased volumes is also the investor market. Corelogic’s March 2020 report shows Darwin as having the strongest gross residential yields of all capital cities at 5.9 percent.</span></p>
<p><span> Whilst most owners are experiencing low or no capital growth, they are underpinned by positively geared assets, a great incentive for those looking to get into the market or avoid the low yields of other capital cities. </span></p>
<p><span>With the financial market and stock exchange facing volatility, bricks and mortar is likely to offer more security to investors.</span></p>
<p><span>It is hard to look past the current situation of COVID-19. This is causing a raft of issues that will have wider reaching implications for the Territory, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>Tourism is something that coming into the peak dry season (southern winter months) allows local businesses to really thrive on the back of warm weather. With the recent travel bans, lack of domestic travel and social distancing concerns, it is hard to imagine the local sentiment garnering any positivity.</span></p>
<p><span>The Northern Territory government is delivering a $65 million Jobs Rescue and Recovery Package (source: https://business.nt.gov.au/recovery) stimulus for Territorians that will ease some pain in the short term however with business looking into a lean few weeks and months ahead, the outlook is not great. </span></p>
<p><span>"We see this as having a direct impact on local property markets, particularly commercial, as tenants and businesses feel this pinch. The positive </span>upside is for the residential market where home renovations can be carried out and largely funded by the government," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>Speaking locally with agents and reflecting on sale data, we are seeing the uptake in sales volumes being driven by first home buyers, reflecting the Commonwealth Government’s guarantor loan scheme where first home buyers can buy properties up to $375,000. </span></p>
<p><span>"We are seeing properties of value with the most activity, with 54% of sales occurring at a price below $350,000 in the inner Darwin unit market," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>The inner Darwin unit market has shown a 4.4 percent increase on the December quarter and 13.1 percent on </span>the year in recorded sales volumes (source: REINT).</p>
<p><span>A waterfront apartment in Darwin City has recently been sold for $402,000.</span></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nt-darwin+city-133424434" target="_blank">5005/5 Anchorage Court </a>home (pictured below) comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms, open plan living and dining room and private patio. </p>
<p><span>It also features internal laundry, two basement car parks and complex swimming pool.</span></p>
<p><span><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/2020/5/25/darwin%20city%201.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>Local commentary around is showing an increase in the younger professional market and first home buyers keen to take advantage of the great schemes on offer. </span></p>
<p><span>"As we continue to ride out the economic impact of the current global economic situation, we believe that this sentiment will continue for our first home buyers throughout 2020,: the valuation firm stated. </span></p>
<p><span>All external issues aside, one factor of the market that we continue to rely on is the strength of the coastal northern suburbs market which continues to buck the trend and ride out outside factors. This is evident with a 61 percent increase in sales volumes for dwellings on the quarter and an increase in median value of 0.4 percent. </span></p>
<p><span>This is </span>not directly attributed to falling prices or cheaper properties, with 33 percent of these properties having a value of more than $600,000. While these are well off the peak of the market, to echo the earlier point, if there is volume first, higher values will come second when an economy begins to turn.</p>
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<p><span>"Generally speaking, wide sweeping societal changes are coming and some are now in force with the key element being the current Coronavirus pandemic. This is tipped to have a huge impact on the wider economy with the brunt of this yet to be felt. However, we are yet to see any direct impact locally here in the property market, although it is early days. </span></p>
<p><span>"Historically, when a stock market crashes we see an asset such as a home being far more illiquid than shares, not to mention that people will always need a place to live. So while we may see fewer transactions in the market, locally the property values may remain insulated from such losses, but this remains to be seen." </span></p>
<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></div>
<div>
<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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Darwin property market yet to see direct impact of COVID-19 pandemic: HTW residential 

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<p><span>In the second month of 2020, the Hunter region continued to see buzzing activity in the local property market, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<p><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></p>
<p><span>The report notes even with the uncertainty of an interest rates move, there was still plenty of activity around the region for both established houses and also people wanting to purchase a block of land to build their dream home.</span></p>
<p><span>"Newcastle is hoping to see market conditions improve further due to the rising population of the city, surrounding areas and also Maitland and Hunter Valley regions fuelling housing demand and relatively healthy housing affordability. </span></p>
<p><span>"The Newcastle and Hunter region is highly likely to see continued growth due to close proximity to major capital cities such as Sydney. </span>As housing affordability becomes a resurgent issue in 2020, capital city residents may once again seek relatively affordable housing in nearby regions or regional areas with high levels of amenity," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>In terms of residential property, Newcastle has become its own market and no longer relies on Sydney as it once did. </span></p>
<p><span>"In the past 12 months, Newcastle saw a shift in confidence independently of Sydney; we no longer follow suit like we once did. Locally, since the federal election, we have seen </span>an increase in activity from all classes of potential property purchasers," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p><span>There is still a healthy supply of inner city units for sale and with further developments around Hunter and King Streets in Newcastle and also Honeysuckle continuing into the future, perpetuates the old saying of “as long as people buy, they will continue to build them”, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>"Savvy property investors are still seeing Newcastle and supporting areas as a great place to invest due to affordability and also strong growth potential," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
<p><span>These investors will be ready to pounce on the best performing pockets which include properties in </span>the Kotara, Islington, Hamilton, Charlestown and Mayfield areas, all located within a 15 minute drive of the Newcastle CBD.</p>
<p><span>"First home buyers in the region are also continuing to purchase established dwellings around the fringes of the city suburbs and also showing keen interest in house and land packages around the Maitland areas of Chisholm, Thornton and Bolwarra, which are all less than a 40 minutes drive into Newcastle city," the valuation firm said. </span></p>
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<p>The trendy inner city suburb of Tighes Hill also saw a record sale price for the year at the end of February of $1.5 million for a waterfront <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-tighes+hill-133013166" target="_blank">Throsby Creek, Sparke Street</a> property (pictured below).</p>
<p><span><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/2020/5/4/tighes%20hill.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>T</span>he largest sale in the affluent suburb of Merewether for the month of February was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-merewether-132847678" target="_blank">68 Curry Street</a> (pictured below) which sold for just under the $2 million mark at $1.98 million, the report noted. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/4/merewether.jpg" alt=""></p>
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<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Notes regarding COVID-19</em></span></div>
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<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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Newcastle property market likely to see continued growth: HTW residential 

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<p><span>The Albury-Wodonga region boasts around 110,000 people, enjoying one of the most vibrant cross-state regions combining all the Murray River has to offer and beyond north and </span>south of the New South Wales and Victorian borders, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </p>
<div><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></div>
<p>"The drivers of the property market are affordability, access to finance, lifestyle, tourism and the buoyancy or otherwise of the Melbourne property market. Different purchasers behave and benefit accordingly," the valuation firm said. </p>
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<p><span>First home owners have options due to a good supply of existing entry level stock and competitive house and land packages from a range of builders in new suburbs on both sides of the border. </span></p>
<p><span>Similarly the upgrading or relocating family in the region can buy existing stock, build or in many cases buy to occupy and also purchase an investment property, often positively geared, the report noted. </span></p>
<p><span>As the regional property market has proven to be a long game, the downsizers, whether local or relocating, receive the benefit of long term growth and a good choice of lower maintenance homes with room for the van or golf buggy.</span></p>
<p><span>Over the past few years, both Albury City Council and Wodonga City Council have undertaken large scale redevelopment projects aimed at revitalising city centres and involving the community in local events, the idea being that the cross city vibe should be complementary rather than us and them.</span></p>
<p><span>The report notes Wodonga is certainly gaining ground with strong sales activity and good growth as locals and visitors alike tap into the north-east offering. </span></p>
<p><span>"The local outlook is much the same as the attitude of the region, positive, proactive, productive and steadily more diverse. </span>It is all here bar the beach and people tend to focus on the things they can change, which from a property perspective is the ability to move within the market and invest further in the market.</p>
<p><span>"No one external big picture factor dominates as low volatility goes hand in hand with stable markets, however as we reach submission deadline, the </span>effects of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic may reach and influence all drivers of all markets," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/4/albury%201.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>A Californian bungalow inspired townhouse in Albury has recently been sold for $675,000.</p>
<p>The three bedroom, two bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-nsw-albury-132951854" target="_blank">692 Jones Street </a>(pictured above). </p>
<p>It features open plan living, dining and kitchen, oak timber flooring and ample storage. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/4/albury%202.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>A current listing is a 1940s family home located just moments from the Albury CBD.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-albury-133379730" target="_blank">717 Jones Street</a> home (pictured above) has been offered for sale with a price guide of $895,000 - $915,000.</p>
<p>Set on a 1,076sqm allotment, it comprise four bedrooms, formal lounge, renovated kitchen, and separate dining room. </p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></p>
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<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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COVID-19 pandemic may influence all drivers of Albury property market: HTW residential 

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<p><span>The two biggest drivers of the Tamworth market at the moment are the historically low interest rates and the drought, which despite recent rain has on-going impacts, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. </span></p>
<div><span>The current COVID-19 epidemic is going to have a negative impact on key drivers, so it will be interesting to see what impact this may have on the property market in the short to medium term, the valuation firm said.</span></div>
<p><span> The past few years of drought have put a strain on the town’s water supply which despite recent rain has not increased by any significant amount. After having been on water restrictions for over 12 months, residents are wondering whether or not there is a long term solution for the future with Tamworth’s population expected to hit 100,000 by 2040. </span></p>
<p><span>While there </span>are plans in place with a new dam and pipeline underway, confidence will remain low until these projects are completed. The economic effect of the drought saw less money coming into the property market which resulted in a slow-down, the report noted. </p>
<p>"Tamworth as a whole did not see a decline in property values, but we did see an increase in days on market, where houses that traditionally sold in one to two months were taking three to four," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p><span>The report suggests it is not all doom and gloom for Tamworth as the city still offers plenty of appeal for residents, with strong employment opportunities, relatively cheap housing and good services and amenities available.</span></p>
<p><span> Tamworth is a major regional centre and offers quality schools, good health services and </span>a large pool of employment opportunities with blue collar, white collar and everything in between catered for.</p>
<p>"On top of this, a modern four-bedroom, two-bathroom, brick veneer dwelling can be had for under $400,000 (depending on the suburb), making Tamworth very attractive to those finding themselves priced out of the larger cities," the valuation firm said. </p>
<p>A four bedroom house situated in Tamworth CBD has been listed for sale with $399,000 hopes. </p>
<p>Set on a 656sqm block, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-tamworth-127288198" target="_blank">9 Lilly Pilly Court</a> home (pictured below) offers 2 bedrooms, open plan living, and fully fenced backyard. </p>
<p>It is positioned close to schools and shops. </p>
<p><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/2020/5/4/tamworth%201.jpg" alt=""></p>
<p>This combined with recent rain and low interest rates has local agents reporting less days on market for sales and more buyer enquiry than experienced in recent months (prior to the rain). This higher buyer interest has not yet resulted in an increase in house values.</p>
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<p><span>The government’s First Home Super Saver and First Home Loan Deposit schemes have seen first home buyers become more active in the Tamworth market. </span></p>
<p><span>Along with the low interest rates we are seeing more people selling to first home buyers and then upgrading, typically leaving South Tamworth, West Tamworth, Hillvue, Oxley Vale and Westdale and moving to Calala, North and East Tamworth, Moore Creek, Daruka and newer parts of Hillvue.</span></p>
<p><span>A Moore Creek house sitting on a 4,152sqm block was sold for $460,000 in February. </span></p>
<p>The four bedroom, two bathroom house is situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-moore+creek-132683298" target="_blank">30 Barrington Drive</a> (pictured below).</p>
<p><span>It comes with large open plan living areas, covered entertainment area, double garage, and three bay vehicle steel shed. </span></p>
<p><span><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/2020/5/4/moore%20creek.jpg" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span>"Increased confidence in the local economy after the recent rain as well as low interest rates suggest that these trends will continue in the short to medium term. This may be thrown completely out of the window with the current COVID-19 pandemic, but excluding this we expect a slight increase in the property market over 2020." </span></p>
<div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Note regards COVID-19</em></span></div>
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<span><em>This edition of Month In Review had its topic defined in late February with submissions from our offices collated through to late March. During this period, shifts in the social and economic landscape due to COVID-19 became increasingly dramatic, as demonstrated by the varied information provided by offices over the course of three weeks.</em></span><em><br></em>
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<div><span><em>This month’s residential theme on baseline property market drivers remains a common thread, and provides an indication of what influences to monitor as the property sector recovers post-crisis.</em></span></div>
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