Fresh off completing Pienza Neutral Bay, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-element">Central Element</a> is preparing its next move in the coveted Lower North Shore suburb.&nbsp;

Central Element (CE) has lodged plans for an eight-storey apartment building at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/54-64-barry-street-neutral-bay-nsw-2089">54–64 Barry Street</a>, a 1,659 sqm site just south of Military Road and the Neutral Bay town centre.

The $52 million development will involve the demolition of four detached homes across four lots to deliver 45 apartments, including eight affordable housing units to be managed by Bridge Housing. The mix will comprise six one-bedroom apartments, 24 two-beds, and 15 three-beds. The apartments will sit above three basement levels with 62 car parking spaces and 50 bicycle spaces.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mhn-design-union">MHN Design Union</a> (MHNDU) has returned as architect following its work on Pienza, again shaping a mid-rise form with a clear street presence. The design features a lower four-storey podium element that responds to surrounding context, with upper levels recessed to reduce perceived bulk. Communal open space is proposed both at ground level and on the rooftop, the latter including an outdoor kitchen and swimming pool.

“The building has been designed with a lower four-storey element and with building materials commensurate with the character of the area,” Beam Planning noted in its submission to the North Sydney Council.

<img alt="Barry Street, Neutral Bay Nsw 2089" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a28ab3a-b8ba-4476-81cd-e4a8bb84f3a7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Barry-Street-Neutral-Bay-1327x742.png?VersionId=hlgvxszAWXIHgHtdR5HiwIKiSli2lLZV" />

Bridge Housing will manage the affordable units for a period of 15 years, as required under the Housing SEPP’s incentive provisions.

MHNDU’s design report further highlights the site's strategic location just 250 metres from key bus stops and 1.3 kilometres from North Sydney CBD, positioning it for transit-accessible housing supply. In their planning justification, the design team emphasised the site’s compatibility with emerging local character and scale.

Central Element has a solid apartment pipeline spread all over Sydney. They recently completed&nbsp;Pienza, 37 apartments just 500 metres away from the new project, and are currently building Ethos Chatswood, Ballamac House in Coogee, and Bianca on the harbour in Drummoyne.

They have plans for future projects in Mosman, Bondi Beach, Greenwich, Lavender Bay, along with a tower on the edge of Hyde Park.

Joel Robinson

First look: Central Element unveils second Neutral Bay apartment project

Real estate investment fund Wentworth Wentworth Equities is soon to launch a "Los Angeles-inspired" residential, leisure and lifestyle precinct in Brisbane’s Hamilton riverside ahead of the predicted Olympic-led population explosion for the city.

Drawing its style inspiration and name from Los Angeles’ renowned The Grove, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/hamilton-grove-19-hercules-street-hamilton-qld-4007">Hamilton Grove</a> will feature three residential towers and a vibrant street-level public precinct with curated luxury lifestyle, retail and dining offerings.

The first of the three towers, to launch in March 2026, will comprise 61 apartments, in the same building as a premium hotel.<img alt="Hamilton Grove" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d227fe61-8392-45b7-b386-9133f29a249f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-19%20at%209.10.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=HTCV35HZ4h84jQCmHwhsdIPN0ctO5d7Z" />

Wentworth Equities Executive Chairman Sameh Ibrahim said the precinct will be unique in its appeal to both residents and the wider community.

“Hamilton is already one of Brisbane’s most sought-after riverside suburbs and for good reason,” Ibrahim said.

“Where else in the world can you walk out of your front door and have everything you could possibly need at your fingertips? The city is just around the corner, the airport is only ten minutes away, you have the river and green spaces right there and premium retail and dining on your doorstep."

Wentworth Equities acquired the 7637 sqm Hercules St site in 2014, when Ibrahim said he had a "very clear vision" for the precinct, but ultimately it wasn't the right time to develop. He said Hamilton was still very much an "emerging precinct."

“Since then, Hamilton and surrounding suburbs like Ascot and Albion have significantly grown and matured into a precinct that aligns with our vision for Hamilton Grove. Brisbane as a whole has so much to offer in the way of lifestyle appeal, but as it stands it is so widespread – you go to Howard Smith Wharves for fine dining, you go to James Street for shopping, you go to West End to walk along the river – but what if you could go to Hamilton Grove for everything?

“Our vision is a precinct that brings together the best of Brisbane into one central space abundant with culture, class and culinary experience – a place that a lucky few will get to call home, but the rest of Brisbane still get to explore and experience at their leisure.”

<img alt="Hamilton Grove" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="46550990-8aeb-44d4-bb47-150cdca96529" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-01-19%20at%209.10.50%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=bmCkApPKY_Bj3z02Q8vI7Kyo_caJXOnv" />

Experienced civil engineering contractor Mainland Civil has been appointed to commence early works for the project, adding Hamilton Grove to their extensive portfolio where it will join other iconic Brisbane developments including Queens Wharf, 300 George Street, Infinity Tower and 1 William Street.

Construction on Tower One is scheduled to commence in early 2026 with completion expected in late 2028.

Fast Facts 
 
• Three residential towers and a vibrant street-level public precinct with curated luxury lifestyle, retail and dining offerings. 
• Construction on Tower One is expected to commence in Quarter One 2026, with completion expected in late 2028. 
• 7,637 square metre site at 19 Hercules St, Hamilton (part of Economic Development Queensland’s 304 hectare Northshore Hamilton Priority Development Area). 
• 61 waterfront residences and skyhomes in the first tower, ranging from two to five bedrooms. 
• Hamiton Grove will be officially launched in March 2026.

"LA-inspired" Hamilton Grove to launch on Brisbane riverside

There’s a quiet patch of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/hawthorn-vic-3122">Hawthorn</a>, between the bustle of Glenferrie Road and the curve of the Yarra, that rarely sees change, and even more rarely, new apartments. But that’s exactly where <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pomeroy-pacific-quattro-corp">PQD</a> is planting Kooyongkoot: a deliberate, 18-residence answer to the question of what downsizers actually want.

“This is something this pocket of Hawthorn has never seen before,” says Fil Gacesa, head of sales at PQD. “<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a> will deliver just 18 large-scale apartments in the heart of Hawthorn. It is the true definition of resort-style living.”

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/59D7VxzltmM?si=1iCzRD7FRneKryfv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

That scale is central to the story. It’s what allows for two dedicated lift cores, short corridors, and a generous lightcourt that draws natural ventilation and sunlight into every residence. It’s also what makes room for the sort of amenity usually confined to high-density towers: a fully equipped wellness centre with infrared and traditional saunas, yoga and pilates studio, cold therapy shower, and treatment room. There’s a golf simulator, car and dog wash stations, and extensive storage too, not bolted on, but baked in from the start.

But more than the checklist, it’s the design intent that carries weight. “This project has been many years in the making,” says Mark Pomeroy, Director of PQD. “Not just in planning, but in listening, to what our buyers and the local community are looking for”.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355289]

That listening shows up in the materials, oak floors, natural stone, V-ZUG appliances, and in how space is handled. Penthouses feature private rooftop terraces with pools. Terraces and garden residences embrace outdoor connection. Inside, the layouts skew large and open, geared for hosting, not just housing.

Architecturally, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a>’s approach is grounded. There’s no reaching for spectacle here. Instead, the building offers a sculptural calm, anchored by landscaping from Eckersley Garden Architecture.&nbsp;

“We wanted to create spaces that feel expansive, serene, and meaningfully connected to daily life,” said founding partner Chris Stribley elsewhere.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

That sentiment, calm, connection, echoes in the location itself. Kooyongkoot sits just a short stroll from Central Gardens, Fairview Park, and the Rivoli Cinema. Tram lines and schools are close, but the street is tucked, quiet, and leaf-lined.&nbsp;

“Residents of Kooyongkoot will be a short stroll from Fairview Park, Central Gardens, and the Glenferrie Road retail strip," Gacesa notes, "but you're also cocooned in this peaceful pocket behind extensive landscaping by Eckersley Garden Architecture.”

Kooyongkoot is set for completion in late 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Staff Writer

The project that said no to compromise: Inside Kooyongkoot, Hawthorn

When long-time Ivanhoe locals Graeme and Catherine, decided it was time to downsize, they weren’t necessarily in a rush.&nbsp;

Like many in their stage of life, they had started thinking about apartment living, but anticipated making the shift in two to three years.

That timeline changed when they visited <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe">Candela</a>, a new boutique development by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>. The project ticked all the boxes they were looking for: location, quality design, and long-term lifestyle benefits, which prompted them to bring their decision forward.

“It was the right place at the right time,” they said. “We knew immediately it ticked all the boxes, and we didn’t want to wait.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=358855]

Their decision to downsize was driven by a combination of practical needs and lifestyle considerations. Their existing home, while much loved, had become increasingly difficult to maintain. It spanned multiple levels, included extensive front and back gardens, and was starting to show the wear that comes with age.&nbsp;

They were looking for a more manageable lifestyle, one with less upkeep and more freedom. A brand-new apartment with no maintenance requirements and the ability to simply “lock up and leave” gave them peace of mind and a greater sense of control over their future.

Financially, the purchase made sense as well. The available stamp duty savings, strong price-to-value offering, and timing of the settlement suited their plans, making the transition smoother and more cost-effective. The apartment's design and inclusions further supported their choice.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357493]

The layout was both functional and flexible: three bedrooms, a butler’s pantry, a separate laundry, and a large open-plan living area. It gave them the freedom to host a family, accommodate guests, or set up a home office. The expansive balcony and elevated views added to the appeal, providing a sense of openness and connection to the outdoors.

“It just had a really good flow,” Catherine noted, something they found lacking in many other apartments they’d considered, particularly in the established market.

Candela’s boutique scale was another deciding factor. With a smaller number of residences and a top-floor penthouse position, the couple felt the development offered the privacy and space they were looking for, without feeling isolated.

“We liked that it wasn’t a huge development. It felt well-balanced, modern but still with a sense of community, not overwhelming,” they said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357508]

Equally important was the ability to remain in Ivanhoe, a suburb they know well and have deep roots in. After 46 years in the area, proximity to local parks, shops, and familiar faces mattered just as much as the apartment itself.

“We didn’t want to give up the community we’ve known for decades. Candela allowed us to upgrade our lifestyle while staying in the place we call home.”

With a Walk Score of 90, the village location supports a convenient, connected lifestyle. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/ivanhoe-vic-3079">Ivanhoe</a> Station is just a eight-minute walk away, and the neighbourhood offers access to parks, cafes, restaurants, and schools along Upper Heidelberg Road, all within easy reach.

Beyond the apartment, the couple also saw value in the broader vision for Candela, one that integrates residential living with public spaces and local amenities.&nbsp;

The development introduces 58 new apartments as well as a mix of commercial and social spaces that integrate contemporary architecture with the suburb’s existing character.&nbsp;

At ground level, residents will find a charming café and a lifestyle wellness centre, perfect for unwinding and rejuvenating. Meanwhile, the rooftop garden offers a stunning vantage point for residents to enjoy breathtaking sunsets, host gatherings, or enjoy barbecues with family and friends. It's not just a place to live; it's a vibrant community where every moment is an opportunity to connect and create lasting memories.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Why Ivanhoe locals are choosing to downsize to Candela

Mark and Roy Makari are expanding their presence in Sydney’s South West with a second major proposal for Leppington, this time envisioning a 900-dwelling mixed-use development just 850 metres from their previously lodged tower trio on Fifth Avenue.

Project management and construction management firm Creative Vision filed the plans for the&nbsp;multi-building project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/230-rickard-road-leppington-nsw-2179">230 Rickard Road, Leppington</a>. The proposal seeks to establish a new focal point for the precinct through a high-density, transit-oriented development supported by diverse land uses.

According to the Scoping Report prepared for the Department of Planning, the scheme includes around 900 apartments across multiple towers, including 135 dwellings designated for affordable housing. A mix of market and subsidised apartments will be supported by ground-level activation through retail and office space, a childcare centre, and a hotel, forming a comprehensive urban precinct.

<img alt="Mixed Use Development 230 Rickard Rd Leppington" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="34797362-f3dc-4d84-8235-2657fc5f3bde" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Plan.png?VersionId=Uzckrz9tUpDQl5lX1_WMhjnv16bsr8wG" />

The Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/studiosc-0">Studio SC</a> notes that the project “intends to deliver a high-quality, high-density built form that supports the vision for the Leppington Town Centre, integrating mixed-use outcomes and public domain upgrades.” The development is expected to be delivered in stages, although a precise timeline is yet to be confirmed.

The project will be assessed through a future State Significant Development Application, with the Scoping Report indicating the team will seek design excellence via a competitive process or through an expert design review panel. Early massing diagrams suggest a series of mid- to high-rise buildings framing a central landscaped spine, with emphasis on pedestrian permeability and public space.

The planning documentation flags a strong sustainability agenda, stating that the development will “respond to the urban heat island effect, incorporate water sensitive urban design, and prioritise active transport”.

<img alt="Mixed Use Development 230 Rickard Rd Leppington" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="369d7b54-1279-4cde-88ec-dcb215594414" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Podium_1.png?VersionId=QArL7B2kkLt63vl5xvL0FNV_ardAlez4" />

The proposal follows in the footsteps of the Makaris’ nearby Fifth Avenue site, where they’ve submitted plans for three towers comprising nearly 500 apartments, with 10 per cent dedicated to affordable housing. That project features commercial podiums, a childcare centre, and a new public park that would occupy more than a third of the site.

Both developments are situated within walking distance of Leppington Train Station and fall under strategic precinct plans promoting higher density housing. The town centre is undergoing substantial transformation, driven by state government planning reforms aimed at fast-tracking housing delivery.

Together, the two projects represent a combined ambition of nearly 1,400 new homes across just under two kilometres of central Leppington.

First look: 900-home mixed-use precinct planned for Leppington

Juwai

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
For Michael Hickinbotham, Managing Director of South Australia’s number-one home builder, his company’s deep-seated family roots and commitment to innovation, quality, and value make the Hickinbotham Group a trusted household name today — some 60 years after the first house went up.  
His father and grandfather, Alan David and Alan Robb respectively, established the company more than 60 years ago. Today, it has built 40,000 homes and more than 50 community estates and maintains the founders’ mission of creating beautiful, quality homes for South Australians.
Hickinbotham tells me he proudly attributes the company’s ongoing success to its core values. 
“Above all, I believe in the concepts of innovation, creativity and value. It’s innovation and creativity that allow us to create value and, it’s the ability to offer superior value that underpins our success,” he enthusiastically shares. 
Hickinbotham Group is the only homebuilder to create and successfully manage brands for every segment of the market, from first home buyers to the middle market and all the way up to luxury homes.
But keeping the company at number one, Hickinbotham explains, takes tenacity and a passionate team that thrives on a sense of urgency. “When we decide to do something, we commit to it, and we do it as well as we can.”
He says, “To sell significant volumes of real estate you have to offer unmatched value. That starts with beautiful designs, great build quality, and fantastic service and is backed up by people who care.”
While Hickinbotham says luck has played a part of the company’s success, he also notes the company has continued to pioneer through significant challenges, including the South Australian State Bank collapse in the 1980’s, the Global Financial Crisis, and the residential building downturn of the mid- and late-2000’s.
The family business emerged from each crisis stronger, smarter, and wiser. 
South Australian Heritage
Hickinbotham’s father and grandfather were the first in the family to develop homes for sale, starting with a house in 1954 on Sturdee Street in Linden Park, an inner-eastern suburb of Adelaide. I understand that house still stands today and is in immaculate condition. 
These are humble beginnings, but both men had a vision to improve communities that still inspires the company’s success today.
His father was a renowned sportsman who represented South Australia and Geelong in football and seemed larger than life. He was well read and engaged with the world but determined and single-minded about the family business.
His grandfather —known to many as “Hick”— was a respected academic and the founder of Australia’s most famous winemaking course at Roseworthy, which is now part of the University of Adelaide.
The legacy of these two men drive Hickinbotham to try new things. 
“While I don’t like failures, I accept that if you don’t have some failures you’re not pushing the envelope far enough, you’re not testing your limits, you’re not growing,” Hickinbotham said. 
“With business you have to learn to take risks and to minimise risk where you can. You have to be willing to fail and, more than that, to face your failures squarely and learn from them.”
Creating homes, not houses 
Although a trained lawyer, Hickinbotham chose property. He could have also joined his family’s other business, which is wine. His older brother David oversees a business that produces excellent wines. Twice they have been ranked among the 100 best in the world by Wine Spectator magazine.
“I love real estate because it is so fundamental to human happiness,” Hickinbotham says. “Nothing improves lives like putting a roof overhead. Real estate is also a time-honoured way for people to build their wealth.”
“I whole-heartedly believe the family serves the business, not the other way around. The business, in turn exists to serve our customers and the community”.
And, as Hickinbotham confidently and proudly states, it is this philosophy and commitment that will continue to guide the business for the next generations. 
Hickinbotham Group was the first Australian developer to put telephone and power lines underground; the first to impose restrictive covenants on the felling of trees at a new home estate; the first to win a Civic Trust award for a housing development. They were the first to store run-off stormwater in the aquifer for later re-use. They were also the first to develop a privately-owned public school at a time when the South Australian State Government couldn’t afford to fund new schools. 
Notably, the company recently signed an agreement with Elon Musk’s Tesla to explore the deployment of Tesla batteries in its estates. And the company already puts solar on many of the homes it builds. 
Hickinbotham Group has even worked on plans to take an entire housing estate “off the grid” via photovoltaic cells and batteries. This means homeowners might be able to earn revenue by selling excess power back to the grid. 
Advice for First Time Buyers and Investors 
As a proud Adelaidean, Hickinbotham whole-heartedly believes his city is the best in Australia for first home buyers.
“You will get a lot more for your money in Adelaide than in Sydney or Melbourne,” he says. 
“Infrastructure here is less stretched. Prices are not as high, so there is a lower entry cost. Adelaide is beautiful and the perfect size at 1.3 million people.”
According to Hickinbotham Group, South Australia is a less volatile market to invest in because traditionally it hasn’t been subjected to the same booms and busts as other capital cities.
“I have also lived in London, Sydney and Melbourne, and I love those cities. But in Adelaide, I can take the family to the beach, or we can go to the wineries and small towns in the Adelaide Hills. Both are only about 30 minutes from the city centre.”
And, naturally, he firmly believes houses are a fantastic investment. 
“The secret to investment success in property is to understand that it is the land that appreciates, not the buildings”, he explains. 
“If you’re in a block of 200 apartments, when the land value increases, the extra value is divided 200 times. That’s the main reason why houses have been such a good investment for such a long time.”
GEORG CHMIEL, the chairman of Juwai, a Chinese website for buyers of overseas property, was speaking to Michael Hickinbotham in his regular column giving insight into the leading minds of Australian property experts.
He has spoken with LJ Hooker agent Bill Malouf about the ins and out of the Sydney market, REINSW president Leanne Pilkington about women in real estate, developer Larry Kestelman about developing your first property, Harcourts boss Mike Green on real estate investment secrets, Ironfish chief Joseph Chou on investing in today's market and liveability guru Cecile Weldon.
 
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Georg Chmiel chats with Hickinbotham Group's Michael Hickinbotham about the home building family business

<html><body>
Georg Chmiel chats with Harcourts co-owner Mike Green about secrets for real estate investing.
One of the most charming and gregarious people in the real estate industry calls himself an introvert. But what will really surprise you about Harcourts MD Mike Green is the job that he sought before becoming an agent and what he has to say about investing in apartments. 
Green is co-owner of international real estate network Harcourts – a New Zealand native who made the hop to Brisbane (for the weather) and has since conquered not only Australia but nine other countries as well. 
We will get into Green’s secrets for real estate investing, but first let’s look at how he climbed the business ladder. He got into real estate purely by accident.  
“I was looking through the newspaper for a job, having just left university” he says. “I applied for a job washing cars in a car yard, and the guy turned me down.” 
That rejection sent Green back to the employment classifieds (remember those?). Eventually, he talked his way into his first property job at 19 as a real estate sales consultant with no experience and only one year of university. He hasn’t looked back since.
Does he still pine for the missed opportunity to wash cars all day long? I didn’t ask him, but I imagine not.
“I went into a profession that I just clicked with,” he told me. “I love the freedom of it, the impact you can have on people’s lives. Eventually, my wife Irene and I opened our own Harcourts franchise. Now (Harcourts Chairman) Paul Wright, Irene and I are the owners of the Harcourts international franchisor.”
Green’s secrets to success in business are available to anyone. “The reality is,” he says, “if you hang around long enough, you end up at the top — as long as you don’t do anything stupid and don’t annoy people.”
I have managed hundreds of people in my career and, as simplistic as it sounds, this advice is actually quite profound.
DISRUPTON
Green runs a major international real estate agency network with more than 900 offices in 10 countries. Is he worried about losing it all to a tech giant like realestate.com.au, purplebricks.com or Google? 
Not a bit.
“The only thing we need to worry about is disrupting ourselves by not delivering value,” he told me. Selling a home “is such an emotional and traumatic experience. Our clients actually want an advisor to help them through the process. It’s very hard to disrupt when you have hundreds of thousands of people on the ground doing just that.”
But Green did admit that there are still risks. No real estate company has a monopoly. 
“If we don’t add value to clients we will disappear like so many other companies in other industries have.”  
COUPLES
For Green, one of the benefits of a career in real estate has been the opportunity to work alongside his wife Irene, who is herself extremely successful in the industry in her own right. 
“Irene and I have worked together for nearly 30 years,” he said, “and it certainly creates its own unique challenges. You never stop talking about the business. It’s a really dangerous place to be when your wife technically reports to you, which was the case for a very short period of time.” 
After all, we all know who the real boss is…
That said, Green encourages other couples to consider a property career, as long as you can “keep a sense of humor and understand that, while the business is important, the relationship is far more important.”
WHAT SHOULD FIRST BUYERS DO?
Now, let’s get to Green’s advice for first-time buyers who are in a tough position because of high prices. 
“Government is more attuned to first-home buyers now,” he says. “Study up on the available first-home buyer grants and other incentives available.”
You should choose a “good property that can be readily resold and has a wide market appeal. What they say about location is very true. If you buy in a good location you will always be fine in the long term.”
And watch out for interest rates, which are still at historic lows. “Reality says that will change,” advises Green. “You should say, ‘Hey if the rates go up two percent or three percent, will I be OK?’ 
“Also factor in starting a family. If you have to live on one income, how will that look?”
ADVICE FOR INVESTORS
Green advises property investors to play it safe, too. His preferred investment is a three-bedroom home on a little bit of land and with a garage.
“They are very easy to rent, and if you need to sell they sell easily. Some investors look for houses that have been split up for multiple revenue streams, but those are harder to sell. They only appeal to other investors. If you are under pressure and need to sell, chances are other investors will be, too.”
Green made a 38% profit on his first investment home after only two and a half years. It had cost him NZ$29,000. Today, the same home is worth as much as NZ$1.8 million. 
Now, about apartments. While Green lives in one for the care-free lifestyle it affords, he doesn’t recommend apartments as an investment.
“They don’t perform as well in terms of rental return or capital gain. I’d recommend you spend a bit more and buy a three-bedroom house.”
Green firmly believes property investors today can still leverage a small amount of capital into a large and successful portfolio that eventually lets them live off their earnings. His own sons and a number of their friends are following just this strategy.
“I think you can do it today,” he said. 
“You have got to be a bit careful because there is more money involved. But as rents and capital gains grow and the mortgage is paid down, you are building wealth. Property will never be cheaper than it is today!”
Georg Chmiel, the chairman of Juwai, a Chinese website for buyers of overseas property, was speaking to Mike Green in what will be a monthly insight into the leading minds of Australian property experts.
He has spoken with LJ Hooker agent Bill Malouf about the ins and out of the Sydney market and REINSW president Leanne Pilkington about women in real estate.
He most recently spoke with Melbourne property developer Larry Kestelman about developing your first property.
 
</body></html>

po-LsXgBTHBmX

Georg Chmiel chats with Harcourts boss Mike Green on real estate investment secrets

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
When brothers Ben and Rob Coorey created the technology to analyse the profitability of potential development sites within seconds, they had a choice.  
They could keep it to themselves and go on to become two of Australia's richest developers. Or, they could share it with the world and make real estate investment, development, and design much easier and more transparent for everyone.
They chose the latter.
Not that they haven't also benefitted. Their business, <a href="https://archistar.ai/" target="_blank">Archistar</a>, has raised millions from investors such as the former Foxtel chief executive Peter Tonagh, ex-CoreLogic managing director Graham Mirabito, and former CEO of CBRE Australasia Tom Southern.
"Our tool evaluates development opportunities for your property and assesses its potential market performance,” Ben Coorey told me in a conversation last week. "A consumer, developer, architect, or council … anyone can benefit if they need to assess designs."
MAKING NEIGHBOURS RICH
Archistar can even turn a handful of neighbours into millionaires.  
As Coorey pointed out, the most important part of real estate development is to understand what the rules are for your site. His tool gives you exactly that information.
Coorey say, "Our software allows you to piece together a number of neighbouring lots and determine what you could build if they were combined.”
A group of eight neighbours in Castle Hill secured $5 million each by selling all their homes in one go. The developer who bought the land plans to build a unit project. Since the average price in Castle Hill is about $1.3 million, the vendors earned about a 300% profit by informing themselves about the development potential of their property.
That kind of windfall shows why Archistar’s tool is so valuable. But I don’t think the Coorey brothers are in it for the money. 
Talking to Ben, I got the sense that what really motivates the Cooreys is getting their arms around complex problems and then solving them. The fact that they made their development analysis tool publicly available is proof. (You can get a free, basic analysis of your own home on their website, https://archistar.ai.)
More proof that the Archistar team is motivated by a good challenge rather than a fast buck comes from the fact that they decided to take on the challenge of developing automated reports based on the arcane rules of a 3,000-year-old practice that has been called both science and superstition.
DOES YOUR HOME HAVE GOOD FENG SHUI?
“We wanted to democratise the principles of Feng Shui so that anyone, anywhere could get an instant Feng Shui analysis of their floorplan,” Coorey told me.
How hard was that? 
Very. 
Archistar spent 12 months developing a one-of-a-kind artificial intelligence engine that makes the Feng Shui analysis possible. To start with, they had to understand the principles of Feng Shui. Then, they had to digitize them, create algorithms that can analyse any floorplan according to those rules, and design a system that uses those algorithms to provide useful insights that allow you to fix whatever Feng Shui problems your home might have.
"We had to translate over 500 rules from ancient Chinese Feng Shui texts that go back hundreds of years," Coorey said. The sources they consulted also included some recent page-turners such as Human Habitat and Feng Shui (人居环境与风水), Modern Residential Feng Shui (现代住宅风水), and Chinese Wisdom Feng Shui's Application (国学智慧-风水文化应用篇) by Professor Yu Xixian.
"From those texts, we put together a set of Feng Shui rules," said Coorey. "Then we take apart floorplans and use these rules to evaluate the Feng Shui of each one."
To test its new Feng Shui analysis tool, Archistar looked at The Lodge, the official Canberra Prime Minister’s residence which has been home to leaders such as Robert Menzies, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Gough Whitlam, Paul Keating, and John Howard.
Archistar’s Feng Shui analysis found that the 1927 building generally abides by Feng Shui principles. It’s not that the original architects consulted a Feng Shui expert when designing The Lodge.
“Sometimes, a design has good Feng Shui even though the architects didn’t know anything about the practice,” said Coorey. “Good design can transcend cultures.”
Juwai.com, where I am chairman, now provides Archistar’s Feng Shui reports to our Chinese international property buyers.
WHICH CITY RULES?
As Archistar analyses the Feng Shui properties of more and more floorplans, Coorey expects to be able to draw conclusions about entire cities.
“As we build a database of floorplans, you can start to collect insights on regions, countries, and cities. Up until this point, you haven’t had the analysis in a common format that you could compare. Now, we have a standard format to do so.”
I asked Coorey which Australian city he thought would come out on top in the Feng Shui competition. 
Do buildings in Melbourne have better Feng Shui than Sydney? Does Brisbane beat Perth? And can Parramatta blame bad Feng Shui for the fact that the Eels came dead last in 2018, or is there a more nefarious cause?
Probably wisely, Coorey wasn’t willing to hazard an answer to any of these questions.
Georg Chmiel is the chairman of Juwai, a Chinese website for buyers of overseas property, was speaking to Ben Coorey, the founder and CEO of Archistar, a training centre teaching digital design skills for architects and engineers.
His regular column, getting into the leading minds of Australian property experts, has spoken with LJ Hooker agent Bill Malouf about the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/82193-georg-chmiel-chats-with-bill-malouf" target="_blank">ins and out of the Sydney market</a>, REINSW president Leanne Pilkington about <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/83830-georg-chmiel-chats-with-reinsw-president-leanne-pilkington-on-women-in-real-estate" target="_blank">women in real estate</a>, developer Larry Kestelman about <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/85169-georg-chmiel-chats-with-larry-kestelman-about-developing-your-first-property" target="_blank">developing your first property</a>, Harcourts boss Mike Green on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/86232-georg-chmiel-chats-with-harcourts-boss-mike-green-on-real-estate-investment-secrets" target="_blank">real estate investment secrets</a>, Ironfish chief Joseph Chou on <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/87440-georg-chmiel-talks-with-ironfish-ceo-joseph-chou-about-whether-to-invest-in-today-s-market" target="_blank">investing in today's market</a>, liveability guru <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/advice-and-hot-topics/90628-georg-chmiel-talks-with-liveability-guru-cecille-weldon-about-unlocking-a-home-s-hidden-value" target="_blank">Cecile Weldon</a> and Hickinbotham Group's <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/investment-strategy/129-industry-leaders-give-their-property-insights/93219-georg-chmiel-chats-with-hickinbotham-group-s-michael-hickinbotham-about-the-home-building-family-business" target="_blank">Michael Hickinbotham</a>.
</body></html>

Georg Chmiel chats with Ben Coorey on how to turn neighbours into millionaires

<html><body>
Crown Residences at Barangaroo has won Chinese Global Choice Awards from Juwai.com, the number one Chinese international property portal
The awards presentation, held in Shanghai, saw Crown Residences pick up the Best International Hospitality Branded Residence.
The presentation followed followed four months of nominations, online voting by Chinese consumers, and final selection by a panel of judges that included senior executives from Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Noah Holdings, and other respected companies.
<div>
The Juwai Global Chinese Choice Awards (below) is the only awards program in the world to target China-centric residential developers, agencies, lenders, and other organizations.
<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/2018/12/11/all_winners_Juwai%20copy.jpg" alt="">
Todd Nisbet, executive vice president of strategy and development for Crown Resorts said the fact that a project in Australia won the award shows how global real estate has become.
 "We couldn’t be more excited about receiving this award, given the fact that it is voted on by the general public who are interested in real estate," Nisbet said.
"That an award has been won by a project in Australia is a testament to how truly global real estate has become for the Chinese consumer. 
Crown wasn't the only Australian winner at the awards night.
Property investment firm Ironfish won the Trustworthy Overseas Property Service Provider award.
Lanny Xu, CEO of Ironfish China, said it's one of the best awards to win.
“Since 2004, we have built up our business in China and received lots of awards and are very appreciative, but none of these can be compared with today’s award from Juwai," she said.
"It is one of the best awards in the industry and we are very honoured to receive it. 
"Hopefully, in the future, we will work with Juwai<a href="http://juwai.com/">.</a>com in a long-term relationship in terms of serving clients in purchasing and investing in overseas property.”
 
</div>
</body></html>

Crown Residences at One Barangaroo win Juwai award for best international hospitality branded residence

<html><body>
Former Mirvac CEO Greg Paramor will join the board of directors at Juwai, the No.1 Chinese international property website, as a non-executive director from December.
Paramor has been involved in the real estate and funds management industry for more than 40 years.
He is former CEO of Mirvac Group, past president of both the Property Council of Australia and the Investment Funds Association, a board member of the professional Australian rules football club the Sydney Swans, and the immediate past Chair of LJ Hooker.
Juwai.com board chairman Georg Chmiel said Greg brings to Juwai.com so much expertise in Australian and APAC property, finance, and business that he is a treasure to have on the board.
"We expect Greg to work closely with the existing board members and the executive team on delivering on our vision for Juwai in 2019 and beyond," Chmiel said.
“This year, Juwai.com has delivered rapid growth on its financial and operational metrics."
Paramor said he is delighted to join the board.
“Juwai.com is one of the most exciting real estate technology companies on the landscape today," he said.
“Juwai.com has a promising future, given the size of its addressable market, its lead over potential competitors, and its role in the cross-border property sales process."
In August, Paramor's property fund management and development group, Folkestone, was acquired by Charter Hall Limited for $205 million.
He is a non-executive director at Charter Hall, which is a listed property funds management group with over AU$26 billion under management.
Paramor served as CEO of Mirvac Group between 2004 and 2008. He cofounded Equity Real Estate Partners, Growth Equities Mutual, Paladin Australia and the James Fielding Group. 
Paramor was awarded an Officer in the General Division (AO) of the Order of Australia in January 2015 for his distinguished service to the community through executive roles in fields that include breast cancer research, sport, the not-for-profit sector, and property. 
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Former Mirvac CEO Greg Paramor joins Juwai board

<html><body>
Chinese buyers of Australian real estate spent US$6.4 billion less in 2017 than they did in 2016, according to Juwai.com’s Chinese Global Property Investment report.
<div>Chinese purchased US$17.4 billion on Australian real estate in 2017, well down on the 2016 total estimate of US$24 billion.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>New Zealand saw US$1 billion in investment.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The total Australia and New Zealand investment combined was down 23 percent from 2016.</div>
<div> 
<div>Carrie Law, CEO and director of Chinese international real estate website Juwai.com said that capital controls, restrictions on bank financing to offshore buyers, and new foreign buyer taxes and restrictions all served to reduce Chinese investment last year.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"This year we expect moderate growth, which is in line with Beijing’s goal of managed, rational overseas investment," Law said.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Despite the higher stamp duties, Chinese still see Australia as a long-term value," Law noted.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/9/11/region1.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div><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/2018/9/11/region1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>"The majority of our residential buyers are purchasing for their own use, because they have children studying or working here, or because they plan to visit regularly or to retire here.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"Australia offers a table environment, safety, quality educational institutions, and high quality of life. Both Sydney and Melbourne rank in the top five most liveable cities in the world.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“In the first half, the most popular Australian cities for Chinese buyers were Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra, and Perth.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Juwai found US$14.1 billion of the $US17.4 billion spent my Chinese in Australia in 2017 was on residential acquisitions. Commercial sales totalled US$3.3 billion.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Sources like KPMG suggest that Chinese commercial real estate investment accounts for one-third of all Chinese corporate direct investment in the country.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"Political tensions between the two countries have a greater impact in creating uncertainty with corporate commercial real estate investors than they do with individual investors buying residential property for their own use.”</div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Globally, total Chinese investment in commercial and residential property hit US$119.7 billion, up 16.1% from the US$101.4 billion reported by Juwai in 2016. </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
</body></html>

Chinese property purchasing in Australia down 27 percent in 2017: Juwai 

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVATION
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Juwai's The Foreign Buyer Restrictions Report 2018-19 has found that the world will see fewer new foreign buyer restrictions imposed in top Chinese property destinations in the year ahead than in any of the prior three years. 
The Report points out that Canada’s two largest provinces, six of Australia’s eight states and territories, and Australia’s national government have all increased the taxes or restrictions that apply to foreign buyers of real estate over the past two years.
By contrast, in the year to come, only New Zealand is likely to impose new policies targeting foreign buyers. New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Amendment Bill is now under consideration in Parliament.
The rapid upward trend in Chinese international property investment of the past decade hit the world at the same time as historically low interest rates and population growth were inflating values in popular destination cities. In some places, especially Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, Chinese buyers were blamed for the price increases that objective data suggested was actually due to other factors. 
After retreating from an exuberant peak in 2016 of $101.1 billion, Chinese international real estate investment again appears to be on a growth path, although more steady and restrained that what we saw in that golden year. The Chinese government seems comfortable with what it calls ‘rational’ growth in international investment. 
Beijing has already telegraphed that it may experiment with further loosening capital controls. China has already resumed two key outbound schemes for investment in overseas securities, which had been suspended to reduce capital outflows. These have no direct impact on foreign property buyers, but do reveal a change of direction — from tightening to loosening. The Financial Times has reported it expects some of the controls introduced over the past two years to be ‘quietly relaxed.'
AUSTRALIA The Reserve Bank of Australia, the Australian Treasury, and a Parliamentary inquiry have all found that foreign buyers do not cause house-price inflation in Australia. The national government and six of the eight states and territories have none-the-less found it hard to resist targeting this group with no voice in the political process. Taxing foreign buyers gives state governments the appearance of taking action without having to tackle stamp duty and the planning mechanisms that are a major cause of the affordability crisis. The top Australian destinations for Chinese buyers are Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and the Gold Coast – followed by Canberra and Perth.
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
CANADA Canada has seen high bars placed in front of new foreign property buyers over the past two years. But we think that in 2018–19 it is unlikely that new restrictions or taxes will be imposed. New mortgage regulations have weakened the market, by dampening the primary drivers of higher prices, which is local buyers taking advantage of low interest rates to trade up or buy investment homes. 
The most popular Canadian destinations for Chinese buyers are Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, and Ottawa. 
NEW ZEALAND New Zealand is the sole major investment destination in the world that we consider to be very likely to impose new foreign buyer restrictions this year. The Overseas Investment Amendment Bill with its recent amendments would have the advantage of finally putting to an end the political uncertainty that has been ongoing since before the last election. 
The most popular destinations in New Zealand for Chinese buyers are Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Queenstown, and Hamilton. 
THAILAND In Thailand, new restrictions on foreign homebuying do not appear likely. Weak economic growth and the desire to tap overseas investors for the massive Eastern Economic Corridor project play role. Thai nationals are already protected by rules that prevent foreigners from owning land and more than half of the units in apartment buildings. 
The most popular destinations for Chinese property buyers in Thailand are Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Ko Samui. 
UNITED KINGDOM In the UK, the only potential legislation restricting foreign homebuyers that we foresee would address illegal Russian investment, not other buyer groups. We believe anxiety about the potential property-related impact of Brexit, currently weak markets, a dependency on foreign luxury in London buyers, and the UK’s proud tradition as a financial and investment center will prevent other measures. 
The most popular destinations in the UK for Chinese buyers are London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Edinburgh. 
UNITED STATES The United States offers the freest market, the largest market, and the most diverse market of any major investment destination for Chinese property buyers. That’s why it attracts the greatest amount of investment year after year. We foresee no new restrictions in the US this year, except perhaps for legislation that prevents the acquisition of real estate near critical military bases. The EB-5 visa program is also a perennial candidate for reform. While changes to the investment visa program with the deed affect Chinese nationals, it is not a residential property investment policy. 
The top American destinations for Chinese property buying are Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, and Orlando.
Carrie Law is the CEO and director of Juwai.com, the No. 1 Chinese international real estate website and the exclusive international real estate partner to Chinese online giant Tencent.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

New taxes targeting Chinese property investment set to drop worldwide: Juwai

<html><body>
Official FIRB data has confirmed a collapse in approvals for foreign investment in Australia’s housing market.
<div>
The Foreign Investment Review Board’s annual report reveals a 67 per cent fall in residential real estate approvals last financial year — down from 40,149 approvals to just 13,198 approvals.
The value of FIRB approvals fell from $72.4 billion to $25.2 billion in fiscal 2017.
The large numbers of residential foreign buyers from the boom of 2012-17 are unlikely to be repeated, a UBS report tips.
During 2016–17, 1,669 residential real estate compliance cases were identified for investigation (down from 2,104 cases in 2015-16). Of these, 1,409 investigations were completed (1,637 in 2015–16), which identified 549 properties acquired in breach of Australia’s foreign investment rules (up from 260). There were 96 residential properties divested by foreign persons (up from 54 in 2015–16) totalling nearly $97 million.
Victoria is the most popular state for residential real estate approvals, followed by New South Wales, with these two states accounting for 73% of all such approvals.
Queensland accounts for 18%, Western Australia for 5%, South Australia for 3%, and the Australian Capital Territory for 1%.
Chinese investors were again the largest source of foreign investment approvals by both value ($38.9 billion) and number (9,714) in 2016–17.  
China continued to be the largest source of foreign investment associated with approvals for residential real estate.
</div>
Carrie Law, CEO and Director of Juwai.com, the No. 1 Chinese international real estate website and the exclusive international real estate partner to Chinese online giant Tencent, said the period saw half years "like night and day" in terms of Chinese investment.
"In the second half of 2016, Chinese investment were investing in Australian real estate at an almost irrational pace.
"It was like money falling from heaven for vendors and developers.
"In early 2017, capital controls, financing restrictions, and foreign buyer taxes reduced Chinese investment to more reasonable levels," Law suggested.
 “Since November 2017, we seem to have entered a period of more sustainable long-term growth. Chinese buying enquiries for Australian property in March were 5.7% higher than the month before and in Aprilthey were 22.3% higher.
<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/2018/5/30/Chinese%20Top%20Cities%20Juwai.jpg" alt=""> 
Law added that China’s capital controls have worked.
Today, China’s foreign reserves are up, the Yuan is stronger, the flow" of money out of the country has been reduced, and fears of a devaluation have virtually disappeared.
"But they have succeeded without having to make it impossible for ordinary Chinese families to buy property overseas."
Recent research reports that a majority of Chinese households intend to increase their offshore investments in the coming two years, with real estate the asset class most favoured by outbound investors.
 
<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/2018/5/30/Chinese%20share%20by%20year%20Juwai.jpg" alt=""> 
“The big declines are partly due to lower demand, and mostly due to the changed application fees.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/5/30/FIRB%20summary%20Juwai.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/30/FIRB%20summary%20Juwai.jpg" alt="">
 Considering just commercial real estate investment from all nations, approvals dropped from $50 billion to $44 billion.
The FIRB reports that one reason for the decrease in approvals for commercial property is that under the new China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, Chinese investors no longer need request investment approval before purchasing developed commercial property worth less than $1.094 billion. 
</body></html>

Juwai

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Juwai

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.