The final apartments in the most recently completed new development in Balwyn present some of the largest and most exclusive ever delivered in one of Melbourne’s most established and character-rich neighbourhoods.

Boutique developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/wulff-projects">Wulff Projects</a>,&nbsp;alongside partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pga-group">PGA Group</a>, has just finished <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/threadneedle-balwyn-1-5-threadneedle-street-balwyn-vic-3103">Threadneedle</a>, 17 home-sized residences designed completely for the owner-occupier.

Named after its location on Threadneedle Street, the new project has been shaped by the heritage fabric of Balwyn. It offers two low-rise buildings of eight and nine apartments respectively, designed to emulate traditional standalone homes.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355582]

John Scaramuzzino, Director at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, explains the design intention.

“Given the quiet residential character of the street with many homes dating back to the 1930s and 1940s, we approached Threadneedle wanting to appear less as a collection of apartments and more as a traditional residence. This led to creating not one but two buildings that could “breathe” with larger garden-based apartments functioning more like small homes.”

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The north-facing residences are nestled among extensive landscaped gardens by Ben Scott Garden Design, with over one-third of the site dedicated to greenery. The resulting setting is one of calm seclusion, where architecture and landscape work in tandem to offer immediate liveability.

With construction now complete, the final apartments include a top-floor, single-level penthouse residence priced from $2.8 million. This home offers three bedrooms, a dedicated study, two bathrooms plus powder room, and three car spaces with an oversized storage room.&nbsp;

Interiors prioritise spatial comfort and natural light, with three-metre-high ceilings, oversized internal doors and a full-width terrace oriented to the north, east and west.&nbsp;

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Floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows ensure thermal performance across seasons, supported by automated external blinds, zoned heating and cooling, and a fireplace for added ambiance.

Each apartment has been individually designed to maximise privacy and garden outlooks. Kitchens combine refined finishes with practical considerations: stone benchtops, butler’s pantry, full-height joinery and concealed rangehoods.&nbsp;

The inclusion of dedicated home offices responds to contemporary living patterns, while bathrooms feature sculptural bathtubs and brushed nickel fixtures.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27816 project_image_fid=355590]

Threadneedle also integrates best-practice sustainability measures, achieving a 7 Star average NatHERS rating. Initiatives include solar PV systems, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and irrigation, and high-performing building insulation. These elements enhance daily comfort while reducing ongoing maintenance and energy demand.

"We believe Threadneedle sets a new standard of design excellence and building quality for Balwyn,"&nbsp;Scaramuzzino added.

"It’s an architectural response we’re particularly proud of, and one we’re sure residents will be equally proud to call home."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=27816]

Staff Writer

Final homes remaining as Threadneedle, Balwyn completes construction

Joel Robinson

Sydney's top 15 new apartments developments set to launch in 2026

Developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dasco-australia">DASCO</a> has pushed beyond the now-standard inclusions of rooftop pools and landscaped podiums at its recently launched new Epping project, Senso.

It has laid out over 4,000 sqm of resident-only amenity in a move designed to compete directly with low-density housing on livability, not just density. The result is a development that supports genuine daily use through purposeful spaces distributed across its five-building, 479-apartment precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4396]

Two rooftop pools form the anchor of Senso. One is a 27-metre lap pool adjoining a heated spa, designed for everyday fitness rather than just summer leisure. The second sits on a lower podium, allowing different buildings to share in vertical access and reducing crowding during peak times.

It is the secondary spaces that start to distinguish Senso from other large-scale suburban projects. A rooftop cinema is integrated into a landscaped terrace, offering open-air screenings with natural ventilation and passive cooling.&nbsp;

The inclusion of a “sensory walk”, an elevated boardwalk that threads through the site, suggests a rare investment in non-commercial, non-essential amenity: space for quiet movement that doesn’t double as access or traffic circulation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4402]

The gym and wellness centre, often relegated to a small ground-floor room in many builds, takes on more substance here. Residents have access to a fully equipped gym, as well as outdoor yoga areas and meditative zones that integrate greenery and natural light.&nbsp;

The Club Lounge is similarly designed to support multiple use cases, with a private dining terrace, kitchenette, workspace, and lockable wine storage. These aren’t superficial additions; their scale and spatial allocation indicate serious intent for frequent resident use.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134954 project_image_fid=4391]

Importantly, Senso’s amenities are embedded within a site that spans more than 10,000 sqm, allowing for better separation between spaces and reduced noise spillover, a critical but often overlooked factor in high-density developments. This spatial generosity also enables multiple alfresco kitchens and communal terraces without compromising individual privacy or usable space.

While many developments make claims about lifestyle, few back it with this level of built infrastructure. Senso’s mix of dedicated fitness, wellness, social and passive green spaces suggests a conscious response to the post-pandemic shift in housing expectations, especially among owner-occupiers.&nbsp;

DASCO is one of several leading developers who have taken out Resilience Insurance's Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing buyers with a 10-year structural and waterproofing warranty, and giving them the ultimate peace of mind.

Senso is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134954]

The outdoor amenities elevating life at Senso, Epping

Following the proposal by the Minns Labor Government to rezone Parramatta Road to create up to 8,000 new homes, prominent developer Ceerose has gone to the NSW Gov to increase the density of its new mixed-use residential building in Leichhardt.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/ceerose">Ceerose</a>, founded by Edward Doueihi nearly three decades ago, has filed plans for 154 apartments above ground-floor retail at 307-315 Parramatta Road, a key corner site near Norton Street, the main high street strip in Leichhardt.

It's an upsize from the previously approved scheme of 63 apartments across a seven-storey building.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba1ae75b-5f08-43fb-b8d5-3de6d9f6ef71" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.39%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=yA3hBBLPH4ev7MsAE0_hieXeqiFqBUb7" />

The project is being advanced through the State Significant Development (SSD) pathway, with concurrent rezoning sought to facilitate the proposal. The 10-storey development would rise over a four-level basement and deliver two retail tenancies, one a larger-format offering and the other a smaller “hole in the wall” space, addressing the Parramatta Road frontage. 21 of the apartments are dedicated as affordable housing.

According to the Urban Design Report by Architecture AND, the scheme includes a podium and tower configuration, with a fine-grain, two-storey parapet street wall that references the traditional shopfront rhythm along the corridor. “An elegant tower form is proposed, combined with a characterful two storey frontage... articulating it as two related buildings, providing consistency with the rhythm and grain of Parramatta Road,” the report notes.

The residential component is split across two slender towers set back from the street edge, a design move aimed at preserving solar access and reducing perceived bulk. This massing strategy also seeks to improve residential amenity by focusing scale toward the quieter northern interface, away from Parramatta Road’s noise and pollution.

<img alt="Ceerose" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="347f2f8f-5d36-4388-b40a-2e77380b9c19" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-04%20at%2010.31.02%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=xvyUE2ujT1lzivXTo.mHBJFF4SmfgLtz" />

Architecture AND has worked with Ceerose on previous Inner West projects, and cites a deep familiarity with the local character. Their design draws heavily on context, heritage, and sunlight access considerations, and engages with the Inner West Council’s “Our Fairer Future” strategic planning framework.

The site spans 2,712 sqm and is located near key intersections with Catherine Street, Hay Street, and Redmond Street. It adjoins a public carpark to the north and is within walking distance of Stanmore and Petersham stations. It is also flagged in state and local planning strategies, including the Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy, as a suitable candidate for increased density.

Ceerose recently completed The Alex Collective on McEvoy Street in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay.

The Parramatta Road corridor is coming to life with the proposed rezoning which is serviced by a significant number of bus, light rail and train routes.

Deicorp is progressing with its $1.8 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kings-bay-village-five-dock-53-75-queens-road-five-dock-nsw-2046">Kings Bay Village</a> precinct on Parramatta Road in Five Dock, as is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/toga-to-push-on-with-five-dock-mixed-use-masterplan">TOGA further down the street</a>. Those two projects alone will bring nearly 2,000 new homes to Parramatta Road.

First look: Ceerose plots mixed-use Leichhardt development on Parramatta Road

North Sydney's landmark 'SBS Building' on Alfred Street is set to be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use residential tower in the booming North Sydney.

Commercial property group FiveX is behind the plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/275-alfred-street-north-north-sydney-nsw-2060">39-storey tower</a>, the latest project to advance under the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

They are proposing 184 apartments above retail spaces, which will replace the existing 20-storey commercial building. FiveX was set up more than five decades ago by Joshua and Marko Berger. It is currently led by Joshua's son Lesli.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower at 275 Alfred Street, North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2efa0980-53fa-4cca-9f9e-9c3c845d4746" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29%20%281%29_0.png?VersionId=y_YyPMq3NQLfYRs84pP4os9UgWiMLp75" />

According to the Architectural Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">FJC Studio</a>, the slender tower form has been deliberately designed to respect the site's transitional setting at the southern gateway to the North Sydney CBD, where high-rise towers give way to lower-scale residential precincts.

"The slender tower form and articulated podium establish a respectful relationship with nearby heritage and low rise buildings, including the Whaling Road Heritage Conservation Area,” the architecture firm noted, adding that the tower “completes a missing link in the urban fabric” while enhancing the Alfred Street streetscape.

The proposed building will include a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, with 15 percent of the gross residential floor area allocated as affordable housing. There is an agreement already in place that those apartments will be managed by Evolve Housing.

The project aligns with broader state housing objectives, including the National Housing Accord target of delivering 1.2 million new homes by 2029. The Scoping Report filed with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) suggests the site "presents no impediments to rapid delivery,” with construction able to commence within 12 months of receiving consent.

North Sydney has been one of the most popular suburbs in Sydney for new and off the plan apartment development, but hasn't had the supply to keep up with demand, until recently.

AURA by Aqualand was, for a long time, the only off the plan apartment building on the market. That completed last year, and has sold the majority of its 386 luxury apartments. Recently ALAND launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> on the same street, selling over $100 million within just a few hours of its launch, while developer CASA also launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a>&nbsp;in the same precinct.

First look: Fivex plans 39-storey residential tower in booming North Sydney

Mark Bouris

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The Mark Bouris-chaired Yellow Brick Road has received a takeover bid from veteran corporate raider Sir Ron Brierley's Mercantile Investment Company.
Mercantile advised it was offering to buy Yellow Brick Road for 9c a share in cash - a 3.2 per cent discount to where the stock traded before the bid was made.
Bouris said the bid was “opportunistic.”
He advised shareholders to take no action.
Mercantile owns almost 20 per cent of the poorly performing YBR.
"YBR shareholders who accept this offer will no longer be exposed to the risks and uncertainties of remaining a YBR shareholder," the Mercantile statement said.
"Mercantile OFM and its associates are disappointed with the financial performance of YBR. Mercantile OFM and its associates first acquired a relevant interest in YBR in November 2016, paying $0.145 per YBR share. Since then, the YBR share price has declined by 35.9 per cent," the statement said.
After Mercantile, which holds 19.9 per cent of YBR, the next largest shareholders are Bouris' Golden Wealth Holdings, which has an 18 per cent stake, and the Nine Entertainment Group, which holds 17 per cent.
Yellow Brick Road Holdings Limited says it is on track to become the leading non-bank financial services company in Australia by 2020.
Mr Bouris said the bid was "opportunistic in its nature, timing, pricing."
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Takeover bid by Brierley for Yellow Brick Road

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Financial services company Yellow Brick Road boss Mark Bouris says “very, very big demand” exists for interest-only loans since the new limits were placed on the banks.
And Bouris wants to step in and fill the gap in the market left by the banks.
The financial services company doesn’t have the ability to provide interest-only loans, instead sending inquiries off to other non-bank lenders while clipping the ticket on the way.
“We don’t have the funding lines to do those particular interest-only loans. We are looking to create the capacity, we’re more than looking,” Mr Bouris told The Australian.
"There are unregulated institutions from around the world and locally that are talking to various people about funding these asset classes that the regular banks don’t want or are unable to lend to."
Interest-only loans accounted for 30 per cent of all new mortgages last quarter, down from 36 per cent in the March quarter, according to figures released by APRA earlier this week.
The company swung to a $1 million after tax profit for the financial year ended June 30 from a $9.5 million loss in the previous year, with executive chairman Mark Bouris saying the smaller lender was well placed to cope with a property market slowdown than bigger rivals.
The strong result was achieved through cost cuts and an increase in loan volumes. 
“The work we’ve done in recent years to expand distribution, increase efficiency and diversify revenue has paid off and allowed us to deliver our maiden profit, even in the face of a tough lending environment,” Bouris said.
He added that despite the volatility of the sector, both loan volumes and revenue had grown. 
Full-year revenue was up 1.6 percent to $218.6 million.
“With these fundamentals in place, we are extremely well-positioned to win in this market,” he said. 
Commenting on the outlook, Bouris said he saw “opportunities for non-bank lenders in the current, tighter credit conditions, and we are considering ways to increase margins in this environment”. 
The group is working on a learning and development platform, which Bouris said was “unlike anything else in the industry”. 
It will boost business skills, technical knowledge and – ultimately - professional standards in the sector, he added.
The 16.7 percent loan growth YBR achieved could be lower due to a slowing residential market but Bouris said the residential market's move to a "healthy, sustainable" level of growth would be good for the whole lending industry.
Only recently, he had said in a column that there was no need to get spooked out by the recent talk about Australia’s housing market bubble set to burst, especially after CoreLogic data pointed to prices dropping, but rather it maybe that the market is taking a breather.
"We're young and new so we will continue to grow – maybe not at the same pace but at a similar sort of pace as we've grown before, so we're not too worried about that," he told The Australian Financial Review after the results announcement.
"I'd be worried if I had a $500 billion book – I'd be starting to get concerned about that – but I don't have that at this stage."
The lender’s underlying loan book picked up to $44.1 billion from $37.8 billion a year earlier, with  wealth management revenue growing 6.9 per cent to $10.4 million.
Bouris said cost cuts had helped profitability. YBR said expense costs narrowed to $18.9 million from $25.7 million the previous year.
The company did not declare a dividend.
Earlier this month, Yellow Brick Road appointed former Macquarie banker Frank Ganis to its board. Mr Ganis, who recently left Macquarie after 28 years, was a pivotal player in building the mortgage securitisation sector in Australia in the 1990s.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Yellow Brick Road eyes offering interest only loans

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There is no need to get spooked out by the recent talk about Australia’s housing market bubble set to burst, especially after CoreLogic data pointed to prices dropping, but rather it maybe that the market is taking a breather, says a leading industry executive.
The CoreLogic data that came out last week showed a slight dip in prices. But most of the headlines were about two cities: Sydney and Melbourne, says Mark Bouris, the executive chairman of wealth manager Yellow Brick Road.
“We need to remember that prices have been going gangbusters there for more than five years,” he said in a column in Fairfax Media.
Also, Australia is a patchwork of very different markets. In May, prices rose in Brisbane and Adelaide, while values in Perth and Darwin fell. 
“And that doesn't take into account all the regional areas, where things such as employment and infrastructure have a big impact on housing prices,” adds Bouris.
“If you only read the headlines, it's easy to get spooked about property. But based on the latest data, we aren't talking about a bubble bursting or prices falling off a cliff – we're seeing the market take a breather. After all, it's been running at full tilt for a while now.”
For owner-occupiers, the implications could be that if there has been good capital growth and then one might want to tap into your home equity to buy another property.
Some lenders have pulled back on investor loans, thanks to pressure from the banking regulators, but the tap hasn't been turned off altogether, he says.
“The key is to be sensible. Think about "serviceability" – making sure you have the income to cover an investment loan, especially if it's negatively geared.
“And don't overextend by getting the biggest loan possible – choose something you can still afford if interest rates increase or rental income flatlines.”
For investors, a “less frothy market” means the need to look harder for the right property, he advises. 
One needs to pay close attention to the fundamentals such as the area’s supply and demand for housing.
“Supply is one half of the equation, so look at things such as development application (DA) approvals to see how much is in the pipeline.
“On the other hand, demand is influenced by population growth and where jobs are coming from – so make sure it's an area people want to be in,” he adds.
A lot of this data is publicly available using sources such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 
“Think of it as a business decision and do your homework properly.”
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Property market taking a breather: Yellow Brick Road's Mark Bouris

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Mark Bouris, executive chairman of Yellow Brick Road, says borrowers need to vote with their feet.
"Quite simply, if the banks ratchet up rates and costs, go elsewhere and borrow from another lender," he wrote in his weekly Fairfax column.
He noted the property federal budget bank levy goes back to 2008, when a financial crisis was building and the four major trading banks – plus Macquarie Bank – wanted assistance from the federal government to stabilise our financial system.
"The government – actually, the taxpayer – guaranteed Australian deposits at deposit-taking institutions, up to $250,000.
"The banks also got a governmentguarantee over some bank debt and an ongoing facility up to $180 billion, which gave the banks access to very cheap debt.
"This new levy is 0.06 per cent of this government-guaranteed facility – it’s a very low charge for allowing banks to reduce their overseas borrowing costs and therefore, make bigger profits.
"So why would the bank charge you for giving it access to the cheapest capital?," he asked adding we’ll see what the banks decide to do – absorb the levy or pass it on.
He told borrowers there are only five banks being taxed with the levy.
"But have a look at a comparison website and you’ll see many lenders out there, from credit unions and building societies to small and regional banks, as well as loans offered by mortgage brokers and other financial services players.
"On any week, there can be a 1 per cent difference in interest rate between the lowest cost and most expensive standard variable mortgages.
"Why pay more than you should?"
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Mark Bouris says look for the 1 percent difference in available mortgage rates

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The celebrity businessman and host of Channel 9's The Celebrity Apprentice, Mark Bouris, says he will fire himself if his business, Yellow Brick Road does not make a profit this financial year.
Bouris made the bold declaration to the Australian Financial Review's Chanticleer columnist Tony Boyd in today's paper.
It comes at a time when the share price bounces around at 15 cents, near its record low of 13.5c. 
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<img src="/images/2016/10/12/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-12%20at%2011.29.13%20AM.png" alt="">
The fall in the stock over the past two years has left the group with a market cap of just over $40 million, down from about $200 million at its peak.
The mortgage lender and wealth manager made its stockmarket debut in 2011 with the kid from Punchbowl, in Sydney’s south-west, having the aim of taking on the banks, but YBR shares have crashed more than 75 per cent during the past two years. 
YBR’s recent $9.5 million ­annual loss came despite increasing its revenue 31 per cent to $218 million. 
<a href="/images/2016/10/12/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-12%20at%2011.34.33%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/12/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-12%20at%2011.34.33%20AM.png" alt="">
In early 2014 Bouris said YBR was “on track” to deliver its maiden profit during that ­financial year.
The recent $9.5 million loss was nearly tripling the previous year’s loss of $2.6 million.
The company has lost a cumulative $36.9m over the six years since its listing which saw Bouris joined on the register by Mineral Resources founder Chris Ellison and chief executive Peter Wade, pastoralist John Kahlbetzer and Navitas boss Rod Jones.
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<img src="/images/2016/10/12/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-12%20at%2011.51.29%20AM.png" alt="">
Bouris plans to open 40 new branches in the next year.
It has $700 million funds under management.
"Our foot was on the pedal, metaphorically speaking, right as the market cooled this year,” Mr Bouris said, explaining the result.
Along with recent acquisitions, YBR has spent millions on advertising during the housing boom to grab a bigger slice of the market.
YBR acquired the non-bank lender Resi Mortgage in 2014 for $36 million and then took over mortgage aggregator Vow Financial for $17.6 million.
Over the past 12 months, it has spent $5.3 million on advertising and marketing with The Celebrity Apprentice largely functioning as a lengthy ad. 
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<img src="/images/2016/10/12/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-12%20at%2011.55.03%20AM.png" alt="">
Last week the accounting entrepreneur, Brett Kelly made an off play for the company, while saying the YBR wealth management strategy will never work.
Kelly, who owns the country's fastest-growing network of accounting firms, says people buying low value mortgages from YBR's network of 40 branches do not have enough money to make the YBR wealth management strategy profitable.
An investor update issued last week by YBR suggested its competitive advantage as scaling lending, with $38 billion in mortgages under management, distribution scale with 1500 credit representatives and brand equity, which it credited as much stronger than it competitors.
While Kelly believes that Bouris has done well to build a strong finance business, he maintains that Australians with money for wealth management do not go to mortgage brokers or any of the big four banks.
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<img src="/images/2016/10/12/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-12%20at%2011.56.29%20AM.png" alt="">
Last week Kelly tried to grab a stake in YBR whose two biggest shareholders are Macquarie Group and Nine Entertainment Co.
Macquarie and Nine each owns a 20 per cent stake in YBR and both are strategic partners of YBR.
Macquarie supplies YBR with mortgage loans while Nine has been supplying a certain amount of free advertising as part of a contra deal from 2012 worth $6.5 million.  
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<img src="/images/2016/10/12/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-12%20at%2011.59.31%20AM.png" alt="">
Bouris admitted to Chanticleer that his reputation is at stake in the quest to build YBR into one of the country's largest independent financial firms. 
The Australian newspaper reported last month that investors had lost patience in Yellow Brick Road, the listed ­financial services firm he founded in 2007 after Bouris had overhauled YBR’s structure twice this year.
Bouris, who owns more than 51 million shares, took home $1.6 million in remuneration from YBR last year, a substantial cut from the previous year’s $5.6 million.
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The reduction in pay also came with more responsibility as the latest restructure cut five senior positions.
The Australian noted YBR has paid millions in advisory fees to BBB Capital and Golden Wealth Holdings.
BBB Capital is an investment advisory group founded by Mark Bouris and his brother Adrian, both of whom sit on the YBR board.
BBB Capital has collected $2.2 million in fees from YBR over the past six years, while Golden Wealth, an entity controlled by Mark Bouris, has been paid $3.9 million in consultancy fees from YBR over the same period.
Last month YBR ­announced the sale of the wealth division’s accounting business and legal practice to the former owner David Carr for nearly $2 million, with a consideration of an extra $2.8m over the next five years.
“I’m going to spend the next two to three years driving into hitting our capacity,” Mr Bouris recently told The Weekend Australian.
“I’m gonna be working a lot harder than I’ve ever worked,” he said.
“Not everyone necessarily wants to do that but that’s the way I run things. And if they don’t want to do it they can leave …
“I’m interested in people who will roll their sleeves up and get things done and actually go to the branches and see the customers. I don’t care if it’s me or the CEO — they’ve got to go and do it.”
Mr Bouris put down the collapse in the YBR stock price to the state of the market clinging to yield stocks, or companies that pay out generous dividends, and said investors weren’t rewarding ambition.
“The market is looking for yield. We’re a growth stock. Our aim is to take market share from our competitors. And I don’t make any apologies for that.”
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Mark Bouris says he will fire himself if YBR doesn't make a profit

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We've all marvelled at the amount of information on the internet and the speed with which we can compare available products.
Nowhere has this access to information been better exploited than in financial services, where you can use websites to make cheap share trades, find the best priced mortgage and get travel insurance that saves you heaps.
But although e-commerce is now normal, Australians still distinguish between low cost convenience transactions, and high value strategic decisions. For most people there's still a divide between the ease of technology and the need for advice.
But how do you decide whether to buy online or use a broker or adviser?
One criterion might be size and importance.
Australians can search for mortgages online and apply over the phone. However, the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia has found that of the growth in the mortgage market in the year to June 2014, 61% was driven by brokers. That was a 32% increase on the 2013 figure. Clearly, Australians like interaction with an expert when they take on their biggest debt.
The opposite is the case when applying for credit cards and operating bank accounts. For these transactional interactions we're comfortable to use the internet and call centres to administer our daily banking.
Consumers also transact directly online with their super and their share portfolios. This seems to work best with users who have good knowledge of the options and understand the choices.
Insurance is another matter. If you've been insuring your car for years, a quick price comparison on the internet can prepare you for buying more insurance over the phone or online at renewal time.
However, many insurances are strategic parts of life planning, and they need expert advice.
Even simple insurance such as home and contents has to be managed so you're never underinsured, and you aren't paying for things you don't need and being excluded from the cover you do need.
More than half of retail insurance premiums are written by advisers and brokers, probably because Australians think about insurance once a year and they need someone who thinks about it every day.
The advantage you get with an adviser is obvious in life insurances which include death cover, total permanent disablement (TPD), trauma and income protection. You can buy tax-friendly life policies in your super fund. But when you use an independent adviser, you can buy cover for your circumstances, with tailored inclusions and exclusions.
Life insurance issuers rarely have more than one top product line and premium at a time, with deals changing to showcase different products. Some insurers are strong in some occupations. An independent adviser knows this. Luckily, it isn't a choice between the internet or advice. The trick is to use both, according to their strengths and your needs. What do you favour? Internet or advice? I'd love to hear what you think.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of wealth management company <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, which sells financial advice and home loans.
You can contact Mark on <a href="https://www.twitter.com/markbouris">Twitter</a>.
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Should you get your mortgage online or use a broker?

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When rates are low, prices usually rise and first home buyers can feel shut out. 
But all is not lost if you stick to a few simple tips.
<ol>
<li>Deposit: Lenders want to see you have at least 5% of the purchase price as genuine savings (generally you'll need 10 per cent overall). You can top up with money from your parents or grandparents, but you have to show at least six months of your own savings. Start saving, now. </li>
<li>Savings: Set a goal for your deposit amount and save in a high-interest savings account that's separated from household expenses. Set a weekly deposit goal, use direct crediting and if you're a couple, have one person's income going directly into savings. </li>
<li>Reduce debt: Eliminate or reduce the limits on your credit cards and store cards. Lenders look at the limit on your cards, not your balance. </li>
<li>Grants: The First Home Owners Grant can help with your purchase. But it must be for a new home construction; you can't use it to buy the land and lenders will not treat the FHOG as part of genuine savings. Do your homework because the grant differs slightly between states. </li>
<li>Income: Lenders like to see stability and want to see evidence that you will repay the mortgage. So you should demonstrate at least six months (but preferably one year) of PAYG employment, or two years of financials and tax returns if you're self-employed. </li>
<li>Shop around: You can find variable rate mortgages in the range of 4.6 per cent to 6 per cent. The 1.4 per cent difference, on a 350,000 loan over 30 years, is worth more than $300 a month. </li>
<li>Marketing: Watch for "discount" mortgages and special low offers. The low rates last for a year or two and then revert to a much higher rate. Always look at the "comparison rate". </li>
<li>Fixed: Many first-home buyers like to balance their budget for a few years, and a fixed loan creates certainty. However, once in a fixed loan, your flexibility is restricted and you may encounter break costs if you want to sell or refinance. </li>
<li>Vary it: Variable rates fluctuate with the market but they are flexible, allowing you to repay higher amounts and deposit lump sums from bonuses and tax refunds, speeding your repayment. You can refinance a variable rate loan without penalty. </li>
<li>Offset: When you put all your income into a mortgage offset account, the balance pays down the mortgage by the amount you have in there each day. It stops interest capitalising against you as fast as monthly repayments. Offset accounts suit good budgeters. </li>
<li>Price: Don't be disheartened if you can't buy what you want - buy the next-best and build a strategy for your next property. </li>
<li>Advice: Mortgage brokers are excellent for insights, strategies and getting you a good result. They're worth talking to. </li>
<li>Always remember: When borrowing money and buying property, the same basic rules apply to everyone. So do your homework, be prepared, take some advice and go for it.</li>
</ol>
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of wealth management company <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, which sells financial advice and home loans.
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13 simple tips to help first home buyers save for a deposit

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There’s something of a home loan ‘rate war’ going on at the moment, which can be great for borrowers. But it also creates pitfalls for the unwary.
Take some mortgage advertising I saw this week: it promoted a variable mortgage rate of 4.65% but beside it was a ‘5.21% comparison rate’.
Look at the difference: on a $300,000 25-year mortgage at 4.65% your total interest bill is $207,941. But if you pay 5.21%, your costs total $237,198. The difference between what’s calculated from the headline offer and the actual costs over the long-term is around $30,000.
This type of advertising is a common marketing device. The low interest rate is merely an ‘introductory rate’ which in this case lasts three years. And after three years the home loan reverts to a much higher rate.
So given the current interest rate cycle it’s a good time to discuss the comparison rate. The ‘comparison rate’ is a legislated requirement brought in by the federal government. It was introduced in 2003 at a time when ‘honeymoon rates’ were popular and advertised interest rates were not informing borrowers about the true long-term cost of their home loan.
It’s quite difficult for average borrowers to calculate what they really pay over the long-term if they pay one rate for, say, two years and then revert to a ‘true’ rate for the next 23 years.
So to resolve the confusion the government mandated a formula that all mortgage lenders must use in their advertising. It includes unavoidable fees and charges, and interest rates over a set period, which creates the comparison interest rate.
Because all lenders have to use the same formula, the result gives a borrower the means to compare the true cost of a loan before they commit to it, and it gives some reality to the headline interest rate.
This regulation set by the government is important, but it only goes so far. The key to getting the right loan is for you as a consumer to take this information and act on it. The law says that a comparison rate must be co-located with the promotional rate, and with the same prominence. But a comparison rate is useless unless borrowers are looking at it and registering what it means. In talking to people, I often find that consumers misinterpret the comparison rate as “X” lenders best rate compared to “Y” lenders best rate. This is not at all the case.
When you look down the most affordable variable rate loans (4.6%-4.8%) at a site such as RateCity, you see that those lenders with the best ranking have comparison rates almost identical to their advertised rates – that is, the rate they advertise is basically what the borrower will pay. But other loans only start at 4.6%, before reverting to something much higher.
Consumers are easily confused by the terminology and practices of the financial services industry. So if you’re searching for something as important as a mortgage, and a comparison rate gives you a chance to level the playing field, you really must pay attention.
Mark Bouris is Executive Chairman of wealth management company <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>.<a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/"> </a>
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What the comparison rate really tells you about your mortgage

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Have a look at a home loan comparison website and you’ll see a growing number of variable rate mortgages are now below 5%.
With mortgages this affordable you could refinance out of an old expensive loan and into a low cost one; and it’s also a good opportunity to repay more than you have to – to build up equity more quickly.
But a lot of people are asking if the low rates mean it’s time to buy an investment property?
Firstly, I suggest potential investors separate their thinking between the mortgage interest rates and the investment itself. Long after variable rates have returned to normal levels, you’ll probably still own this investment and it should make financial sense.
The point of an investment property is to harvest the ‘total gross yield’ – that is, you want the property to produce rental income and capital growth. You want enough rental income to help pay the mortgage and meet costs month-to-month, and you want sufficient capital growth so that over time it becomes a more valuable asset.
If you can achieve a 5% per annum rental yield and the average growth in the suburb is 3% per annum, you have an 8% gross yield. But there are many things that can vary this result.
Does the property need renovations? Is it maintenance-intensive? Will you use a property manager? Is it close to amenities such as schools, shops and train stations and likely to be sough-after by tenants? All of these things will affect your yield over the long term, and property is a long-term game.
There’s really no substitute for homework – you must have a clear view about ownership costs.
You also have to think about negative gearing, which is a tax rule that allows you to take any losses on the property and use them to reduce your taxable income, thereby reducing your taxes.
This brings us to the cost of your mortgage. Many people want to buy an investment property simply because they can, but the cost of entry isn’t the end of the discussion.
The investment mortgage has to be repaid from income, while most people are also funding the family home loan from the same income. Even if negative gearing gives you a small tax break, you have to calculate if you could afford to pay the investment property mortgage if the rates moved upwards by, say, 2%, or 3%.
Fixed rate mortgages only give you breathing room for the term of the fixed rate – they don’t make rising interest rates go away.
Low interest rates make it affordable to buy, but you have to know what it costs to own it, which means understanding where interest rate rises will leave you.
And, a final hint: the best property investments are made at purchase. Try to buy a property at a good price, with low maintenance, in a high-demand area, where prices are just starting to pick up. Be patient and do your homework.
If you buy well, you’ll do well.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of wealth management company <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>.
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