<p>South East Queensland’s apartment market is entering a new phase defined by rising prices, constrained affordability, and mounting pressure on the construction pipeline, according to RPM Group’s latest SEQ Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report.</p>

<p>The May 2026 report highlights a widening divide between what buyers can afford and what developers can viably deliver, with detached house prices continuing to push more buyers toward apartments across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.</p>

<p>RPM says Brisbane’s median house price has reached around $1.5 million, accelerating the shift toward higher-density housing as buyers are increasingly priced out of the detached market.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=135094 project_image_fid=356540]</p>

<p>Median unit prices rose across all three major SEQ markets in the March quarter. Brisbane City recorded the strongest annual growth, with median unit prices climbing 21 per cent to $862,000, while the Gold Coast reached the highest overall median at $950,000, up 17 per cent year-on-year. The Sunshine Coast followed at $870,000, representing annual growth of nine per cent.</p>

<p>RPM noted the affordability gap between houses and units remains significant, with detached homes commanding premiums of 67 per cent in Brisbane and 68 per cent on the Gold Coast relative to apartments.</p>

<p>The report suggests this price disparity is increasingly consolidating buyer demand within the apartment market, particularly among downsizers and owner-occupiers.</p>

<p>“Demand is real. Supply is moving. But they’re operating on different timelines and the gap between what’s being built and what buyers can afford is the defining tension in this market right now,” RPM Queensland and NSW Managing Directors Peter Neale and Clinton Trezise said in the report.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366230]</p>

<p>While approvals and commencements are strengthening, RPM argues the delivery pipeline remains constrained by construction costs, labour shortages, and extended build timelines.</p>

<p>Apartment approvals across Queensland increased 86 per cent over the year to February 2026, reaching 12,682 approvals, the highest level recorded since 2016. Brisbane overtook the Gold Coast as the state’s most active apartment approval market, with nearly 5,000 apartments approved over the past 12 months.</p>

<p>Unit commencements also strengthened considerably, rising 48 per cent year-on-year to 5,453 commencements in the December 2025 quarter, the highest level since 2018.</p>

<p>However, RPM’s research found apartment delivery timeframes have expanded sharply compared to the previous cycle. Projects are now averaging around 30 months from approval to completion, compared to roughly 20 months a decade ago.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=143932 project_image_fid=367515]</p>

<p>The number of units under construction has climbed to approximately 31,530 dwellings, nearing the previous 2016 peak, though projects are remaining in the pipeline for considerably longer.</p>

<p>Construction costs continue to weigh heavily on feasibility. RPM found the average apartment construction cost in Greater Brisbane reached $630,000 per dwelling in 2025, exceeding both Sydney and Melbourne. Coastal Queensland markets, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, were even higher at an average of $817,418 per apartment due to the prevalence of larger premium product.</p>

<p>The report also points to increasing pressure from Olympic-related infrastructure spending ahead of Brisbane 2032, with labour competition expected to intensify over the next several years.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370960]</p>

<p>ANZ Associate Director of Property Daniel Gradwell said the underlying demand drivers across South East Queensland remain strong, supported by interstate migration, downsizers, and population growth.</p>

<p>“The challenge is bringing enough supply to market to meet that demand, and nothing on the horizon makes that straightforward,” Gradwell said.</p>

<p>RPM’s analysis found the affordability challenge is becoming more pronounced in the new apartment market itself, with only three per cent of surveyed new apartments priced below $1 million.</p>

<p>Instead, the market is increasingly concentrated in higher price brackets, with the most common new apartment price band across SEQ sitting between $1.5 million and $1.75 million. Around half of all new apartment stock surveyed is priced below $2 million.</p>

<p>The report suggests developers are not necessarily avoiding lower price points by choice, but because current construction economics make delivering affordable apartments increasingly difficult at scale.</p>

<p>Rental conditions also remain tight across the region. Median rents for one-bedroom apartments rose 12 per cent in Brisbane over the past year to $580 per week, while Gold Coast one-bedroom rents increased nine per cent to $630.</p>

<p>Despite rising rents, RPM noted bond lodgements have generally trended downward over the past five years, indicating more apartments are being absorbed by owner-occupiers rather than retained as investor-held rental stock.</p>

<p>Looking ahead, RPM expects projects targeting the mid-market owner-occupier segment between $1.25 million and $2 million to remain the most viable part of the market, while premium projects in highly constrained coastal or riverfront locations continue to attract demand.</p>

<p>“Construction costs are rewriting the feasibility rulebook across Greater Brisbane, and with little relief in sight, only projects in the right price band, right location, and with presales secured early will make it through,” the report concludes.</p>


Joel Robinson

SEQ apartment demand outpacing affordable supply as construction timelines stretch: RPM

<p data-end="231" data-start="139">Camberwell Junction has long been the epicentre of amenity in Melbourne’s Boroondara region.</p>

<p data-end="597" data-start="233">For nearly a century, it has drawn both locals and visitors, anchored by the Camberwell Sunday Market, which first operated in 1929 and quickly became a fixture of the suburb’s identity. Over time, the Junction evolved into one of Melbourne’s most established retail and lifestyle precincts, now comprising more than 400 stores and over 300 commercial businesses.</p>

<p data-end="699" data-start="599">Despite that depth of amenity, one thing has remained notably limited: the supply of new apartments.</p>

<p data-end="1041" data-start="701">In a suburb defined by its heritage streetscapes and tightly held residential stock, new development opportunities have been scarce, particularly within the core of the Junction itself. That lack of supply has left a gap in the market for larger, design-led apartments suited to downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in the area.</p>

<p data-end="1173" data-start="1043">Boutique developer Above Zero identified that gap when it secured a prime site on Burke Road, in the heart of Camberwell Junction.</p>

<p data-end="1173" data-start="1043">[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368543]</p>

<p data-end="1566" data-start="1175">The site has a long planning history. Various proposals have been put forward over more than a decade, many of which were knocked back by the City of Boroondara, with initial applications dating back to 2015. Above Zero acquired the site in 2022 and returned with a revised scheme, refining both the building’s height and its ground-level interface to better align with Council expectations.</p>

<p data-end="1629" data-start="1568">That process has culminated in approval for Camberwell House.</p>

<p data-end="1845" data-start="1631">The Cera Stribley-designed development will deliver 57 residences on a 1,950 sqm site within the Camberwell Activity Centre, placing it directly within one of Melbourne’s most established retail and transport hubs.</p>

<p data-end="2162" data-start="1847">It is expected to be one of the only new apartment developments to launch in the Junction in recent years, reinforcing the rarity of new supply in the precinct. Currently, there are just a handful of projects on the market in Camberwell, underscoring the significance of a development of this scale and positioning.</p>

<p data-end="2162" data-start="1847">[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368544]</p>

<p data-end="2438" data-start="2164">Camberwell House has been conceived with a clear focus on larger-format apartments. The project will offer a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, alongside a limited number of penthouses, targeting owner-occupiers seeking scale rather than volume-driven product.</p>

<p data-end="2496" data-start="2440">The building’s vertical presence will also set it apart.</p>

<p data-end="2868" data-start="2498">Positioned on Burke Road, the development is set to become one of the taller buildings in its immediate context, allowing for elevated outlooks across Melbourne’s CBD skyline and toward the Dandenong Ranges. In a precinct characterised by lower-scale built form, that height provides a point of differentiation, particularly for buyers seeking outlook and natural light.</p>

<p data-end="2868" data-start="2498">[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368568]</p>

<p data-end="3133" data-start="2870">Architecture has been led by Cera Stribley, with interiors by GOLDEN and landscape design by Florian Wild. The design approach centres on material consistency and restraint, with residences oriented to maximise light, ventilation and connection to outdoor spaces.</p>

<p data-end="3317" data-start="3135">Full-height glazing and generous terraces form a key part of that strategy, allowing apartments to extend beyond their internal footprint and engage with the surrounding environment.</p>

<p data-end="3413" data-start="3319">Beyond the private residences, a significant component of the project is its amenity offering.</p>

<p data-end="3710" data-start="3415">Above Zero has positioned Camberwell House as a “complete living environment”, incorporating a full floor dedicated to resident facilities. At the centre of that is a wellness zone, including a 12.5-metre lap pool, spa, sauna and treatment spaces, alongside a gym and recovery-focused amenities.</p>

<p data-end="3852" data-start="3712">This level of amenity is more commonly associated with inner-city developments, rather than established middle-ring suburbs like Camberwell.</p>

<p data-end="3852" data-start="3712">[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368588]</p>

<p data-end="4137" data-start="3854">Additional shared spaces include a private library lounge, dining and entertaining areas, and an indoor golf simulator. A self-contained guest suite has also been incorporated, allowing residents to accommodate visiting family or friends without impacting their primary living space.</p>

<p data-end="4220" data-start="4139">The inclusion of these facilities reflects a broader shift in buyer expectations.</p>

<p data-end="4590" data-start="4222">As more downsizers look to transition from larger family homes into apartments, there is increasing demand for developments that offer not just a residence, but a lifestyle. That includes access to wellness, social and entertaining spaces within the building itself, reducing the reliance on external amenity while still maintaining proximity to established precincts.</p>

<p data-end="4644" data-start="4592">Camberwell House is positioned to benefit from both.</p>

<p data-end="4919" data-start="4646">Its location places it within immediate walking distance of Camberwell Junction’s retail and dining offering, as well as public transport connections, including tram and train services. That combination of internal amenity and external convenience is central to its appeal.</p>

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-150" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:55d7c6ac-8e6d-4881-ad49-0ed9bf66d1cc-74" dir="auto">
<p data-end="271" data-start="88">Jellis Craig Projects Director Stephen Bowtell is handling sales for the project and says Camberwell House offers a rare entry point into one of Melbourne’s most tightly held markets.</p>

<p style="text-align:start">“Buyers are recognising that Camberwell House offers something they simply haven’t seen before in Boroondara,”&nbsp;Bowtell&nbsp;says.</p>

<p>“It combines a level of resident amenity and service typically associated with Melbourne’s premium inner-city developments, while being positioned right in the heart of Camberwell Junction.</p>

<p>“The response to the concierge offering has been particularly strong. Buyers appreciate not only the convenience, but also the sense of security and peace of mind that comes from having a dedicated presence in the building every day.</p>

<p>“When you combine that with the wellness facilities, the exceptional arrival experience, and panoramic views across both the CBD skyline and the Dandenong Ranges, it creates a lifestyle proposition that is genuinely unique within the local market.”</p>
</section>

<p data-end="5000" data-start="4921">[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4896]</p>


Above Zero launches Camberwell House in undersupplied Camberwell Junction precinct

<p><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.</p>

<p>VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.</p>

<p>Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]</p>

<p>The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]</p>

<p>“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.</p>

<p>[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]</p>


CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

<p>Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.</p>

<p>Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.</p>

<p>What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.</p>

<p>The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.</p>

<p>Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.</p>

<p>For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.</p>

<p>Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.</p>

<p>Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.</p>

<p>That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.</p>

<p>Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.</p>

<p>The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.</p>

<p>Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.</p>

<p>Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.</p>

<p>The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.</p>

<p>The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.</p>

<p>That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.</p>

<p>Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.</p>

<p>The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.</p>

<p>Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.</p>

<p>For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.</p>

<p>The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.</p>

<p>The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.</p>

<p>Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.</p>

<p>For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.</p>

<p>That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.</p>

<p>Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.</p>

<p>Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.</p>

<p>What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.</p>

<p>And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.</p>


How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

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


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

Median Value

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<p>The median lot value in Australia rose by another 3.3 percent in the September 2016 quarter.</p>
<div id="post-body-7885676193843177499" class="post-body entry-content">
<div>The Housing Industry Association (HIA) reported that the median lot value hit at a record high of $243,585. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Since June 2012, the median lot value has increase by 28 percent or nearly $54,000.<br><br>
</div>
<div><a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/02/16/HIA.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge </a></div>
<div class="separator"><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/2017/02/16/HIA.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="separator">Source: (HIA)</div>
<br><div>The picture around the country was mixed.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Land values in the Kimberley have well and truly crashed by 74 percent from the prior comparative period, for example.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>At the other end of the scale Sydney's <strong><em>median</em></strong> lot value is not approaching $1,000 per square metre. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Perhaps this is not all that surprising given that volumes were down by nearly 30 percent in Sydney year-on-year, with a dearth of shovel-ready land being made available. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The next most expensive city for vacant land prices is Perth at $701/sqm.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The volume of lot sales increased to 1,121 in the quarter, following some low volumes in previous quarters. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Indeed, volumes were still some 7 percent below their 2015 peak, according to the HIA. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Overall, capital city land sales rose by about 10 per cent in the year to September 2016, reflecting higher demand and generally stronger economic conditions, while volumes across regional Australia posted a gain of just 1.1 percent. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of </em><a href="https://allenwargent.com/"><span class="s2"><em>AllenWargent</em></span></a><em> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and </em><a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/"><span class="s2"><em>blogger</em></span></a><em>. </em>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Where the capital city land prices are rising the most: Pete Wargent

<html><body>
<p><span>Bravo Eliza Owen of </span><em>On the House</em><span> for this fabulous time lapse video presentation of Sydney median house values over the past 35 years. </span></p>
<p>You can watch it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC0xL24ecs0" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<div>There are a number of fascinating aspects to this piece, which suggested to me that home buyers and investors seeking long term capital growth should aim to buy in the best-located suburb that they can afford, and should also look for scarcity value.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Bellevue Hill had a median price which broke through $200,000 in 1980 - around double Sydney's median house price at that time - yet the median house price in the suburb has exploded to $4.2 million today, more than four times the median house price in the harbour city.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>How so? A combination of a lack of new building - the result being scarcity value - combined with gross income and equity growth, with buyers and wealthy residents at the premium end of the market rarely reliant upon linear salary income for their house purchases. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Other well located inner suburbs have demonstrated massively strong price growth as they have gentrified. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Note how housing booms and corrections have been recurrent and have repeatedly been characterised by massive boosts in price in locations close to the city, with suburbs on the north shore and close to the water leading price booms and the western suburbs lagging behind.<br><br>Being located near a train line with a direct city link can help, particularly it seems on the north shore (cf. Killara, Gordon, which have historically led price growth in previous cycles).<br><br>On the other hand being in an industrial suburb under a flight path, historically at least, has been a negative, with inner western suburbs such as Mascot having lagged through the cycle. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Due to this disparate nature of capital growth which has favoured suburbs closer to the city, the <em>On the House</em> figures show that today there is a significantly wider range of median house price values by suburb across Sydney than there was in the past.<br><br>I expect this widening of prices to continue. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>With a good deal of building having taken place on Sydney's outer south western fringe, median home values have increased sharply in that sub-region since 2011.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>However, recent auction results (or more accurately, should one say, the dearth of positive results at auction, with the outer south west recording a worrying preliminary clearance rate of "n/a" this week) suggest that a sharp correction could be in the post for that sub-region.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Very interesting stuff.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p><span><em>PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.</em></p>
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35 years of Sydney house prices: Pete Wargent

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<p>Median values for both vacant residential land as well as house and land packages in the Logan City Local Government Area (LGA) in South East Queensland continue to rise, says Ray White Commercial.</p>
<p>Ray White land marketing director, Jamie Martin, said the Logan City residential land market has been buoyant in the 12 months to March 2016.</p>
<p>Its median value for land reached a new high of $434 per sqm.</p>
<p>Mr Martin said sales rates reached their third highest level since 2008, while house and land packages surged 37.6 per cent from the previous year.</p>
<p>“The results for Logan have shown the strength of the land market,” Mr Martin said.</p>
<p>“While sales volumes have reduced, the continued uplift in median values are encouraging signs for the market.</p>
<p>“Development approval levels have reduced from the highs of 2015, however the stable registration levels underline the depth of the market.</p>
<p>Indicators such as reduction of lot sizes, and strong increases in house and land packages highlight the ongoing demand for housing in this location.”</p>
<p>Mr Martin said the Logan City LGA provides 9,910ha of land suitable for residential development, with potential to deliver up to 104,000 dwellings, representing an important growth corridor of South East Queensland with significant scope for future residential land development opportunities.</p>
<p>“This corridor accounts for 38.5 per cent of South East Queensland’s current developable land,” he said.</p>
<p>Mr Martin said despite the reduction in development approvals, the total number of residential land projects has remained steady.</p>
<p>“This year we have recorded 105 total projects with 13 larger projects with more than 50 lots, which is just behind last year’s result of 108 projects,” he said.</p>
<p>“Lot registration over this period has been stable which highlights the ongoing steady completions of lots in Logan.</p>
<p>Registered lots have recorded a median lot size of between 450 sqm to 534 sqm with the median for the year growing by 2.31 per cent.”</p>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Logan City's median land values on the rise

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<p>Houses and units across Perth both posted declines in median prices during the September 2015 quarter, according to REIWA president Hayden Groves.</p>
<p>The median house price is down 4.2% from the June quarter to $522,133 with units at $420,125.</p>
<p class="BasicParagraph"><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Median rental figure fell $20 to now rest at $400 per week, sitting to $420 for houses and $395 for units.</span></p>
<p class="BasicParagraph">REIWA president HaydenGroves said rhe best performing suburb was St James in Perth’s central sub-region, which topped the list with a 5.1% increase to its quarterly annual median, followed by Mount Claremont with 4.5%.</p>
<p>“Baldivis continued to dominate for houses this quarter with 469 house sales, followed by Ellenbrook with 420 sales and then Canning Vale in third place with 413 sales. Renowned for their appeal to first home buyers, these suburbs continue to dominate in a market skewed by weaker trade-up activity and prominent first time buyers," he said.</p>
<p>“For units, East Perth came in at number one with 288 sales for the three months to September, with Scarborough coming in second with 238 and Perth third with 224 sales, showing that the inner urban apartment market continues to entice buyers.</p>
<p>“We estimate that total dwelling sales for the quarter will come in at around 8,600 sales across WA, below the average and fewer than the June quarter, although the winter months normally return a subdued sales volume measure."</p>
<p>Metropolitan sub-regional markets, the top performers:</p>
<ul>
<li>North West: Madeley up 3.7%</li>
<li>North East: Wattle Grove up 2.2%</li>
<li>South West: Rockingham up 3.3%</li>
<li>South East: Bedfordale up 1.2%</li>
</ul>
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mick.cee-iDmgDDAmu8

Perth houses, units post median September declines: REIWA

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<p><span>An 11% rise in capital city home values nationally has pushed some 437 new suburbs onto CoreLogic RP Data's Million Dollar Club.</span></p>
<p><span>The club comprises suburbs where the median value of a median value of at least $1 million.</span></p>
<p><span>The membership requirement is that a minimum of ten sales above $1 million have to be made over the year.</span></p>
<p><span>According to CoreLogic RP Data head of research, Tim Lawless the rise in values has been strongest in Sydney and Melbourne, with the jump in the number of suburbs on the list is evidence of these strong value rises. </span></p>
<p><span>"The top 20 most expensive suburbs list show that Sydney suburbs clearly dominate the record board and account for 17 of the 20 most expensive suburbs nationally… On the other hand, only 1 Melbourne suburb and 2 Perth suburbs made it to the millionaire suburbs list," Mr Lawless said.</span></p>
<p><span>"There were also significantly more suburbs making the list for houses (424) than units (13). In fact, all of the suburbs listed for units were situated in Sydney and were located adjacent to or on the water. </span></p>
<p><span>"With growth levels potentially moderating over the coming year we aren’t likely to see as substantial a jump in the number of suburbs as what has been seen over previous years."</span></p>
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