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.

The latest application seeks approval for a 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.

Staff Writer

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

Leading Australian integrated property development group, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a>, has released the signature penthouses crowning its landmark AURA by Aqualand precinct at 168 Walker Street in North Sydney, unveiling Il Magnate and La Divina as the largest and most luxurious penthouses in the suburb.

With prices anticipated to commence from $15 million, and each accompanied by a new Porsche Carrera 911 valued at over $500K, the residences mark the culmination of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/aura-by-aqualand-north-sydney-168-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">AURA by Aqualand</a>’s decade-long journey and the beginning of its final sales chapter. 
&nbsp; 
Their release follows more than $850 million in record-breaking residential sales and the building’s completion and occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=358868]

The Richards Stanisich-designed 284 sqm Il Magnate and 224 sqm La Divina penthouses, collectively known as The Icons of AURA, are conceived as grand luxury homes rather than apartments, with expansive proportions, elevated materiality and curated identities that reflect their status as one-off residences.&nbsp;

Il Magnate features a grande master suite, complete with substantial walk-in dressing area and ensuite, three other bedrooms, second ensuite and another bathroom, powder room, open plan kitchen, scullery, substantial dining area and generous living room divided by a feature fireplace, and a multifunction wintergarden, which is ideal for a study and adjoining office breakout space. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, the La Divina residence offers the same amenities, sans the powder room, on a slightly smaller alternate floor plan configuration.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=358863]

Each occupies half of AURA by Aqualand’s topmost 28th level, comes with four secure car spaces and pairs sweeping Sydney Harbour panoramas with large-scale living spaces, refined detailing and a level of craftsmanship and amenity rarely offered in the North Shore market.&nbsp;

Penthouse residents will also receive Etymon’s ‘Black Key’ private concierge and lifestyle management service, an invitation only offering providing the ultimate in bespoke personalisation, including a range of everyday discrete services, from dinner party management, grocery deliveries, pet feeding or plants watered, dinners, snacks and coffee deliveries, event ticket sourcing, right up to organising travel visas and international airfares. Rarely seen in Australian properties, the service provides residents the benefits of living in a world-class luxury hotel-style home, akin to The Ritz, or the Waldorf Astoria.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=358862]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/richards-stanisich">Richards Stanisich</a>’s Director, Kirsten Stanisich, said the studio set out to craft residences that feel profoundly considered, contemporary and deeply connected to their setting.

“From the outset, we approached these penthouses with the sensibility of a grand Parisian residence - generous in scale, elegant in proportion and designed to feel more like a handcrafted home than an apartment," Stanisich said.

“Their elevated position and sweeping harbour outlook informed every decision, creating a rare connection between urban sophistication and natural calm. We shaped each space with expressive materiality, sculptural forms and bespoke detailing that invite touch and interaction.&nbsp;

“The result is a pair of residences defined by volume, light and an inherent softness - refined, flexible and deeply personal. These penthouses are unlike anything else in North Sydney, offering a sanctuary of true luxury framed by some of the city’s most remarkable views.”

For Aqualand’s Head of Sales &amp; Marketing, Alex Adams, the collaboration with Porsche underscores the shared ethos behind the residences.

“Aqualand’s collaboration with Porsche underpins both brand’s sharing an obsession with craftsmanship, design excellence, and enduring value," Adams said.

“Our penthouses are created for those who appreciate the finer details and expect the extraordinary at every touchpoint. Including a Porsche simply extends that experience beyond the residence - it’s a continuation of the lifestyle our buyers already live.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292862]

Aqualand’s Managing Director, Jin Lin, said the penthouses represent both the pinnacle of AURA by Aqualand and an important design benchmark for the company’s future pipeline.&nbsp;

“These stunning penthouses reflect the purest expression of Aqualand’s design ambition," Lin said.

“The unparalleled design intent makes them not only the glistening crown of AURA by Aqualand, but the crown of North Sydney itself. They’re essentially a thank you gift to a burgeoning community that deserves this level of quality and architectural consideration.&nbsp;

“We’re leveraging the unrivalled standard set here as the foundation for what comes next, including our upcoming Anderson Street, Chatswood; 15 Blue Street, North Sydney and Central Barangaroo projects. Purchasers of these penthouses will essentially be living inside the blueprint of Aqualand’s future.

“These landmark residences demonstrate how far North Sydney has evolved and the strength of demand for highly curated, bespoke luxury homes. They’re more than penthouses, they’re legacy residences.&nbsp;

“With AURA by Aqualand now a thriving new precinct with residents well and truly settled, and our in-house world-class lifestyle amenity activated, Il Magnate and La Divina represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure an extraordinary piece of North Sydney’s future.”

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=30959]

Joel Robinson

Aqualand launches North Sydney penthouses with free Porsche Carrera 911

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/bokarina-qld-4575">Bokarina</a> Beach has quietly evolved into one of the Sunshine Coast’s most complete coastal lifestyle precincts, defined not just by proximity to the ocean, but by how residential living, local retail and everyday amenity are stitched together.&nbsp;

Gardner Vaughan Group’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bask-bokarina-38-bokarina-boulevard-bokarina-qld-4575">Bask Bokarina</a> now represents the final residential chapter in that transformation.

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Over recent years, the Bokarina Beach precinct has taken shape as a walkable, community-oriented neighbourhood, anchored by beachfront access, Lake Kawana to the west, and a growing mix of cafés, specialty retail and public open space.&nbsp;

With Zinc Bokarina already delivered next door by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a> (GVG), Bask is the last opportunity to buy a brand new apartment within the precinct, effectively rounding out a fully formed coastal village.

GVG has positioned Bask to strengthen that lifestyle framework. Nine ground-floor retail spaces are planned beneath the residences, extending Bokarina Boulevard’s existing activity and reinforcing the area’s everyday convenience, from casual dining and coffee to local services, within a short walk of the beach.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333359]

The residential component comprises 135 apartments across two buildings, Mydas and Caretta, with a clear shift toward larger three- and four-bedroom layouts and penthouses. That mix reflects a maturing buyer profile in Bokarina, where demand is increasingly led by owner-occupiers and active downsizers seeking space, permanence, and connection to place rather than short-term coastal accommodation.

Design and amenity have followed the same logic. Residents will have access to a heated plunge pool, gym, private dining room with a full kitchen, landscaped communal gardens with barbecues and a firepit, and a shared herb and vegetable garden, facilities intended to support daily use rather than resort-style turnover. Pet-friendly features, including a dog wash bay, acknowledge both buyer expectations and the area’s dog-friendly beach, located around 250 metres from the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=141609 project_image_fid=333366]

“Bokarina has become one of the Sunshine Coast’s most desirable beachside communities, and Bask represents the very last chance to buy new in this location,” GVG Director Sam Gardner said.&nbsp;

“Our focus has been to create spacious, functional apartments that meet the needs of locals who want to downsize without compromise, as well as those seeking a full-time coastal retreat.”

Positioned between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Kawana, Bask apartments have been oriented to capture outlooks toward the water or the Glass House Mountains, reinforcing the project’s connection to its natural surroundings. With parks, beachfront paths, hospitals, retail and public transport already in place, Bask arrives at a point where the broader precinct is no longer emerging, but established.

Construction is expected to complete in Q3 this year, with apartments ready to move into this Spring.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=141609]

Bask to complete Bokarina’s Sunshine Coast lifestyle precinct as final apartments are released

Property development giant <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/avid-property-group">AVID Property Group</a> is approaching completion, and sell-out, of its Surry Hills apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-rathbone-23-47-flinders-street-surry-hills-nsw-2010">The Rathbone</a>.

The Flinders St project has sold well over half of its 32 apartments, which will sit above two retail spaces.

Now hitting the market are the final 14 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, which start from $1.15 million. AVID is targeting a mid-2026 completion.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5947 project_image_fid=51208]

AVID General Manager New South Wales Danny Boubli said as more apartments are introduced to increase housing options in inner-city areas, homebuyers are searching for a &nbsp;sense of belonging in addition to location, convenience and value.&nbsp;

“There are very few opportunities for new developments in Surry Hills, and since acquiring the site, we’ve even seen one early purchaser merge two apartments plans together, reflecting the demand for a spacious, premium offering in a prime location,” Boubli said.&nbsp;

“Demand has been strong since we launched to market – we don’t see these final apartments staying on the market for long.”&nbsp;

Architectural firm Studio SC has designed the building which pays homage to the former 1900s Rathbone Terraces that once sat on the 990 sqm island site.

Boubil said the team has made every effort to create "truly liveable apartments", through&nbsp;functional floor plans, security, storage, and the inclusion of quality fittings.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5947 project_image_fid=51207]

&nbsp;

Sustainable design has also been implemented throughout the development, with natural light flooding each apartment, ventilation throughout, extensive landscaping and where possible, materials with a high level of recycled content and low volatile organic compound paints have been used. &nbsp;

Apartments range in size from 57 sqm for the one-bedrooms to the large-scale 165 sqm three-beds which are priced at $2,575,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5947]

AVID launches final apartments at The Rathbone, Surry Hills

A wave of investment, renewal and precinct growth continues to shape the northern edge of Macquarie Park, where daily life is supported by a rare combination of university activity, corporate employment, major retail, and expansive green corridors. It’s this convergence of amenity and connectivity underpins the setting for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a>, which has now topped out and is tracking toward completion in mid-2026.

Within this pocket of the precinct, residents move easily between the area’s key anchors. Macquarie Centre, home to more than 360 retailers, fresh food offerings, dining and entertainment, sits at the heart of local convenience and functions as a major transport interchange. The Metro, T1 rail line and extensive bus network place much of Sydney within quick reach, while surrounding arterial links support direct access to neighbouring districts.

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Green space remains a defining feature of the immediate environment. Lane Cove National Park stretches along the northern boundary of the precinct, offering bushland trails, cycling routes and quiet riverfront pockets. Shrimptons Creek and the campus grounds of Macquarie University extend these recreational networks, softening the urban setting and creating a daily connection to nature that informs the project’s architectural response.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> have shaped La Vera around these contrasts. The building’s northern elevation adopts an organic, curvilinear form that mirrors the natural topography of the national park. Three sculpted forms soften the tower’s profile and encourage a stronger transition between indoor living areas, balconies and the broader landscape.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=223737]

Cox Director Felipe Miranda says the building’s outlook played a central role in the design process.

“The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park… The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies,” Felipe Miranda of Cox Architecture said.

Toward the city-facing side, the design shifts to a more urban expression. A gridded facade and extensive glazing capture CBD views, creating a dual strategy that blends ecological outlooks with metropolitan orientation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=5827]

La Vera delivers 169 residences across one- to four-bedroom layouts, reflecting the needs of young families, downsizers, first-home buyers and investors seeking long-term certainty within a high-amenity location. From the project, residents can walk to Macquarie University, Macquarie Hospital and nearby corporate offices, reach national park trails within minutes, and enjoy retail and dining without relying on a car.

The project is delivered by Urban Property Group, a 4.5-star iCIRT-rated developer-builder with more than three decades of experience. The company has become a leader in adopting 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), first introduced on its Parq Bexley development and now embedded into its pipeline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=223727]

La Vera is the first development in Macquarie Park approved to offer this 10-year LDI policy, adding another layer of protection for purchasers and reinforcing the transparency of the construction process.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias says this assurance has become increasingly important for buyers navigating the off-the-plan market.

“Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been… Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share,” Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said.

Urban Property Group's in-house construction team is forecasting a mid-2026 completion, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/home789">HOME789</a> appointed as the project marketer.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera delivers a nature-connected address within Macquarie Park’s core

Perth Recovery

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I’ve been tipping recovery in the Perth market in the past six months and now we are seeing the first signs of a return to price growth in some sectors. 
Several research sources still have the Perth market overall in slightly negative territory in terms of price movements, but my latest analysis for the Price Predictor Index shows that there is price growth in the upper end of the Perth market. 
When city markets are at the early phase of a growth cycle, the upmarket suburbs are often the first to show growth (and it ripples out later to the middle market and then to the cheaper areas).
That’s what happened in recent years in firstly Sydney and later in Melbourne.
Now the latest price data is showing the beginnings of something meaningful in Perth, which has numerous suburbs with median house prices above $1 million.
That top end market has seen growth in their median prices in the past three months and in annual terms also. 
This trend is widespread across the Perth prestige market. Suburbs with rising prices include Nedlands, Claremont, Applecross, Shelley, Cottesloe, Dalkeith, Mosman Park, Trigg and Floreat. 
All have median house prices above $1 million, while Dalkeith and Cottesloe are both above $2 million.
The latest price growth data from CoreLogic finds double-digit annual growth in median prices in most of those suburbs. 
In fact, the median price growth data has Cottesloe, Daglish, Dalkeith and Shelley all growing more than 20 percent in the past year, with a big chunk of that growth occurring in the most recent quarter.
This is a little misleading because it doesn’t mean property values are growing to that degree. It’s simply a product of the vagaries of median prices, which can be particularly volatile in those top-end markets where a few big-ticket sales than skew the data.
But valuers and buyers agents I spoke to during a visit to Perth last week confirmed that values are up 10 percent (ish) in many of the million-dollar suburbs.
Confidence that the upturn is sustainable comes from revival in the state’s economy, especially in the mining sector, and the large numbers of jobs being created. As the WA economy improves, businesses thrive and business people become more confident in their real estate purchases.
According to the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry biannual review, the WA economy is rebounding, will grow this year and should start delivering a better jobs market and higher wages.
The report is supported by separate research by the ANZ that suggests the WA economy is back among the fastest-growing in the country. CCI chief economist Rick Newnham says the slowdown in the state - that previously hit the jobs market, property prices and confidence - has come to an end. 
The drop in business investment from the peak of the resources boom has also run its course. One symptom is that spending on gold exploration in WA climbed to its highest level on record in 2017. 
We’re now seeing evidence of those stronger economic prospects playing out in improvements in the Perth property market, notably in the top end suburbs.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Double-digit annual growth seen in Perth pockets

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Evidence that the Perth market has bottomed, after four tough years, is growing.
A market recovery is under way and one of the locations leading the revival is the City of Wanneroo in the north of the metro area.
Strong population growth is propelling the Wanneroo LGA away from its past as a remote, bushy area towards becoming a busy seaside city destined to house 363,000 residents. Over the past decade, 177,000 new residents have moved there, making it the fastest-growing LGA in Western Australia.
Its popularity with young families is evident too. Sales numbers have been rising and this earned Wanneroo a special mention in Hotspotting’s 2017 Winter Edition of the Price Predictor Index. At a time when few Perth suburbs have rising sales activity, several locations in the City of Wanneroo are showing signs of returning to growth.
Growing industrial areas are providing employment opportunities and with houses in most suburbs priced in the $300,000s and $400,000s, the City of Wanneroo is worthy of attention by investors.
Wanneroo is a rapidly-expanding LGA on the northern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area, located about 12km from the Perth CBD at its nearest point and 62km at its furthest point.
Perth’s next major Strategic Metropolitan Centre at Yanchep is currently being developed. Until the early 2000s, much of this area was unpopulated bushland.
The LGA’s main commercial and residential town centres are located at Wanneroo and Clarkson.
Other urban centres are planned at Alkimos, Yanchep and Two Rocks, with the largest retail centre being Wanneroo Cenral.
The Wanneroo region has natural attractions, mainly the beaches, but it is also home to the Yanchep and Neerabup National Park, Yellagonga Regional Park. and Lake Joondalup.
Barbagallo Raceway is a motorsport circuit located in Pinjar. It is renowned for the annual Supercar Championships which attract around 50,000 visitors over three days.
The City of Wanneroo has come to Hotspotting’s attention because of rising sales activity in several suburbs at a time when Perth’s market generally has been weak.
Wanneroo is one of four Perth precincts that are beginning to demonstrate a turnaround in the Perth housing market. Of the four, Wanneroo is the standout location, providing growth markets such as Alkimos, Carramar, Clarkson and Yanchep.
Alkimos is a newly-emerging suburb, having had a population of only 700 at the 2011 Census. The population is now 6,000. As with Yanchep, Butler and Two Rocks, new land estates are becoming available at Alkimos.
Based on 105 sales in the past year, the median house price at Alkimos is $400,000, with a median yield of 4.7%. Clarkson is the busiest suburb in the Wanneroo LGA with 227 annual sales. It has a median house price of $406,000 and a median rental yield of 4.5%.
Generally, young families dominate the region, searching for affordability amid the new development. Houses priced under $400,000 can be found in Banksia Grove, Girrawheen, Merriwa and Yanchep.
The State Government’s LandCorp and the Satterley Property Group are creating a new beach suburb between Yanchep and Alkimos. The 240ha community, to be known as Allara, has the potential to accommodate 3,400 home sites and a population of 7,500 people in the next 10 years.
Building projections obtained from the City of Wanneroo show that between 2011 and 2036, the suburb of Butler will have 2,800 dwellings added; Clarkson 2,400; Alkimos 11,000, Jindalee 3,200 and Yanchep 8,800.
Investors need to be mindful that vacancy rates are an issue, as is the case right across Perth. I expect this to improve as the WA economy and the Perth property market continue their fightback.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="mailto:%20%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20var%20prefix%20=%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy38821%20=%20'ryder'%20+%20'@';%20addy38821%20=%20addy38821%20+%20'hotspotting'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'com'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'au';%20document.write('%3Ca%20'%20+%20path%20+%20'/''%20+%20prefix%20+%20':'%20+%20addy38821%20+%20'/'%3E');%20document.write(addy38821);%20document.write('%3C//a%3E');%20//--%3E/n%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting">Twitter.</a>
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City of Wanneroo, Perth, leading state's market recovery 

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There's set to be a rise in buyer competition in Perth as listings become more and more scarce.
That's the view of Emma Everett, buyer's agent at WA-based property investment consultancy Momentum Wealth, who says the absorption of existing supply and higher sales transactions are triggering a return to a balanced market in some sectors.    
“Over the past 12 months, we have seen significant absorption of the oversupply left over from the mining and construction boom which, when combined with a rise in sales transactions, is causing stock on market to tighten, with the market now approaching equilibrium at just over 14,000 properties listed for sale,” Everett said.
Stock for sale in Perth nears 14,000 in December as sales activity has been trending higher in the second half of 2019. Back in March there were 17,251 properties for sale in Perth.
Sales in May were averaging around 479 a week compared to 650 a week in November.
Everett said some of the rise in activity is likely due to renewed certainty following the conclusion of the Federal Election.
“Activity was visibly subdued in the first half of 2019, with buyers likely taking a more cautious approach due to uncertainty surrounding potential changes to negative gearing and their impact on the property market.”
“The fact sales activity has trended higher in the latter half of 2019 suggests this certainty has now been somewhat restored”, she said.
Perth had the lowest new sales listings in November, according to CoreLogic. It was the lowest figure since CoreLogic began recording the statistic in 2007.
Everett attributes this to a more positive outlook amongst existing property owners in Perth.
“We are seeing an uplift in sentiment amongst many of the owners we are speaking to on the ground, with those who have previously considered selling due to softer market conditions now reluctant to do so having recognised the market is turning a corner.”
“These owners are prepared to hold onto their properties to achieve a better result, and with record low interest rates and improving rental conditions, they aren’t facing the same cash flow pressures they may have been a year ago,” she said. 
Everett stated that with the supply fundamentals in place, it’s now a case of demand.
“Average days on market in Perth is still relatively high at 84 days for the September quarter suggesting we aren’t yet seeing that sense of urgency we would expect to accompany an increase in demand from buyers.” 
“However, with much of the oversupply in a number of areas now absorbed and low levels of supply coming on stream from new construction, stock levels are poised to tighten even further into 2020 which will drive higher levels of buyer competition, in turn placing upwards pressure on prices in some locations,” she said.
CoreLogic figures released earlier this month showed that <a href="/expert-insights/buying/perth-records-first-monthly-dwelling-value-increases-in-two-years-corelogic">Perth dwelling values recorded an annual increase of 0.4% in November</a>, marking the first month-on-month increase since early 2018. 
Everett said that suburbs with strong demand fundamentals in place are already seeing higher levels of competition from buyers.
“While market improvements are now starting to translate into headline growth figures, we have seen higher competition in certain segments of the market for some time, particularly in the upper price segment of the market where owner-occupiers have been taking advantage of softer conditions to trade-up into their suburb of choice, and we expect this to spread further into the market in 2020” she said.
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Tightening of stock driving listings down and priming Perth for rise in buyer competition

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Perth’s rental market has improved, with positive results observable across all key market indicators, According to new reiwa.com data for the September 2018 quarter.
REIWA President Damian Collins said leasing activity was up, median rents remained stable, stock levels had reduced, average leasing times were quicker and the vacancy rate had plummeted to its lowest level in more than four years.
“The rental sector is really leading the charge in the Perth property market recovery. The September 2018 quarter results are very encouraging and should provide landlords and investors with a lot of confidence," Mr Collins said.
Median rent price
Perth’s median rent price across houses and units held at $350 per week for a sixth straight quarter.
Reiwa.com data shows this is the longest period of stable rents the Perth rental market has experienced.
Additionally, when looking at houses reiwa.com data shows the median house rent increased $10 this quarter to $360 per week.
Reiwa.com analysis shows 105 suburbs across the metro area saw their median rent increase during the September 2018 quarter.
"The five best performing suburbs for overall rent price growth were Kallaroo (up 39.5 per cent to $530 per week), City Beach (up 25.9 per cent to $850 per week), Gwelup (up 24.5 per cent to $623 per week), Cottesloe (up 23.5 per cent to $605 per week) and Alexander Heights (up 21.9 per cent to $390),” Mr Collins noted.
Other top performers were Connolly, Inglewood, Ashby, Beaconsfield and Wembley.
Leasing activity
There were 13,234 properties leased during the September 2018 quarter.
Reiwa.com data showed this represented an increase of 5.2 per cent compared to the June 2018 quarter.
“Tenants were a lot more active this quarter than last, with 132 suburbs across the metro area recording increases in the number of properties leased,” Mr Collins said.
Reiwa.com data shows the five suburbs with the highest volume of properties leased during the quarter were Perth (346), East Perth (343), Scarborough (319), Baldivis (243) and Maylands (235).
South Perth, Rockingham, West Perth, Rivervale and Midland were also standout suburbs.
Mr Collins is of the opinion, "provided landlords are listening to the advice of their property manager and pricing their rental in line with market expectations, they have a very good chance of securing a tenant.”
Listings for rent
There were 7,286 properties for rent in Perth at the end of the September 2018 quarter.
Reiwa.com data shows that these stock levels represent an 11.9 per cent drop compared to the June 2018 quarter and a 25.1 per cent drop compared to last year’s September quarter.
Mr Collins stated, “This sharp decline can be attributed to a combination of leasing activity improving and new dwelling commencements slowing. With less new properties coming onto the market, rental stock is being absorbed at a quicker pace, which has put downward pressure on listing volumes.”
Average leasing time
It took landlords 46 days on average to find a tenant for their rental during the September 2018 quarter.
According to reiwa.com data this is one day faster than the June 2018 quarter and eight days faster than the September 2017 quarter.
Mr Collins said that this was due to, “a combination of increased tenant activity and lower listing levels has had a positive impact on average leasing times for landlords, with tenants needing to act quicker to secure a rental.”
Vacancy rate
Perth’s vacancy rate declined to 3.9 per cent during the September 2018 quarter, the lowest level Perth has experienced since the March 2014 quarter, according to reiwa.com data.
Since key market indicators improved during the September quarter, Perth’s vacancy rate has now fallen below the 10 year average.
Mr Collins concluded, “slowly but surely we are moving towards parity in the Perth rental market, with improved conditions across the board meaning there is good opportunity for tenants and landlords to benefit simultaneously.”
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Rental market leading Perth's property market recovery: REIWA

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Australia’s leading developer of masterplanned communities, Stockland, has acquired more than 4,600 residential lots in the fast-growing north-west, north-east and south-west metropolitan corridors of Perth.
The three lot acquisition includes a 40 hectare parcel of land in Sinagra for $53 million (above); 334 hectares of land in Baldivis for $27 million; and 11 hectares of land in Brabham for $11 million.
Stockland has invested and operated in WA for 16 years with a current portfolio of assets worth $1 billion.
The 40 hectare Singara parcel 23 kilometres north of the Perth CBD will offer future residents views across Lake Joondalup.
The Baldivis acquisition of 334 hectares is 37 kilometres south of the Perth CBD in the south west corridor and near the Stockland Baldivis shopping centre.
The 11 hectare site in Brabham will be a consolidation into the existing Whiteman Edge residential project, 20 kilometres from the CBD.
It boasts a park within 300 metres of every home including the brand new $2 million Jungle Park, the all-abilities Livvi’s Place Playground, basketball hoops and a kick-about oval.
Stockland group executive and CEO of residential Andrew Whitson spoke of the improved Perth market.
“We’ve seen early signs of improved economic conditions in WA, particularly in Perth, and this additional land will enable us to plan for three new liveable, affordable residential communities over the long term," he said.
“These acquisitions set us up well to take advantage of future demand in the coming years."
Col Dutton, Stockland general manager for Western Australia, said the three sites are well located near existing or planned community infrastructure including transport, retail centres, schools and parks. 
“We are committed to helping more Western Australians move into their own homes by creating a diverse range of liveable and affordable housing options at our connected masterplanned communities," Dutton said.
“In Brabham, the additional 200 lots adjoin our existing Whiteman Edge project, which enables us to leverage planned infrastructure including a retail town centre, future primary school and the planned Ellenbrook rail line, part of the MetroNet project.
“The Sinagra site has capacity for nearly 700 home sites, with a large proportion offering views across Lake Joondalup and the surrounding natural landscape, and includes plans for a new primary school.
“At Baldivis, our plans for a new residential community will include around 3,700 homes conveniently located just off the Kwinana Freeway within 3 kilometres of Wellard Rail Station. The site is a 30 minute drive to more than 100,000 jobs, including major employment areas in Rockingham, Kwinana, Henderson and Bibra Lake.”
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Stockland back Perth market by spending $91 million on land

Perth house prices still in gradual decline: October 2017 RBA minutes

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<div dir="ltr" align="left">After dropping consecutively for three quarters, the median house price in Perth has now reached the lowest recorded by the local market in five years. </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">As the market continues to weaken, house rents in Perth are now the most affordable of all capital cities, said Domain Chief Economist, Dr Andrew Wilson.</div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">
<div dir="ltr" align="left">The median house price in Perth dropped a further 1.3 per cent over the September quarter, to a five year low of $554,095.</div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">
<div dir="ltr" align="left">
<div id="1468469170927-5">
<div class="wpb_text_column wpb_content_element ">
<div class="wpb_wrapper">
Domain quarterly stratified median house prices
<div>
<table class="domain-table">
<thead><tr>
<td>HOUSE</td>
<td>SEP 2017</td>
<td>JUN 2017</td>
<td>SEP 2016</td>
<td>QOQ %</td>
<td>YOY %</td>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Sydney</td>
<td>$1,167,516</td>
<td>$1,190,677</td>
<td>$1,079,309</td>
<td class="negative">-1.9%</td>
<td class="positive">8.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne</td>
<td>$880,902</td>
<td>$869,598</td>
<td>$773,399</td>
<td class="positive">1.3%</td>
<td class="positive">13.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brisbane</td>
<td>$551,840</td>
<td>$552,874</td>
<td>$531,767</td>
<td class="negative">-0.2%</td>
<td class="positive">3.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Adelaide</td>
<td>$519,517</td>
<td>$520,846</td>
<td>$498,971</td>
<td class="negative">-0.3%</td>
<td class="positive">4.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Perth</td>
<td>$554,095</td>
<td>$561,391</td>
<td>$567,314</td>
<td class="negative">-1.3%</td>
<td class="negative">-2.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Canberra</td>
<td>$723,980</td>
<td>$693,962</td>
<td>$655,468</td>
<td class="positive">4.3%</td>
<td class="positive">10.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hobart</td>
<td>$409,592</td>
<td>$392,170</td>
<td>$356,916</td>
<td class="positive">4.4%</td>
<td class="positive">14.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Darwin</td>
<td>$593,329</td>
<td>$615,670</td>
<td>$610,510</td>
<td class="negative">-3.6%</td>
<td class="negative">-2.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>National</td>
<td>$819,455</td>
<td>$823,381</td>
<td>$758,367</td>
<td class="negative">-0.5%</td>
<td class="positive">10.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">Perth is one of the only capital cities (along with Darwin) to record a decrease in house prices year-on-year, down 2.3 per cent.  </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">The median unit price in Perth also dropped significantly over the September quarter, down 6.7 per cent to $351,875. </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left"> </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">The result 7.7 per cent lower than the median unit price 12 months ago.  </div>
<div dir="ltr" align="left">The median rental price for houses dropped 2.8 per cent over the September quarter to $350 per week; 7.9 per cent lower year-on-year. While the median unit rental price remained steady over the quarter, the result is still 6.3 per cent lower than at the same time last year.</div>
</div>
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