Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

Joel Robinson

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

<main data-perf-region="main">
Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

Property Forecast 2020

<html><body>
House prices continue to rise solidly, supported by easier access to credit and lower interest rates, according to the latest ANZ Housing Update report.
The housing update found a combination of pent-up demand and low volumes looks to have been a key driver of the larger than-expected rebound.
While the initial strength was concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne, the pick-up has broadened across the capital cities. In December, prices rose in all capital cities bar Perth (where they were flat) and Darwin.
Looking at the nation as a whole, ANZ predict that prices will rise solidly in 2020 but the pace of monthly gains will moderate.
Felicity Emmett, Senior ANZ economist said, "we have revised up our forecasts a little and now expect prices to rise 8% on average through 2020, and 4% in 2021."
Building Approvals
Building approvals have fallen sharply, driven by a steep decline in high-rise apartment building approvals. Some of this decline can be attributed to the recent cladding and cracking crises which have lead to a lack of faith in apartment developers.
The decline in approvals suggests construction will fall for some months yet.
Felicity Emmett said, "leading indicators are turning, suggesting activity will pick up later this year. Finance for construction, both for households and businesses, is picking up strongly, while property developers are more confident about the construction outlook."
"Build quality concerns, particularly in NSW, may dampen the eventual upswing."
"We expect activity to trough in mid-2020 before picking up," she forecast.
Housing Credit &amp; Loans
 
Adelaide Timbrell, Economist ANZ said, "Housing credit growth is at a historical low of 2.3% y/y, as households use rate cuts to pay down debt faster, rather than reduce repayments. The expiry of interest only loans is also leading to faster debt repayment."
"Recent data suggest arrears rates are now declining, helped by the improved housing market. Despite higher WA arrears and IO loan switching increasing debt repayments by up to 40%, Australian arrears are low by international standards," she added.
First home buyer loan sizes are at historical highs and affordability concerns may emerge as housing prices continue to rise.
Rising rents are squeezing low-middle income earners, who take up an increasing share of the private rental market, atleast when compared to two decades ago.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Property recovery spreads, building approvals may bounce back in late 2020: ANZ

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
Dwelling prices have reached the bottom in Adelaide as buyer confidence rises alongside auction clearance rates.
According to the latest RiskWise Property Research Risks &amp; Opportunities Report, housing finance in South Australia is showing signs of improvement with an increase of 8.6 per cent since February 2019 after a reduction of 6.6 per cent relative to August 2018.
In recent years the market had delivered modest capital growth for houses and poor capital growth for units.
While the labour market has improved in the past couple of years, the effective unemployment rate in South Australia is still above 9 per cent and the employment market is still soft.
This has a strong connection with low population growth (only 0.8 per cent per annum) and, therefore, low demand for dwellings.
While serviceability measures have improved due to the RBA’s interest rate cuts (with another expected sometime in the new year), the relatively high unemployment rate increases the risk of credit defaults.
That, combined with some properties that suffer from low demand, require special attention in relation to credit provisioning.
However, he said in some high-demand areas the housing market was showing some evidence of recovery, particularly those with steady recent price growth rates.
Buyer confidence has increased in South Australia, particularly Adelaide. This has also improved auction clearance rates and, consequently, it appears dwelling prices have reached the bottom.
However, while South Australia enjoys high levels of public and private expenditure, in the short term, the economic growth is projected to remain relatively low, around the 2 per cent mark.
Long-term economic growth will be a slow process and with a soft labour market no significant changes to demand are expected in the short to medium term, with less popular areas experiencing modest growth only.
He said despite low building approvals, demand for houses was projected to remain moderate with, therefore, only moderate capital growth forecast.
However, he said the growth rate was projected to vary greatly across the state with houses in areas close to the Adelaide CBD, such as Adelaide Central and Hills, likely to deliver better growth.
Houses in areas that do not enjoy good growth drivers still carry a risk of delivering poor / negative capital growth. For example, according to CoreLogic, the median house price in the Barossa - Yorke - Mid North area declined by 0.2 per cent in the past 12 months.
He said while South Australia offered healthy rental returns for both houses and units, demand for units among owner-occupiers, despite good affordability, was generally low.
In addition, units in some suburbs are subject to voluntary lending restrictions by the major lenders, such as lower loan-to-value ratio (i.e. higher deposit) due to oversupply,
Units are not considered a popular dwelling option among families especially off-the-plan units in high rises, and these carry the highest level of risk. Overall, units in South Australia are likely to deliver poor capital growth.
Adelaide Central and Hills has the highest rate of oversupply in South Australia with 2696 units in the pipeline (an 8.2 per cent increase to the current stock). This unit oversupply has led to a price decline of 0.3 per cent in the past year.
DORON PELEG is the CEO at RiskWise
</body></html>

Adelaide house prices bottom out with growth projected: RiskWise's Doron Peleg

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
The Northern Territory's poor economy continues to play a part in its subdued property market with 15.6 per cent price reductions for houses in the past five years and a massive 29.4 per cent for units.
According to the latest RiskWise Property Research Risks &amp; Opportunities Report, much of the negative capital growth in recent years is due to population decreases following the end of the mining boom and lack of employment, leading to high interstate emigration.
RiskWise CEO Doron Peleg said the territory was the only state in Australia that experienced population loss in 2017-18.
While dwelling supply in relation to population growth is low and dwellings are very affordable, the low demand for housing makes the Northern Territory a risky area especially given the low level of private investment that is significantly below the growth levels during the mining boom.
According to CoreLogic, Darwin house prices peaked in 2014 and fell 15.6 per cent over the past five years. However, improved housing affordability slightly reduces the risk associated with houses from medium-high to medium.
He said it was likely houses in the Northern Territory would deliver poor or negative capital growth in the short to medium term.
However, as more than 67 per cent of houses in the territory were owner-occupied and held for a long period of time, he said they carried a lower level of risk than units.
Units carry a very high level of risk to deliver negative capital growth, due to the combination of oversupply, lending restrictions and low demand.
The current supply of units, while not considered high in relation to population growth, still exceeds the low demand for them.
This is particularly the case in areas with a high concentration of off-the-plan units, such as Darwin with 2034 units in the pipeline (10.2 per cent increase to the current stock). They delivered -33.7 per cent capital growth over the last five years.
DORON PELEG is the CEO at RiskWise
</body></html>

Northern Territory's poor economy continues to subdue the property market: RiskWise's Doron Peleg

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
Most talking heads, when asked to predict the coming year in real estate, look at the recent past and extrapolate that to the near future. So most commentators have been predicting the recent past. And therefore 2020 is all about Sydney and Melbourne.
More thoughtful forecasters have suggested the growth spurt in the biggest cities in late 2019 will not translate into another price boom in 2020. Some, including Westpac, expect relatively moderate growth in Melbourne and Sydney, with Brisbane leading on price escalation.
Very few ever discuss regional markets – which is unfortunate, because that’s where investors will find some of the best options for 2020, if it occurs to them to look beyond the big cities.
In NSW, I would suggest the best possibilities will be found outside of Sydney. And those who undertake research beyond absorbing headlines and sound bites will be surprised to find the best performers recently have been regional.
When Sydney was going through its post-boom correction in 2018 and the first half of 2019, regional areas of NSW were a notable contrast. Locations throughout the state continued to show growth in sales activity and prices.
The regions outside of Sydney have many examples of win-win-win situation provided by regional centres: affordable buy-in prices, much better rental yields than the big cities and good prospects for steady growth.
Many of these have long-term growth rates (the average annual increase in median house prices over 10 years) of 6% , 7% or more.
Regional centres with those kinds of strong long-term growth rates include Orange, Dubbo, Goulburn, Bowral, Mitttagong, Wyong, Terrigal and many others.
Goulburn near Canberra and Wyong on the Central Coast both have long-term capital growth rates of 7% per year while Bowral in the Southern Highlands averages close to 8% per year, which is competitive with anywhere in Australia.
Many locations throughout Regional NSW have recorded double-digit growth in their median house prices over the past 12 months.
These growth markets are spread widely across the state. Kingscliff in the north near the Queensland border, has risen 12% in the past year and now has a median house price above $1 million. Nearby Tweed Heads has grown its median house price 11% to $790,000.
In the far south of the state, Lake Albert (which is part of the Wagga Wagga market) has risen 13% to $400,000. Another sector of the Wagga market, Tatton, has grown 14% to $556,000, while central Wagga Wagga increased 9%.
Suffolk Park, which is part of the high-profile Byron Bay market, has increased 12% to reach $1.17 million.
Jindabyne in the Snowy River region has delivered a 14% rise in its median house price to reach $715,000, while Gulgong in the Mid Western Region is up 14% to $330,000. Gloucester in the Mid Coast region has increased 17% to $315,000.
Other locations in Regional NSW to record annual growth in the 7% to 10% range include Bathurst, Broken Hill, Cooma, Cootamundra, Cowra, Griffith, Maclean, Merimbula, Mudgee, Singleton, Tumut and Kempsey.
This strong price performance has occurred at a time when the Sydney market has generally been struggling for growth (prior to the revival in prices which occurred in latter part of 2019).
It provides compelling evidence that investors can find good investments with appealing prospects for long-term growth in regional areas.
TERRY RYDER is the founder of hotspotting.com.au ryder@hotspotting.com.au twitter.com/hotspotting
</body></html>

terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Look beyond Sydney for NSW real estate in 2020: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
There’s been plenty of media coverage on high-end properties bouncing back in Sydney and Melbourne following the downturn, but the low-end should certainly not be overlooked.
RiskWise projected strong price increases across a large number of areas in Sydney and Melbourne in the short term, but particularly the long term, thanks to a good (while somewhat deteriorating) employment market and strong population growth, particularly in Melbourne.
The RBA’s interest rate cuts (the most recent one in October 2019 with the possibility of a further one in the first half of 2020), some loosening of credit restrictions, significant improvement in buyer confidence and increased auction clearance rates provide very strong indications regarding these markets.
Buyer sentiment in relation to housing measures has noticeably improved and the Westpac-Melbourne Institute’s House Price Expectations and Time to Buy a Dwelling Indices show a consistent trend. Auction clearance rates have also recovered and are largely above 70 per cent in Sydney and Melbourne.
As we predicted immediately after the election and in our previous Risks &amp; Opportunities Reports, the market has materially improved with affordable areas that have shown resilience recovering well. Other areas, including lucrative ones that experienced strong price reductions, are now leading the way to this recovery.
However high-end properties, while bouncing back well from the property downturn, were far more sensitive to credit restrictions and investor activity than low-end ones.
That's why high-end properties were impacted dramatically during the downturn but also bounced back dramatically when reversing the negative factors, as we are seeing in prestige areas of Sydney and Melbourne.
Lower-end properties are less subject to credit restrictions and investor activity which actually make them a great buying opportunity. In fact, in some cases areas, such as Geelong, even benefited from the lending restrictions as buyers looked for more affordable options.
Taking a long-term outlook, many of these lower-end areas had a good forecast for strong price increases.
He said many were earmarked for gentrification and that RiskWise research in February 2018 showed a large number of these low-end, high-crime areas outperformed the market.
Our nationwide research actually found gentrifying suburbs with high crime typically deliver strong price growth and outperform the local benchmark.
We found affordable high-crime areas with significant gentrification are likely to produce strong price growth, particularly when dwelling prices in the inner and middle rings are severely unaffordable.
For example, even in high danger areas of New York City and London, etc, provided there is strong population growth and severe unaffordability throughout these cities, these crime areas still increase in popularity and therefore experience price increases.
He said many areas in the western suburbs of both Sydney and Melbourne had provided strong price increases for houses, although this did not apply to units.
In fact, over the long term many low-end areas outperform the top end.
DORON PELEG is the CEO at RiskWise
</body></html>

Low-end Sydney and Melbourne properties offer great buying opportunity: RiskWise's Doron Peleg

<html><body>
Today, Stockland Research reveals that, as we enter the new decade, purchasing property is top of mind for Australians. The results also show that there is a strong desire for more social connectivity and sustainable home features becoming standard.
Stockland's 2020 property survey has shown that Australians are heading into the new decade with a positive outlook on home ownership with over 40 per cent planning to buy their own property in the next five to ten years. 93 per cent of purchases are expected to be made by those under 35 years old. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/20/7_STOCKLAND%20HOME%20BUY.jpg" alt="" width="593" height="360">
People are willing to look further afield with 36 per cent of those surveyed considering moving interstate, and 44 per cent respondents in New South Wales specifically entertaining the idea of crossing borders. Amongst these respondents, the main reason for considering this move include for better lifestyle, 57 per cent; better job opportunities, 42 per cent; and to buy the home you want for less, 32 per cent. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/20/7_RUNNING.jpg" alt="" width="592" height="360">
"It's great to see that home ownership remains a key goal for Australians with many starting 2020 with increasing optimism around achieving this" says Stephanie Vainin, general manager residential sales at Stockland. "Purchasing your own home is still seen as a sense of security for many Australians and this won't change anytime soon.
"The way in which Australians want to live will continue to evolve in 2020 and beyond with many considering that interstate move now more than ever, and an increased demand for features that encourage personal connectivity to communities and improved health and wellbeing." 
Over 60 per cent of Australians would forgo a traditional backyard for a small home with less outdoor space if it meant they were more connected to neighbours and close to community parks and green spaces. 
Survey respondents top features for a dream community of the future also included more walking paths community gardens and recreation spaces and fewer roads.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/20/7_STOCKLAND%20COMMUNITY.jpg" alt="" width="586" height="373"> 
Ms Vanin explains, "With 24/7 technological connectivity and busy lives, people and increasingly looking for low-maintenance homes located within communities that offer great amenity, social connectivity and physical closeness with their neighbours and wide community. 
"The actual home is still important, however, features that allow for more community living are shifting higher and higher on homeowners' priority lists. That old sense of belonging and knowing your neighbours is more important than ever before." 
Results show that Australians will be even more environmentally conscious this decade with over half, 54 per cent, of the survey respondents stating sustainable and environmental home features are more important to them than they were ten years ago, and 22 per cent stating the purchase of ethical and sustainable items for their home are important. 
A quarter of the respondents also stated they would specifically like automated recycling in their future home, with those over 55 years old the most excited about the prospect. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2020/1/20/7_BINS.jpg" alt="" width="588" height="357">
"Buyers are much more attuned to the benefits of sustainable home design today than they were a decade ago. The costs of many features such as LED lighting and solar panels are also much more affordable today and buyers now understand the long terms cost benefits of these features for future energy savings to them and the broader benefits to the environment," notes Ms Vanin
This week, Stockland has launched its <a href="https://www.stockland.com.au/start" target="_blank">2020 residential summer campaign</a>. The campaign is built upon the idea that "A day can change a decade" and by taking a step into the home buying journey today, you can set yourself up for the whole decade ahead. 
</body></html>

How will Australians live over the next decade, Stockland Research

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER 
Douglas Driscoll, CEO of real estate group Starr Partners, has announced his top 10 Sydney suburbs to watch in the upcoming year. 
1.       Kensington. Just a stone’s throw away from the CBD and Centennial Park, and with the University of New South Wales on its doorstep, Kensington ticks all the boxes for buyers looking to live near the city and Sydney’s eastern beaches. The long-awaited light rail network, set to open this week, will see interest in the area grow exponentially. I believe it will also become a ‘gateway destination’ – a new cruise ship terminal is flagged for Port Botany and, if this goes ahead, I expect the Government to extend the light rail all the way from neighbouring Kingsford to La Perouse.
2.       Crows Nest. Known by locals as ‘Crowie’, many Sydneysiders dream of living in a suburb with a village-feel, and Crows Nest offers just that, with popular restaurants, trendy bars, a variety of eateries and a family-friendly atmosphere. Sydney’s lockout laws have also provided a boost to Crows Nest night life, which already had the makings of a good entertainment hub. The multi-million-dollar Woolworths refurbishment and the arrival of a rail line in 2024 are other major drawcards that have undoubtedly driven residential interest in the area, especially among young professionals, young families, downsizers and hipsters.
3.       Oran Park. I recently forecast that the Sydney property market will soon witness the continued growth of three “exurbs” – and Oran Park will be one of them. Despite being a relatively new suburb, it has a fairly self-sufficient population with good infrastructure, low housing density and reasonable commute times to the city and is fast developing its own personality. Part of Sydney’s emerging Aerotropolis, and just a short distance from the $35 million Gregory Hills Health and Business Centre, transport links – and jobs – won’t be hard to come by. 
4.       Bellevue Hill. This classy pocket of Sydney will continue to skyrocket in value due to its appeal to families looking for a quieter eastern suburbs enclave that is just 10-minutes from Bondi Beach and even closer to the upscale boutiques and restaurants of Double Bay. With established blocks, leafy streets, a charming café strip and excellent access to employment, it is becoming – and will continue to become – increasingly gentrified. Better yet, the hilltop community also has a comparative absence of traffic – a welcome relief from other parts of Sydney’s east.
5.       Busby. With a median house price of $557,500[1] – $250,000 cheaper than neighbouring Elizabeth Hills[2], and well within the cut-off for the Government’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme – Busby is an excellent long-term investment for young professionals and families looking to get their foot on the property ladder. Close to the M5 motorway and with ample bus services and several schools, Busby has everything first home buyers need to make the area their home. Its proximity to Western Sydney University also makes it very attractive for investors.
6.       Summer Hill. Once seen as an industrial node, Summer Hill, I believe, is the inner west’s new hidden gem. There’s soul and character, and everyone loves the charming village environment it has to offer – good schools, a cool café culture, a supermarket, fruit shop, butcher and restaurants all walking distance from the train station. At its heart is The Flour Mill, an old industrial pocket that is being transformed into an amazing new residential community with apartments, shops, cafés and parklands. Rarely do you get a suburb that is both so close to the city and synonymous with family living.
7.       Merrylands. It shouldn’t be surprising that Merrylands has returned to my list this year, and I stand by what I said about it a couple of years ago: it has some of Sydney’s best value for money freestanding dwellings. The more the Cumberland Council spends on the Merrylands town centre, the better it will become. Should it go ahead, a $292 million masterplan to redevelop Merrylands RSL will include more than 400 apartments and over three sleek, high-rise buildings, drawing European-style eateries and trendy alleyways to the area. It will only be a matter of time before the suburb emerges from the shadow of its neighbour, Parramatta.
8.       Pagewood. Arguably one of Sydney’s most overlooked south-eastern suburbs, Pagewood, like we’ve seen with Mascot, Rosebery and sections of Botany, is about to undergo a major transformation. Pagewood Green, next to Westfield Eastgardens, and the former Holden manufacturing site are two previous industrial sites under development. With a median house price $220,000-$440,000[3] cheaper than nearby Matraville and Maroubra, Pagewood is a coveted area for buyers in the market for a unit.
9.       Blaxland. Nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains, Blaxland has a genuine country feel despite being just eight minutes from the M4 motorway, and less than 10 minutes from the larger neighbouring suburbs of Penrith and Emu Plains. While this area has become part of Sydney’s greater west, large family homes are available for well under $1m and on large blocks with plenty of greenery. Young professionals or couples looking for a better quality of life and wanting to get more for their money should seriously be considering investing here.
10.   Lalor Park. For buyers looking within a 20-30 kilometre radius of the CBD, Lalor Park, where the median house price is $611,000,[4] is one of the most affordable. I see it really taking off among first-home buyers. As the suburb has older homes, they can expect to get a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house on a decent block for about $600,000 to $650,000. Its great community feel is also a major catch, drawing crowds to its monthly Community Hub Markets and the Lalor Park Community Gardens hosting frequent picnics and other events.
Douglas Driscoll is the CEO of real estate group <a href="http://www.starrpartners.com.au/" target="_blank">Starr Partners</a>.
 
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Kensington leads Sydney real estate suburbs to watch in 2020: Doug Driscoll

<html><body>
The performance of Australian residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) will weaken moderately in 2020, following some improvement in Q3 2019, but delinquencies will remain low overall, according to a new report from Moody's Investors Service.
Their report found tat Australia's muted economic environment, record levels of household debt and the conversion of interest-only mortgages into principal and interest loans will lead to a moderate increase in RMBS delinquency rates in 2020. However, mortgage borrowers are seeing some relief in the form of low interest rates and rising house prices, which should constrain the degree of deterioration.
The 30+ day delinquency rate for prime Australian RMBS decreased to 1.57% in September 2019 from 1.67% in June 2019.
Moody's has lowered its growth forecast for the Australian economy over recent months and now expects real GDP growth of 2.2% for 2020, down from an earlier forecast of 2.5%.
The forecast for 2020 is higher than the 2.0% recorded in 2019, but down considerably from 2.7% in 2018.
Alena Chen, Vice President, Moody’s said, in this economic environment, expect mortgage delinquencies to increase moderately, particularly given that high household debt - which amounts to almost 200% of annual gross disposable income - will leave households vulnerable to economic and housing market shocks."
"However, we expect most mortgage borrowers will be able to continue meeting mortgage repayments at Moody's forecast level of economic growth and unemployment, which means delinquencies will remain low overall," she stated.
</body></html>

Australian RMBS will weaken moderately in 2020: Moody’s Investors Service

<html><body>
The latest data from the Commonwealth Bank Household Spending Intentions (HSI) series released today shows the sharp increase in home buying intentions is continuing.
CBA’s Chief Economist Michael Blythe said, “The sharp upswing in home buying intentions continues and intentions are now approaching the record highs seen in early 2017.”
Current HSI readings are consistent with an ongoing increase in dwelling prices and a bottoming out in residential construction activity.
“The ongoing improvement in the home buying intentions series indicates that the low point for residential building construction will probably be around mid 2020,” he added.
Mr Blythe said retail spending intentions show a modest improvement is in place.
“The latest edition of the Commonwealth Bank HSI series, which incorporates data to the end of October, supports the RBA’s view that the economy has reached a ‘gentle turning point’. But the improvement is quite modest given the size of tax rebates and interest rate cuts delivered in recent months,” Mr Blythe said.
“By fuelling fears about the economic outlook, rate cuts are probably blunting some of the potential boost from tax rebates and rising house prices,” he added.
Mr Blythe also noted that trends in some non-retail spending look reasonably encouraging.
</body></html>

Home buying intentions approaching boomtime levels: CBA

<html><body>
Most of Australia’s capital cities will benefit from the interest rate cuts and loosening of credit restrictions barring Dawin, according to Christopher’s Housing Boom and Bust Report for 2020, released today by SQM Research.
In every scenario and especially Scenario 4, a doomsday scenario, Darwin is expected to see a decline in price.
Darwin is expected to see price movements of -5% to -2%.
<img src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb/images/4df1a5ab-58ab-48eb-be7c-da10730ccd12.png">
Darwin is the only capital city expected to record price declines.
It is a result of the Darwin economy continuing to struggle and excess stock for sale weakening the local market.
In the base case forecasts, what SQM view as the most likely scenario, there are no changes in interest rates and no intervention by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/sydney-house-prices-could-jump-14-per-cent-in-2020-sqm-research">Sydney</a> and <a href="/expert-insights/buying/melbourne-house-prices-tipped-to-rise-by-up-to-15-per-cent-sqm-research">Melbourne</a> look set for the largest recovery, with Hobart and Canberra next up, followed by <a href="/expert-insights/buying/perth-real-estate-finally-set-for-price-growth-in-2020-sqm-research">Perth</a> and <a href="/expert-insights/buying/brisbane-housing-market-will-see-growth-in-2020-sqm-research">Brisbane</a> while Adelaide and <a href="/expert-insights/buying/darwin-the-only-city-forecast-for-falling-real-estate-prices-in-2020-sqm-research">Darwin</a> look set for minimal growth, or a loss.
Read the <a href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=944878d0b0&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank" data-auth="NotApplicable">Christopher’s Housing Boom and Bust Report</a> here.
</body></html>

Property Forecast 2020

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Property Forecast 2020

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News