For most new apartment buildings, the Owners Corporation starts life with little more than a bank account and the first quarterly strata levies.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/9-gay-street-castle-hill-9-gay-street-castle-hill-nsw-2154">9 Gay Street</a> in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a>, it starts with around $7 million in reserve.

It's an unusual legacy of what was once one of Sydney's highest-profile apartment remediation projects. When the development, originally known as Skyview and built by disgraced developer Top Place, came under scrutiny by then NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler, an $11 million remediation bond was negotiated to ensure any building defects could be fully rectified.

The building underwent an 18-month remediation program, during which around $4 million of that bond was spent bringing the building up to the standard it should have been in from the outset.

After extensive inspections, all active rectification orders have been lifted. What's more, around $7.2 million remains secured for the Owners Corporation for the next 15 years.

In a twist few would have predicted, what began as a significant concern for purchasers has left the building with something almost unheard of in the apartment market: a multi-million-dollar financial reserve from day one.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359136]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a> Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said the structure offers buyers a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate.

"The $11 million bond established for the Skyview Castle Hill development represents exceptional value, providing genuine financial security for purchasers," Huxley said.

"Unlike a standard insurance policy, this bond consists of real funds held in trust for the Owners Corporation, offering a tangible layer of protection and added peace of mind."

The apartments themselves have been designed with a focus on practical, contemporary living. Interiors feature Smeg appliances, stone benchtops, tiled living areas, carpeted bedrooms, 2.7-metre ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and ducted heating and cooling throughout.

Residents also have access to a range of shared amenities, including two rooftop barbecue areas, a swimming pool, children's playgrounds, secure building access, storage cages, and visitor parking.

The location continues to be one of the project's strongest drawcards. Castle Hill Metro Station sits virtually on the doorstep, providing direct connections across Sydney's expanding Metro network, while Castle Towers offers extensive retail, dining, entertainment, and service amenities within walking distance.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=147685 project_image_fid=359127]

The building, now named after its location at 9 Gay Street, comprises a diverse mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments starting from just under $600,000.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett said demand in the Hills District continues to be driven by buyers seeking convenience and connectivity.

"Interest from both owner-occupiers and investors in Castle Hill remains exceptionally strong, with buyers consistently prioritising developments in close proximity to the Metro station and Castle Towers Shopping Centre," Hamblett said.

"There is a clear trend in the market, with purchasers seeking convenient access to transport and lifestyle amenities that support a seamless, low-maintenance way of living."

On top of the long-term protection afforded by the remaining $7.2 million bond, Equitifund is offering a limited-time stamp duty rebate on selected apartments.

Eligible purchasers can also secure finance options, including a 3.99 per cent two-year variable rate, loan-to-value ratios of up to 90 per cent, and interest-only lending options through EquitiCredit.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=147685]

Joel Robinson

Why this Castle Hill apartment building starts with a $7 million advantage

For much of the past few years, conversations about Australia's property market have centred on the rapid growth seen in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melbourne-vic-3004">Melbourne</a> has followed a different trajectory.

That relative underperformance is now encouraging some buyers to reassess the city, particularly those willing to look beyond short-term market movements and focus on quality property in established locations, along with the long-term growth prospects of a city expected to overtake Sydney as Australia’s most populous.

John Bekiaris, Research &amp; Market Insights at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Projects by Equitifund</a>, said Melbourne's current position is attracting increasingly sophisticated purchasers.

"Melbourne continues to present one of Australia's strongest long-term investment stories," Bekiaris says.

"While other capital cities have experienced stronger recent growth, that relative underperformance is exactly what's attracting sophisticated counter-cyclical investors."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363268]

Equitifund isn't just commenting on Melbourne's property market, it's investing in it.

The Sydney-headquartered capital partner has taken over the remaining apartments at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/victoriana-melbourne-20-queens-road-melbourne-vic-3004">Victoriana</a>, the recently completed glass-encased development opposite Albert Park Lake in Melbourne's tightly held St Kilda Road precinct.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and built by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/hickory">Hickory</a>, Victoriana places residents between one of Melbourne's most recognised parklands and the CBD, offering oversized two and three-bedroom apartments aimed at owner-occupiers seeking a genuine alternative to a traditional family home.

The development comprises 232 completed residences alongside a suite of resident amenities, including a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, landscaped entertaining areas, resident lounges, EV charging, secure basement parking and a concierge-style arrival experience.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363229]

The apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers firmly in mind.&nbsp;Open-plan living and dining areas flow onto generous balconies framing views across Albert Park Lake, Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Melbourne skyline.

Kitchens feature Gaggenau appliances, stone benchtops and generous preparation space. Bedrooms include built-in robes, while bathrooms feature full-height textured tiling. Hardwood flooring and ducted air conditioning complete residences designed for long-term living.

Rothelowman's architecture takes its cues from the landscape opposite the site. Sweeping horizontal glazing references the movement of Albert Park Lake, while generous balconies and expansive glazing strengthen the connection between the apartments and the surrounding parklands. The result is a building designed to deliver the scale and amenity expected of luxury apartment living, while offering the larger floorplans increasingly sought by owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363284]

The location is one of Victoriana's defining characteristics. Positioned on Queens Road, residents are directly opposite Albert Park Lake and within easy reach of Fawkner Park, the Royal Botanic Gardens, South Melbourne, St Kilda Road and the CBD. With few comparable development opportunities remaining in the precinct, buyers are increasingly placing value on outlooks that are unlikely to be interrupted by future construction.

Greg Huxley, Founder of Equitifund, believes those qualities become even more valuable over time.

"Premium real estate has always rewarded buyers who take a long-term view," Huxley said.

"Victoriana represents the kind of asset that's increasingly difficult to recreate today, particularly in an established location like Queens Road."

He said rising construction costs are also changing the way buyers assess completed developments.

"When you combine an irreplaceable location with thoughtful architecture and premium finishes, you create something that becomes increasingly difficult to reproduce as construction costs continue to rise."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=1979 project_image_fid=363228]

According to National Sales Director Ben Hamblett, enquiry has been driven largely by Melbourne downsizers and buyers upgrading from smaller apartments.

"Interest in Victoriana continues to build, with strong buyer focus on the larger owner-occupier residences within the development," Hamblett says.

"Enquiry is increasingly driven by local buyers who recognise the rarity of what's on offer: park-facing apartments in an established neighbourhood where new development opportunities are becoming increasingly scarce. At Victoriana, the view is not just a feature; it's an appreciating asset in its own right."

He said interstate enquiry has also strengthened as buyers reassess Melbourne's position within the national property cycle.

"Melbourne currently stands as the most compelling entry point of any major Australian capital, and discerning buyers are beginning to recognise what those who move early always understand: the best opportunities are taken before the price rise confirms them."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=1979]

Why now is the time to buy in Melbourne's premium apartment market

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"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," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"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."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in 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," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Property News

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) started a global house price index last year. 
They recently released a set of charts detailing their findings on world housing prices.
They continue to track house prices around the world. Their chart with annual percent change is based at Q2, 2014. It puts Australia fourth highest given a 7.4% gain.
Click to open in new windows: 
<a href="/news"> </a><a href="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/globalhousepriceindex_lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/globalhousepriceindex_600px.jpg" alt="chart of house price index"></a><a href="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/housepricesaroundtheworld_lg.jpg" target="_blank" style="font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;"><img src="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/housepricesaroundtheworld_600px.jpg" alt="chart of house prices around the world"></a>
Credit growth Around the world:
<div>
<a href="/news"> </a><center><a href="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/creditgrowth_lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/creditgrowth.jpg" alt="chart of credit growth around the world"> </a></center>
</div>
House price-to-income ratio:
<div>
<a href="/news"> </a><center><a href="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/pricetoincome_lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/pricetoincome.jpg" alt="chart of house price-to-income ratio"> </a></center>
</div>
House price to rent ratio:
<div><center><a href="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/pricetorent_lg.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.imf.org/external/research/housing/images/pricetorent.jpg" alt="chart of house price-to-rent ratio"></a></center></div>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Australia ranks fourth in IMF's global house price index

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Dogs don't typically feature in real estate marketing campaigns, or for that matter work when they do, but Title Tattle loves this one.
Adrian Oddi at BresicWhitney Balmain is seeking buyers for the five bedroom, four bathroom house on 236 square metres at 8 Byrnes Street, Rozelle.
<a href="https://www.bresicwhitney.com.au/buy/8-byrnes-street-rozelle-10401" target="_blank">The price guide is over $2.5 million</a>, whippet not included. The dog's name is Jasper. He's apparently extremely timid but loved the camera at the photo-shoot!
Buyers get a sleek free-standing home, with modern finishes, multiple living spaces and a pool deck turn this quiet retreat into the ultimate entertainer.
There is rental guidance for investors of potentially $1,800 to $2,000 per week.
The Tony McLain architect plans were approved by council in 2011 for the new home.
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Designer dog in contemporary Rozelle auction marketing: Title Tattle

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Today's tweet is for admirers of W Somerset Maugham.
The account is edited by real estate activist and pioneer, Neil Jenman who is planning a new book, How Maugham Can Change Your Life.
"Ideas, suggestions and comments welcome," <a href="https://twitter.com/W_S_Maugham" target="_blank">he advised</a>.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/W_S_Maugham/status/562534153321582592" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/04/tweet-feb-4-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
The twitter page comes with Jenman's Blue Mountains district home study (pictured below) lined with the works of his favourite novelist that he has been collecting since 1976.
<img src="/images/2015/02/04/maugham%20feb%204%20one.jpg" alt="">
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Tweet of the day: W Somerset Maugham joins Twitter via enthusiast Neil Jenman

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The Australian Electoral Commission released financial disclosure data for the 2013-14 financial year earlier this week, revealing that the single largest donor to the ALP was an unknown China-based person named Zichun Wang. 
Crikey can reveal that Zichun Wang appears to be the deputy general manager of Chinese property development firm Ever Bright Group, responsible for several large developments in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Wang gave $850,000 to the national ALP Secretariat in two parcels that year, the largest donation to either party.
An article about the “mystery Chinese donor” in <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/mystery-chinese-donor-zi-chun-wang-tops-political-donations-with-850000-gift-to-labor-20150202-133ofe" target="_blank">Fairfax</a> provoked much speculation as to the identity of the generous figure, with Business Spectator <a href="https://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2015/2/3/china/chinese-man-tops-list-australian-political-donors?utm_content=SocialFlow&amp;utm_campaign=EditorialSF&amp;utm_source=BusinessSpectator&amp;utm_medium=Twitter">discovering</a> links between Wang and Australian real estate investment.
But Crikey can reveal the man behind the money appears to be Melbourne-based Ever Bright Group’s deputy general manager.
Ever Bright Group is responsible for building a range of large property developments primarily across Melbourne and Shijiazhuang, the largest city in Hebei province. Property developers have been banned from donating to political parties in New South Wales since 2009, but there are no Victorian or federal rules against it.
It is unclear whether Ever Bright Group is state owned, though there is a Chinese state-owned conglomerate of the same name. The company’s published history on its website suggests it may be linked to the state-owned China State Construction Engineering Corporation. Careers website <a href="https://company.zhaopin.com/%E6%B2%B3%E5%8C%97%E6%B0%B8%E6%98%8C%E6%88%BF%E5%9C%B0%E4%BA%A7%E5%BC%80%E5%8F%91%E6%9C%89%E9%99%90%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E4%BF%9D%E5%AE%9A%E5%88%86%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8_CC432198127.htm" target="_blank">Zhaopin</a> lists EBG as a private company.
The contact address given on the Australian Electoral Commission disclosure form for the donor is given as a housing block for retired Communist Party apparatchiks and bureaucrats in Shijiazhuang, as well as the Hebei Provincial Development and Reform Commission.
When Crikey called Ever Bright Group’s Melbourne office, the receptionist said Wang was currently in China, but gave the same contact email address as that supplied on the AEC return form.
The China-based phone number listed on the AEC form rings out.
The company’s website features a <a href="https://www.ebgcn.com/news1_details.aspx?nid=12021" target="_blank">news story</a> from March 2014 of Wang visiting Melbourne’s Carey Baptist Grammar school. Another <a href="https://ebgcn.com/news1_details.aspx?nid=12040">article</a> shows EBG Chairman Yuan Wan Yong meeting with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and then-Victorian premier Denis Napthine in June 2014.
Ever Bright Group’s Melbourne developments have included the controversial Stonington Mansion Estate in Malvern. The estate was previously used by Deakin University as a campus, but the university sold it to private developers in 2006 in the face of protests from Stonnington City Council and former federal treasurer Peter Costello. Ever Bright paid $30 million for it in late 2010.
The company is also responsible for the $110 million Lucia luxury apartments in South Yarra. Ever Bright’s website says the development should have been completed by late 2014.
<a href="https://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2015/2/3/china/chinese-man-tops-list-australian-political-donors?utm_content=SocialFlow&amp;utm_campaign=EditorialSF&amp;utm_source=BusinessSpectator&amp;utm_medium=Twitter" target="_blank">As revealed by </a><a href="https://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2015/2/3/china/chinese-man-tops-list-australian-political-donors?utm_content=SocialFlow&amp;utm_campaign=EditorialSF&amp;utm_source=BusinessSpectator&amp;utm_medium=Twitter" target="_blank">Business Spectator</a>, a search of usernames attached to Wang’s email address reveals a series of posts on forums by a Hebei-based user dating back to 2007 showing an interest in Australian property investments.
One comment stated: “Very interesting! I’m interested in investing, and will keep an eye on it!”
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.crikey.com.au/" target="_blank">Crikey</a>.
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po-LsXgBTHBmX

Meet the mysterious Chinese property developer giving a motza to the ALP

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A Sydney CBD car space has been listed at $330,000.
It is in the basement of an apartment complex on the corner of Bond and George streets.
The price tag by vendor Terence Chua reflects a slightly longer space than usual, being able to fit two car tandem parking.
It is in the Mantra <a href="https://www.findacarpark.com.au/dsp_property.cfm?pid=3F496D1B-CA9D-21C8-4BD503D8C97FE2E7" target="_blank">2 Bond Street serviced apartment hotel building</a>. 
It was noted by <a href="/news/how-much-is-a-car-space-worth">Property Observer as for sale last October</a>.
The car park listing portal findacarpark.com.au has suggested Sydney car space have sold for $250,000, though the average price for a Sydney parking space has recently been $73,000.
The car space cost $55,000 in 1999.
Parking space owners who lease their spots out receive between $400 and $800 a month in rent, on average, with average rents on Bondi spaces the highest in the city at $897, followed by the CBD at $685. Many Sydney CBD car spaces are attached by strata to an apartment, making those available to be purchased on separate title a limited market.
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Sydney's priciest CBD car space offering remains for sale

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Photography is crucial for property marketing. Aerial photos have become the norm for the marketing of the most prized residential possessions in Australia.
Tim Mooney has been a professional photographer for 37 years since borrowing his grandfather's camera in 1969 to take photos of Neil Armstrong's lunar walk from the television.
His aerial photographic skills were developed in the early '80s and since then he has photographed around the world.
He is always heading skyward again, especially over Sydney Harbour unlocking the aerial aspect of properties along the coast from Cronulla to Palm Beach, and as far inland as Homebush. His photo library extends <a href="https://www.sydney-aerial-photographer-library.com" target="_blank">up and down the NSW coast</a>.
"The best time to photograph a Sydney golf course is in the lower light of the morning or afternoon," he said.
Here we see the late afternoon shadows on a perfectly groomed <a href="https://www.australiangolfclub.com/welcome/index.mhtml" target="_blank" title="The Australian">Australian Golf Club</a>, Kensington, Sydney, Australia.
"Long shadows add an immense amount of drama to an image," said Mooney.
"They give buildings and people relative dimension.
"The very high resolution camera used lets me zoom right into the two golfers on the putting green."
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Tim Mooney unlocks the aerial photogenic aspect of homes

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A vacant plot in Noosa sold for $1.8 million last week.
The result places it second in the week’s top 10 most expensive sales, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-qld-noosa+heads-201053443" target="_blank">3 Natasha Avenue, Noosa Heads site</a> sold as a deceased estate at auction after 23 years of ownership.
The week’s prestige property sales were yet again relatively subdued, presumably due to low sales volumes. The most expensive property selling for $2.32 million and the top 10 bottoming out at $1.51 million.
CoreLogic’s top 10 sales of the week ending 26 January:
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-marsfield-118192399" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-one.jpg" alt="">24 Dora Street, Marsfield, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/1.jpg" alt="">
This five bedroom, three bathroom house sold for $2.32 million through NNW Property last week. In its listing, the house is described as having “luxurious European styling”, which in this case refers to its marble flooring throughout the lower level, chandeliers and European kitchen appliances. The 431 square metre home sits on a 600.7 square metre block.
In 2011, the vendors paid $800,800 for the property in 2011, which they knocked down and rebuilt after using it as an investment property. The former home on the site was advertised to rent at $670 per week, representing a yield of 4.3%.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-noosa+heads-118687963" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-two.jpg" alt=""></a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-qld-noosa+heads-201053443" target="_blank">3 Natasha Avenue, Noosa Heads</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/noosa.jpg" alt="">
The vacant plot in Noosa sold for $1.8 million through Laguna Real Estate.
The elevated 932 square metre triangular site has a northerly aspect and overlooks Laguna Bay and Noosa River.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-alexandria-118205343"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-three.jpg" alt="">1B Power Avenue, Alexandria, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/3.jpg" alt="">
Buyers paid $1.76 for this three bedroom unit, sold at auction through BresicWhitney Real Estate Agents Glebe. The contemporary terrace has two courtyards, with a dual aspect and double height glass capturing daylight.
The vendors used 1B Power Avenue as an investment property, last advertising it to rent in March last year at $1,290 per week. At its sale price, that represents a yield of 3.8%.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/8-eden-close-dudley/Property-Details-buy-residential-7909218" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-four.jpg" alt="">8 Eden Close, Dudley, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/4.jpg" alt="">
A four-bedroom modernist house sold for $1.7 million through PRD Nationwide Newcastle, after 53 years of ownership. The house, offered for the first time since 1962, has an elevated position which offers views of the Newcastle coastline.
It includes a saltwater pool and many features of organic modernist architecture, including exposed timber and numerous full height windows to capture the surrounding environment.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-glebe-117952627" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-five.jpg" alt="">35 Talfourd Street, Glebe, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/5.jpg" alt=""> 
This four bedroom house sold through McGrath Estate Agents for $1.7 million. Set across three levels on a corner position, the home features polished concrete floors and plantation blinds, with bi-fold doors opening to a courtyard.
The vendors paid $1.15 million for the home in 2011, before undertaking significant renovations.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-leichhardt-118680123" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-six.jpg" alt="">34 South Avenue, Leichhardt, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/6.jpg" alt="">
Buyers paid $1.66 million for this double fronted Leichhardt home, sold through Harris Partners Balmain. The freestanding house has five bedrooms and two bathrooms, sitting on a 482 square metre plot.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-belrose-118545235"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-seven.jpg" alt="">11 St Andrews Close, Belrose, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/7.jpg" alt="">
A five-bedroom house sold through McGrath Estate Agents for $1.6 million last week. The family home, located at the end of a cul-de-sac, has a pool, with a covered deck and gardens.
Vendors paid $440,000 for the property in May 2002.
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/broadbeach/1241099/" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-eight.jpg" alt="">42/173 Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach, QLD</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/8.jpg" alt="">
The only apartment to make this week’s top 10 list was a Broadbeach two bedder, sold for $1,575,000 through Ray White Mermaid Beach.
Vendors made a loss on the sale, having purchased it for $1.95 million in 2008.
The apartment, which shares the 17th floor of the Verve complex with just one other, has 184 square metres of floorspace. Nearly every room offers ocean views, with a full length balcony.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-beacon+hill-118222007" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-nine.jpg" alt="">11 Lady Penrhyn Drive, Beacon Hill, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/9.jpg" alt="">
Ray White Forest Group secured the sale of this house for $1.55 million. The five-bedroom home with an elevated position is set over three levels. The ground floor has a self-contained guest suite with an en-suite, walk in robe and kitchenette.
The middle level has the master suite, another bedroom and the kitchen and dining areas, while the third level contains a further two bedrooms, a bathroom and living areas.
The vendors paid $1.03 million for the home in 2010.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-wembley-118802543" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-ten.jpg" alt="">61 Essex Street, Wembley, WA</a>
<img src="/images/2015/01/27/10.jpg" alt="">
Western Australia’s only offering to make the top 10 list this week was a $1.51 million home sold through Bexleys Real Estate. The renovated four bedroom house in Wembley has a formal living room and separate dining, with another family living area and decking outdoors for entertaining.
The property had been held for 24 years by the vendor before last week’s sale. They paid $168,000 for the home in 1990.
Amendment: This article initially misidentified the $1.8 million Noosa property as one that had been wrongly listed. The specific property has now been corrected.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Noosa vacant plot makes top 10 sales of the week: CoreLogic RP Data

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Apartment development group founder Harry Triguboff has raised the bar on his hopes for the sale price of Meriton to as high as A$15 billion.
But the rumoured suitors -- Country Garden, China Vanke and Greenland Holdings -- have seemingly yet to lob a serious bid.
For a long time Meriton was always spoken of as a $6 billion outfit, then a $10 billion price tag <a href="/news/meritons-harry-triguboff-says-10-billion-is-his-asking-price">was bandied about by Harry</a>.
In November, the Australian Financial Review's Street Talk column suggested an internal advice from Grant Samuel had it closer to the $12 billion based on a multiple of 10 times earnings, when recurring income was taken into account.
Meriton also revealed for the first time in its history that its net assets rose 21% to $7.4 billion last year and annual turnover jumped more than 50% to $2 billion in the past year. It jumped from 29th place on IbisWorld’s Top 500 to 11th place last year.
“I am learning about the (sale) process. To sell that type of business (Meriton) is a long process,” Triguboff told The Australian.
The wide-ranging interview with Lisa Allen saw Triguboff also note he did not sit on company boards like his peer Frank Lowy, who sat on the Reserve Bank board from 1995 to 2005.
“I am a dictator, I am not a board member,” he said.
“I can’t go on a board. I am happy to ­advise, on the other hand.”
Late last year Meriton advised it had been a record year for the apartment developer, with the company’s annual turnover rising more than 50% to A$2 billion, bringing it to 11th place in IBISWorld's 2014 Top 500 Companies, up from 29th spot the previous year.
The company’s net assets leapt from A$6.1 billion in 2013 to A$7.4 billion, a 21% increase. 
The HIA-Colorbond steel Housing 100 named Meriton as Australia’s largest residential home builder, up more than 5,000 housing starts, from 2,573 in FY2013-14 to 7,929.
Based on this figure, new homes by Meriton accounted for around 10% of all multi-unit dwellings commenced in Australia, and 29.5% of all multi-unit dwellings commenced in New South Wales. Meriton projects equated to approximately 0.05% of Australia’s GDP.
The company reported a 33% increase in visits to its sales website, www.meriton.com.au with the most popular searches in 2014, Parramatta, Mascot, Ryde, Zetland and Brisbane CBD.
In 2013 it was Parramatta, Ryde, Chiswick, Lewisham and Brisbane. 
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Harry Triguboff's hopes hit $15 billion for Meriton

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A rate cut next month might not, well, cut it.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/EconoGarry/status/557985374157291520" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/01/22/tweet-jan-22-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
Economics writer Garry Shilson-Josling thinks the Reserve Bank of Australia should have dropped the overnight cash rate below its record low of 2.5% early last year.
Several economists anticipate that the Reserve Bank will drop interest rates at its February meeting, including <a href="/expert-insights/finance/westpacs-bill-evans-still-expects-february-and-march-rba-rate-cuts">Westpac's chief economist Bill Evans</a>.
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Tweet of the day: Too little, too late from the RBA

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Maybe it's those bloody power lines. Property investor Richard Moseley’s Bonnie Doon holiday shack near Lake Eildon in Victoria – which featured in the 1997 comedy The Castle as the serene holiday home of the Kerrigan family – has had its recent asking price lowered in the new year.
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-kerrigans-the-castle-bonnie-doon-holiday-shack-back-for-sale">It was listed last November at $240,000</a>, but now comes with a $225,000 asking price.
Moseley proudly secured the property for $169,950 in 2006 but then first wanted out, unsuccessfully, in 2011.
The two-bedroom cottage – located 165 kilometres from Melbourne <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/3491-maintongoon-road-bonnie-doon/Property-Details-buy-residential-7906790" target="_blank">at 3491 Maintongoon Road</a> – was listed then at $195,000. After no doubt being told that he was "dreamin", the asking price eased to $169,950.
John Canavan First National agent Ryan Daykin is the latest agent told he's dreamin on ambitious asking prices.
Moseley, a Sydney telecommunications technician, bought it sight unseen – other than of course having viewed the iconic movie.
Until recently it has been a popular rental on the back of featuring as the original holiday home of the Kerrigans in the classic Australian comedy. The home consists of two bedrooms, open plan kitchen, dining and living area, bathroom and laundry.
It is situated on a good-sized block opposite the lake and approximately 500 metres from the boat ramp.
Actor Michael Caton headed the cast including Sophie Lee as his daughter Tracy, Eric Bana as son-in-law Con and Bud Tingwell as Lawrence Hammill, the QC who helped them save their cherished home under the flight path.
The cast only spent one day there - with the entire film shot in just 11 days.
Buyers are advised to bring their own modern mozzie zapper.
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