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

Joel Robinson

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

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=367096]

The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Ceerose Founder Edward Doueihi told Apartments.com.au the developer’s long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West had given it a strong understanding of how the area has evolved and where its future opportunities lie.

“Ceerose has had a long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West, giving us a unique understanding of the area’s evolution and future potential,” Doueihi said.

“Having delivered projects throughout the region, we have witnessed the suburb’s transformation first-hand and understand the opportunities for its continued growth.”

Doueihi said that understanding also informed the planning process, with a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes Report prepared before the application was lodged.

The report identified the key issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents and other stakeholders, allowing those matters to be considered and incorporated into the design where appropriate.

He said the delivery of additional housing would also play an important role in supporting the revitalisation of Norton Street and the Italian Forum.

“By increasing the local residential population, the development is expected to strengthen demand for local businesses, encourage further investment, and help restore the vibrancy that made the precinct a thriving destination in the early 2000s.”

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Doueihi founded Ceerose in 1998 and has grown the business to become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers in recent years, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

First look: Ceerose doubles down in Leichhardt with adaptive reuse of former warehouse site

Property News

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The financial adviser Peter Swizter has blogged that economist and academic Steve Keen will one day he will be right about his housing crash predictions.
"Another crash will come and it will be linked to too much debt — the policies used to beat the GFC recession," <a href="https://www.switzer.com.au/the-experts/peter-switzer-expert/free-trade-and-steve-keen/" target="_blank">wrote Switzer</a>.
"Yes, and house prices in some countries, even here, might collapse, taking unemployment over 10% or it could happen the other way, with the loss of jobs causing a huge house price slump."
Switzer noted he usually referred to Keen as the world’s scariest economist.
"Keen is the former Professor of Economics at the University of Western Sydney, which surprisingly closed down its School of Economics. 
"He became famous for raising concerns about the escalation of debt — here and worldwide — before the GFC.
"After that he became infamous for warnings about a house price collapse, another stock market crash and recessions.
"And this is where it gets tricky in assessing Keen.
"He lost a public bet with former Macquarie Bank economist, Rory Robertson, over the likely fall in Australian house prices.
"It resulted in Keen having to walk from Canberra to Mt. Kosciuszko — 224 kilometres — wearing a T-shirt that read: “I was hopelessly wrong on house prices”.
Switzer noted Keen had been hopelessly wrong on house prices.
"If people had listened to him in the media, they might have sold their houses and not bought stocks and they would have lost money, missing out on a house price surge and a stock market recovery."
"One day he will be right.
"In economics, you can be a rooster crowing about your big and correct calls one day, but soon you're a feather duster when you get it wrong."
Swizter added economics was not a science — but a social science.
"It rests on assumptions and these can make you look smart or dumb.
"Let me remind you that a lot of the media went along for the ride with Steve Keen but then quickly crucified him when he was proved wrong.
"For my part, I like to avoid being biased and I like to be open to challenging points of view.
"I test them and I hope my tests are rigorous enough to make a reasonable assessment on them."
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Steve Keen will be right one day on Australian housing crash: Peter Switzer

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Most property investors only own one property and fall into the category of middle class, according to Ed Chan, the founder of Chan &amp; Naylor Property Accountants.
"They certainly are not considered 'rich'," he said.
"In fact they should be applauded for the sacrifice to their lifestyle (due to the shortfall created by negative gearing) as they attempt to invest for their future and in so doing, reducing the government's burden in providing them an old age pension when they retire."
Chan said these investors saved the government billions of dollars by not having to provide public housing for those unable to buy their own homes currently. 
Supply is a very important factor as successive governments have not provided the policies to generate more supply in past years, said Chan.
"You may recall that the Keating government attempted to remove negative gearing in the eighties but reversed their decision when the queues for public housing doubled."
"Whilst taxpayers have claimed a total of $13 billion in losses in their tax returns the actual revenue forgone by the government is calculated at their individual tax rates. 
"Thus at an average tax rate of 35% the lost revenue is only $4.5 billion.
"So the government has not lost $13 billion dollars by allowing negative gearing but rather $4.5 billion is the actual dollars forgone.
"Public housing provided by the government only accounts for around 4% of investment properties.
"The other 96% of housing is provided by the private investor," he argued.
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Middle class sacrifice lifestyle to become property investors: Ed Chan

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Following yesterday's announcement of cuts to its budget, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) will undertake a comprehensive review of all its property holdings.
The portfolio is estimated to be worth about $700 million.
Already is has been decided Lanceley Place, Artarmon in Sydney, will be sold.
It is not yet known if the building or just the carpark will be sold.
It was maintained because it houses the ABC helicopter, sets and wardrobe storage and the ABC outside broadcast vans, which are also to be phased out.
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ABC to sell Lanceley Place, Artarmon property

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A Grocon subsidiary has been fined $250,000 safety failures relating to the collapse of a brick wall in March 2013 which killed Alexander and Bridget Jones and Marie-Faith Woo.
The CFMEU is none too impressed by the fine, nor a tweet from Kat Grollo, wife of Grocon chief executive Daniel Grollo.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/CFMEU_CG/status/536635099039551488" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/11/24/tweet-nov-24-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
The CFMEU suggest Kat Grollo's tweet, posted the morning after Grocon pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ensure a safe workplace, is in relation to the wall collapse.
In a statement on Friday, CFMEU Secretary John Setka said: "Grocon's guilty plea would bring more comfort to the families of the deceased if it wasn't cheapened by comments made by Mr Grollo's wife, who suggested this week the wall collapse was due to sabotage."
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Tweet of the day: CFMEU on Grocon's wall collapse fine

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The former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh and his investment banking friend Dean Honan, the former Morgan Stanley vice-president, have announced a new property initiative.
Early next year they will launch Waugh Global Realty - part-owned by Waugh, Honan and Indian development tycoon Tarun Mehrota of Puri Constructions - which aims to sell off the plan investment properties to Indian expats living in Australia.
The firm will focus on the luxury end of the market for investors.
 A percentage of the profits will go to Waugh's charity projects, Fairfax Media reported.
The business will sell the property with Puri undertaking the construction.
"Both Steve and I think that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi now at the helm and opening up the markets and removing the barriers, the sky's the limit for the Indian market," Fairfax Media was told by Dean Honan.
Waugh is already involved in India through Sporting Edge Communities which offers sports and recreation-related town planning advice to Indian property developers.
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Steve Waugh targets Indian expats with new property initiative

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Some real estate photographers manage to make a room look twice as big, twice as bright and, most importantly, twice as expensive.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/joshgondelman/status/534830598469476352" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/11/19/tweet-nov-19-one.png" alt=""></a>
But no matter how long the lens or how proficient you are at Photoshop, sometimes, there's just not that much to work with. That doesn't stop some photographers and agents from giving it a red hot go, as Last Week Tonight With John Oliver web producer Josh Gondelman has noticed.
The empty corner shot is a Property Observer favourite, along with <a href="/news/artistically-advertised-properties-can-these-photos-really-help-sell">gratuitous fancy food</a>, hyper-coloured skies, garden statues and <a href="/expert-insights/investing/five-of-the-most-bizarre-property-listings-from-looney-listing">taxidermy</a>.
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Tweet of the day: Those tricky angles

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A fire damaged St Peters home will be auctioned this weekend.
The house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-st+peters-118283099" target="_blank">81 Frederick Street, St Peters</a> exhibits significant burns, with soot blackening the interiors and façade. Photos above show one room completely ruined, with a collapsed ceiling.
Selling agents Santos Sulfaro and Frank Sulfaro of Richardson &amp; Wrench Leichhardt are expecting the home will attract around $650,000 when auctioned on Saturday morning by Damien Cooley.
The three bedroom, one bathroom house is being marketed as a blank canvas with renovation or development potential – albeit rather dramatically, as seen in the video titled Fire Sale below.
{qtube vid:=EFF3Cojzuw0}
The owner is reportedly a former IT worker who isn't able to claim insurance for the fire after allegations it was deliberately lit by an unidentified occupant who faces court next week, according to <a href="https://news.domain.com.au/domain/real-estate-news/firedamaged-st-peters-house-listed-for-650000-20141029-11cyz6" target="_blank">Domain</a>. He paid $290,000 for the freestanding brick house in 1998.
Police confirmed to media a 55 year old man was due to appear in court on 1 December, facing charges of contravening an apprehended violence order and damaging a property by fire.
 <img src="/images/2014/11/19/306.JPG" alt="">
Above: The home in healthier condition, 2004.
According to the listing, despite "dramatic fire damage" to the hallway and one bedroom, the other areas are mostly only affected by soot.
The house, on 195 square metres, has a recently renovated bathroom, metal press ceilings, timber floors and tessellated tiles. Its $650,000 guidance prices it well below its neighbours – the median price of <a href="/news">St Peters </a>house in October was $1,212,000, according to RP Data. Last week, an unrenovated three bedroom brick home in St Peters <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-st+peters-118222391" target="_blank">sold for $800,000</a>.
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Catching fire: St Peters’ burnt offering

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While Melbourne piles on the apartments, their price growth continues to be outpaced by houses.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/cmkusher/status/534483644421648384" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/11/18/tweet-nov-18-one.jpg" alt=""></a>
Observer Cameron Kusher, senior research analyst at CoreLogic (formerly known as RP Data), noted that house values increased by 4.5% plus in the past five years, compared to just 2.9% plus growth in the unit market.
For more on Melbourne's apartment construction boom, read: <a href="/news/vic/exclusive-does-melbourne-have-an-oversupply-problem">Exclusive: Does Melbourne have an oversupply problem?</a>
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Tweet of the day: Melbourne unit price growth outstripped by houses

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Confusion with capital works is costing tenants and landlords thousands of dollars on legal fees that can easily be avoided, according to Opteon Property Group.
Confusion often comes after a rent review, especially if a tenant has made changes to the property, such as installing a lift or painting the outside of the building. When a rent review is conducted these new capital works are taken into account and rent can therefore rise.
“Even though landlords are obligated to undertake capital works on a tenant’s behalf, tenants often decide to undertake capital work themselves, and it is this scenario that disputations can arise,” says David Tunbridge, head of Opteon Victoria Hospitality Department. 
According to the Retail Leases Act (2003) the landlord is responsible to undertake any capital works, which are classified as structural works that will end up becoming the property of the landlord after the lease expires, should they be required. However, a tenant’s responsibility to add features to the property only covers things such as installing air conditioners and sometimes kitchen and bathroom amenities.
Tunbridge recently made a property valuation where the landlord leased a former church building with the intention of converting it into a restaurant.
“The prospective tenant has committed to a lease and will be undertaking a significant internal fit out, as well as making substantial capital works to the premises,” he said.
“The lease provides for an initial one-year term together with three further terms of five years with a market rent review to apply at the commencement of each further option term.
“In this instance we can see that clearly the tenant is exposed, as the capital works will need to be assessed in determining the market rent should the tenant exercise its option to renew the lease.
“If the tenant’s business fails, and the tenant vacates after the initial one year term, then the landlord stands to make significant gains by receiving an improved and upgraded building.
“Alternatively if the tenant renews the lease for a further 5 years, then the market rent will be increased to reflect the works undertaken by the tenant as there is nothing written in the lease to the contrary.
“This is an unfortunate situation whereby only one side can benefit and is clearly unfair to the tenant.”
However, Tunbridge believes there is a simple solution to this problem. If capital works are going to be undertaken by a tenant, he believes that a written agreement between tenant and landlord would give both parties an understanding of what capital works will do to the rent value come rent review time.
“If both parties meet, talk and agree on how best to share the cost of capital works before they are undertaken, it can be a win-win for both sides,” he said.
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Capital works confusion costing tenants and landlords

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A study that asked 1,445 people in NSW about harmony in their neighbourhood found two out of three people consider themselves good neighbours.
But some 20% had experienced an issue or a conflict with a neighbour in the past five years, the study by the Domain Group/Nielsen found.
Pets and parties, and too much gossiping headed the predictable list of 18 identified causes.
Dogs barking was the major cause of complaints with 27% having concerns.
Overflowing bins was the cause of around 7% of issues.
The report discovered some 5% were unhappy with screeching roosters.
Screaming kids and slamming doors each rated about 10%. Some 15% were unhappy with too many visitors next door.
<ol>
<li>Yapping, barking dogs </li>
<li>Loud annoying music </li>
<li>Too gossipy </li>
<li>Loud parties </li>
<li>Loud fights </li>
<li>People coming over all the time </li>
<li>Untidy property </li>
<li>Screaming kids </li>
<li>Slamming door </li>
<li>Messy or noisy renovations </li>
<li>Overflowing or untidy bins </li>
<li>Boundary/Fence issue </li>
<li>Overhanging trees/pruning </li>
<li>Screeching roosters </li>
<li>Moving furniture/stomping upstairs </li>
<li>Drug/Alcohol/Verbal abuse/Vandalism/Theft </li>
<li>Vehicle parking </li>
<li>Pet issues</li>
</ol>
List of Victorian neighbour complaints on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
In Victoria the survey of 1,126 Victorians had slightly different results with 30% putting annoyingly loud music at the top of the list.
Some 18% of Victorians polled in a survey by Domain Group said they'd had a conflict with a neighbour over the past five years.
<ol>
<li>Annoyingly loud music </li>
<li>Loud parties </li>
<li>Yapping, barking dogs </li>
<li>Loud fighting </li>
<li>Untidy property (e.g. rubbish in the yard) </li>
<li>Slamming doors </li>
<li>People coming over all the time </li>
<li>Too gossipy and dont mind their own business </li>
<li>Screaming kids </li>
<li>Messy or noisy renovations </li>
<li>Unpleasant odours </li>
<li>
Screeching roosters 
</li>
</ol>
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