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

Joel Robinson

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

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Property News

<html><body>
It was Queensland that failed to get a look in on the 10 most expensive sales of the week, despite taking out the top place last week.
The most expensive sales all came from Victoria or Sydney, according to RP Data.
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-canterbury-117121935" target="_blank">126 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury, Vic </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e1.jpg" alt=""> A five bedroom, four bathroom house <a href="/news/mont-albert-road-canterbury-trophy-home-sells-for-6-66-million">in Melbourne's Canterbury sold for $6,660,000 last week</a> through Hocking Stuart Glen Iris. Set on a 2,051 square metre plot, the Tuscan-style mansion comes with an outdoor entertaining room with a television, barbecue and fireplace, a pool and tennis court. Inside, there is a formal sitting room, a games room, a separate dining room, a study and a kitchen topped with Calcutta marble. The vendors purchased the home just three years ago, for $5,500,000. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.century21.com.au/property/279993/" target="_blank">48 Carabella Street, Kirribilli, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e2.jpg" alt=""> This <a href="/news">Kirribilli </a>mansion sold for $4,500,000 through Century 21 Mosman. Another five bedroom, four bathroom house (though more than $2 million cheaper than Canterbury's offering), the home was sold by <a href="/expert-insights/buying/computer-software-entrepreneur-simon-clausen-sells-kirribilli-mansion-burnleigh">former Young Rich Lister Simon Clausen</a>, now an expatriate in Sweden. Though it was reportedly sold in late June, the sale was presumably only reported this week to RP Data. It had been listed since October 2013. Clausen and his wife, Alexandra, purchased the home for $3.98 million in 2008. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.ppdre.com.au/1P0509" target="_blank">4 Bourke Street, Queens Park, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e3.jpg" alt=""> A contemporary five bedroom, four bathroom home sold for $2,975,000 through Phillips Pantzer Donnelley. The <a href="/news">Queens Park</a> home set on a 386 square metre dual-access block comes with a two storey self-contained guesthouse. The main house has wide timber floorboards throughout, a walk in pantry, and a marble-topped kitchen. The vendors purchased the property, five minutes from Bondi Junction, in 2010 for $1,975,000. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-willoughby-117266903" target="_blank">6 Pendey Street, Willoughby, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e4.jpg" alt=""> Sold through L J Hooker Willoughby, this home secured $2,240,000. The five bedroom, three bathroom house has generous open plan living spaces. The house is set on a 580 square metre elevated lot, with leafy views of the suburb. The vendors purchased the home less than a year before selling. It was sold at a loss, with the former owners buying the house in 2013 for $2,360,000. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-balmain-117287835" target="_blank">155 Darling Street, Balmain, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e5.jpg" alt=""> This sandstone corner terrace sold for $2,400,000 through Cobden &amp; Hayson Balmain. The home, built in 1858, has been renovated, with contemporary interiors. A double height atrium is the central feature of the home, which has two storeys and opens to a north facing entertaining area. There are four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and the private "master wing" has a walk in robe, ensuite and private deck. The vendors bought the home in 2010, for $2,125,000. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-manly-117244863" target="_blank">501/95 West Esplanade, Manly, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e6.jpg" alt=""> A <a href="/news">Manly </a>penthouse secured $2,150,000 when it was sold through Bergelin Estate Agents. The three bedroom, two bathroom home in the Manly hillside has panoramic views over the Manly ferry, harbour and heads. Each room of the open plan home extends to adjoining terraces. The vendors purchased the home in May 2009. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-freshwater-117227027" target="_blank">40 Wilson Street, Freshwater, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e7.jpg" alt=""> This modest single storey brick home sold for $2,110,000 through Smyth Estate Agents. With a 919 square metre flat plot, the potential for development on the flat block was central to its marketing campaign. The home had been held by the same family for more than 60 years. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-south+melbourne-117256503" target="_blank">292 Cecil Street, South Melbourne, Vic </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e8.jpg" alt=""> Greg Hocking Holdsworth Albert Park sold this three bedroom, one bathroom <a href="/news">South Melbourne</a> Victorian home for $2,100,000. The freestanding house, located near MSAC, Albert Park Village and Clarendon Street, is north-facing at the rear, bringing light into the kitchen and living areas. The vendors had owned the home for almost 30 years. They purchased the property for $180,000 in November 1984, selling it this week for more than 11 times that price. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bella+vista-116601871" target="_blank">11 Montpellier Rise, Bella Vista, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e9.jpg" alt=""> A six bedroom, three car home in <a href="/news">Bella Vista</a> also sold for $2,100,000 this week. Century 21 Prime Property secured the sale of the contemporary house. The newly built home, which took two years to complete, has multiple large living areas and double sized bedrooms. outside, there is a private entertaining area with a barbecue and cooktop, and a swimming pool that comes with a waterfall and coloured lighting. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-clovelly-117246355" target="_blank">30 Clifton Road, Clovelly, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/15/e10.jpg" alt=""> This single fronted home was sold for $2,050,000 through Ray White Kensington. The four bedrooms, three bathroom house with two levels was recently renovated by the vendors. The property has been in their hands since 1987.</li>
</ol>
</body></html>

jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

The 10 most expensive sales of the week: RP Data

<html><body>
Despite months on the market and huge price cuts, these properties just won’t budge.
These 10 properties are the most heavily discounted in the country, according to <a href="https://sqmresearch.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9badbd870addb4af72206c2eb&amp;id=0f8e3c8687&amp;e=0aab96dc54" target="_blank">SQM Research</a>.
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi+rural-qld-ellen+grove-114951879" target="_blank">38 Considine Street, Ellen Grove, Queensland</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/1.jpg" alt="">
The owners of this 1.57 hectare flat block with a brick house have lopped its price by 43%, this biggest house price cut of any home currently on the market. After 245 days on the market and a new $799,000 asking price, down from $1,400,000, the property is still for sale. A half hour’s drive from the Brisbane CBD, the property is being advertised on its development potential.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-richmond-114883299" target="_blank">2 Wellington Street, Richmond, Tasmania</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/2.jpg" alt="">
Richmond’s Mill House, sitting alongside the convict-built Richmond bridge, has seen its asking price cut by $1 million, down from $2,800,000 to $1,800,000. The historic property has a four bedroom, four bathroom main residence, with a formal living and dining area, sunroom and cellar. There is also a self-contained cottage on the property, and the vendors are open to selling the adjoining plot. According to the listing information, “A change of circumstances has significantly increased the motivation of the Vendors of this magnificent Country Retreat [sic]”.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-carabooda-114289451" target="_blank">219 Bernard Road North Carabooda, West Australia</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/3.jpg" alt="">
A newcomer to SQM’s list, this rural property has been discounted by 35%, with its asking price now $2,272,000, down from $3,500,000. It’s been on the market for 321 days. SQM notes the property is an “acquired taste,” writing that “this home would perhaps struggle to find buyer interest outside of those interested in the rural/farming market, narrowing down the vendor's target market immensely”. According to its listing information, the property is located four or five kilometres from the “future CBD of Alkimos”.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/michelago/668779/" target="_blank">76 Tinderry Road, Michelago, New South Wales</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/4.jpg" alt=""> Another rural property that won’t budge, this 710 hectare plot has been on the property for more than three and a half years, and has been discounted by 34%. The property, located near Michelago village, is within a half hour’s drive of Canberra’s suburbs. Permanent water is supplied to the property by the Michelago creek, with two dams on the land. The original 1925-era home still stands on the property and requires significant renovations.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-doubleview-116544475" target="_blank">1 Princess Road, Doubleview, West Australia</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/09/5.jpg" alt="">
Advertised as a four lot subdivision opportunity, this property in Perth’s Doubleview has been discounted by 33%. On the market for 91 days, the cottage and granny flat on the plot are advertised as “very rentable during the development phase”. They sit on a 1,412 square metre plot. The vendors purchased 1 Princess Road for $150,000 in 1990. They are hoping to secure more than 10 times what they paid for the property, with an asking price of $1,800,000.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-strathalbyn-107584093" target="_blank">21 Cotton Court, Strathalbyn, South Australia</a>
<img src="/images/2014/04/30/strathalbyn.jpg">
This home in the South Australian town of Strathalbyn is listed at $339,000, 32% down from its initial $498,000 asking price. 21 Cotton Court has been on the market for almost three years. The 1900s style house was purchased by the current vendors for $118,000 in 1995. It’s the only South Australian home on the top 10 list.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-battery+point-108230936" target="_blank">1/23 Albuera Street, Battery Point, Tasmania</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/6.jpg" alt="">
This luxury renovated apartment offering in Hobart is situated in the former Albuera Art School. Vendors are seeking offers over $1,500,000, while its initial asking price, 986 days ago, was $2,200,000. The property has three double bedrooms, with polished timber floors throughout and pressed metal ceilings.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-green+point-114436679" target="_blank">99 Green Point Drive, Green Point, New South Wales</a>
<img src="/images/2014/04/30/green%20point%20drive.jpg">
A contemporary home in the New South Wales Central Coast has been discounted by 31% after more than 1,373 on the market. Listed for more than two and a half years, it’s been on the market longer than any other property currently listed in Australia. It has four bedrooms, with an en suite with spa attached to the master bedroom. There is also an outdoor covered spa at the back of the property. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bar+point-113991687" target="_blank">53 Kalinda Road, Bar Point, New South Wales</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/9.jpg" alt="">
The price of this two cabin property set above a waterfront reserve on the banks of the Hawkesbury River was cut from $280,000 to $195,000, a 30% drop. It’s been on the market for 581 days. Advertised as a “great weekender”, the first cabin has two bedrooms, a kitchen and living area, while the other has a bedroom and bathroom. There is also the opportunity to take up a license for a jetty on the property, though there isn’t a ramp and pontoon currently installed.
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-box+hill-115886643" target="_blank">4/14 Spring Street, Box Hill, Victoria</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/10.jpg" alt="">
This one bedroom apartment, advertised as student accommodation, is on the market for $160,500. When it was first listed 154 days ago, it was advertised at $230,000. Next door to the Box Hill Hospital, the apartment is within walking distance of Box Hill’s shopping centres, public transport and the Box Hill Institute. If vendors sell at its current asking price, they will be making a loss – they bought the apartment for $173,000 in 2007.
</li>
</ol>
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The 10 most heavily discounted homes in Australia

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Property investing is a game of numerical knowledge.
Clued-up investors know that it’s not just about the headline median price, clearance rates and prestige sale figures. Yields, vacancy rates and employment figures can be just as important.
Some numbers are more equal than others. Here are seven of the standout figures that you should stick to the back of your brain this week:
<ol>
<li>
1.2% Sydney’s price gains managed to drag the national result up as the latest Australian Property Monitors PriceFinder data revealed that <a href="/expert-insights/buying/sydney-strength-drags-along-slowing-house-prices-apm">national price growth had risen by 1.2%</a> for the September quarter. It was the slowest national growth figure recorded since March 2013. Brisbane was perhaps the most surprising result, with its median price falling 1.3% over the quarter. 
</li>
<li>
4% Infrastructure is often pointed to as one of the keys to future price growth. But just how big an effect does it really have. Researchers from Griffith University studied the effect of Brisbane’s introduction of ferries nearly 20 years ago and found that on average <a href="/news/qld/how-the-introduction-of-brisbanes-ferries-affected-property-prices">properties one kilometre closer to the ferry terminal increased by an average of 4%</a> more than those further away. In fact academic Barbara Yen said that: “A one hundred metre decrease in the distance to the ferry stop would increase property values by between 4.9% and 13.1%.” 
</li>
<li>
-8.5% The Sydney market has boomed over the past couple of years, but not every region has benefited. SQM Research’s Louis Christopher dug down into <a href="/news/nsw/not-all-sydney-areas-are-booming-the-citys-three-worst-performing-regions">the three areas which have underformed</a>. Among them the affluent Lower North Shore which has actually seen prices fall by 8.5% over the past three years. 
</li>
<li>
274 Brisbane has a new contender for the crown of the city’s tallest tower. <a href="/expert-insights/buying/brisbane-skytower-joins-race-to-be-the-citys-highest-residential-tower">Brisbane Skytower will reach the city maximum height of 274 metres</a>, potentially equalling Shayher Group’s proposed 82-storey residential tower on 300 George Street. 
</li>
<li>
11 Melbourne’s median house price has stabilised over the previous quarter, but <a href="https://propertyobserver.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=24bd0766a834290948593f5aa&amp;id=e48e5e6ff4&amp;e=035e81ff9a" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">price growth in 11 suburbs stood out</a>, according to the Real Estate Institute of Victoria. 
</li>
<li>
104 Melbourne City Council has secured the $76 million purchase of a 6,462 square metre property site opposite the Queen Victoria Market <a href="/expert-insights/investing/queen-victoria-market-precinct-site-sells-to-melbourne-city-council-after-104-year-wait">after a 104 year wait</a>. The council managed to fight off competition from $80 million offshore buyers to secure the prime redevelopment site. 
</li>
<li>
1,641 Melbourne is gearing up for its<a href="/expert-insights/buying/all-time-record-number-of-auctions-rp-datas-melbourne-weekend-preview"> biggest auction weekend ever</a>. RP Data figures show 1,641 auctions are scheduled for the forthcoming pre-Melbourne Cup weekend, breaking the 1,619 auction record set on the same days last year.
</li>
</ol>
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The top property investment numbers of the week

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<ul>
<li>$18,000 per square metre</li>
</ul>
A one bedroom Potts Point bolthole (pictured below) <a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-38-square-metre-potts-point-sydney-unit-that-fetched-684-000">38 square metre offering sold for $684,000</a> at auction last weekend.
That works out as $18,000 per square metre.
 <img src="/images/phocagallery/2014/10/potts-point-oct-24/potts%20point_0002_3.jpg.jpg">
<ul>
<li>$50,000</li>
</ul>
The 460 square metre, three level penthouse atop the Tony Owen-designed Eliza building (pictured below) comes with a <a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-15-million-eliza-penthouse-has-a-50-000-fridge">pretty hefty price tag of $15 million</a>. 
For that, the four bedroom, six bathroom apartment includes a private lobby, an internal passenger lift, 13.5-metre frontage overlooking the park and ... a $50,000 fridge.
<img src="/images/2014/10/29/eliza-oct-29-two.jpg"> 
<ul>
<li>44%</li>
</ul>
Westpac is the most exposed of the 'Big Four' to investor lending, with new research indicating <a href="/expert-insights/finance/westpac-most-exposed-to-property-investor-mortgage-market">44% of its mortgage book belongs to this market</a>.
Macquarie Group research concluded macroprudential policy could result in a 1% fall in big bank earnings.
 
<ul>
<li>Seven out of 10</li>
</ul>
It was a record breaking auction week in Victoria in the lead up to the Melbourne Cup long weekend and <a href="/expert-insights/buying/victorian-prestige-homes-dominate-rp-datas-top-10-sales-of-the-week">seven of the top 10 sales across the country were in the state</a>, according to RP Data.
Among them was the Canterbury trophy home Tavistock (pictured below). The house was designed by Ussher and Kemp, the prolific Federation era Melbourne architects who made their mark throughout Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
 <img src="/images/2014/10/28/camberwell-oct-28-breakout.jpg" alt="Victorian prestige homes dominate RP Data's top 10 sales of the week">
<ul>
<li>$5 million</li>
</ul>
But the honour of the priciest sale of the week belonged to a three bedroom Darlinghurst apartment (pictured below). 
The north-east corner apartment on the 16th floor of the Residence secured <a href="/expert-insights/buying/darlinghurst-apartment-sells-prior-to-auction-for-5-million">$5 million prior to auction</a>.
<img src="/images/2014/10/27/darlinghurst_0000_1.jpg.jpg" alt="Darlinghurst apartment sells prior to auction for $5 million">
<ul>
<li>$300 million</li>
</ul>
One of the largest commercial property transactions of the quarter went through this week.
A 50% stake in North Sydney’s 101 Miller Street/Greenwood Plaza(pictured below) <a href="/expert-insights/investing/half-share-in-north-sydneys-101-miller-street-greenwood-plaza-sold-for-300-million-plus">was sold for over $300 million</a>.
TIAA Henderson Real Estate, on behalf of TIAA-CREF, purchased the half stake from Eureka Funds Management. Mirvac Group will continue to own the remaining 50% stake.
<img src="/images/2014/10/30/greenwood-plaza-oct-30-breakout.jpg" alt="Half share in North Sydney's 101 Miller Street-Greenwood Plaza sold for $300 million plus">
<ul>
<li>$6.25 million</li>
</ul>
The octagonal Hotel Saville (pictured below) <a href="/expert-insights/building/confirmed-the-block-makes-octagonal-south-yarra-hotel-reservation">was confirmed as the site for a future installment of The Block</a> after Jonathan Chancellor revealed the $6.25 million buyer to be Watercress, the company behind the show's production. 
The site comes with a dash of morbid history. In 2002, it was alleged that male gigolo Shane Chartres-Abbott raped a client in a hotel suite.
Chartres-Abbott was arrested shortly afterwards and presented a bizarre defence that he was a 200 year old vampire.
In 2003, Chartres-Abbott was executed outside his Reservoir home as he left for his County Court trial.
<img src="/images/2014/10/24/block%20octagonal%20oct%2024%20breakout.jpg" alt="Confirmed! The Block makes octagonal South Yarra hotel reservation">
 
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Listings rose 3 percent in June, driven mainly by a 7 percent jump in Brisbane.
Higher listings in the month mirror recent softening auction trends, reported SQM Research. 
Over the year, listings are still 3.3 percent lower, with Melbourne (-12.7 percent) and Hobart (-14,8 percent) recording excessive declines. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/07/05/SQM1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/07/05/SQM1.jpg" alt="">
Melbourne house prices have exploded 
The Hobart market is very tight, with a total of only 2912 listings, sending rents and house prices higher. 
With the other exception of Melbourne, listings are generally higher this year than last.
Listings in Brisbane jumped by 7 percent in June, as vendors struggle gamely to offload a glut of apartment stock.  
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/07/05/SQM2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/07/05/SQM2.jpg" alt="">
Meanwhile SQM reported that median asking prices in Melbourne have exploded, rising by 22 percent over the year to June. 
Indeed, Melbourne asking prices for houses have increased by a massive 48 percent over the past three years, now comfortably outstripping growth in all other capital cities, including house prices in Sydney at 39 percent. 
 
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blogger</a>.
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Hobart property market tight

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Property valuation firm LandMark White Limited (LMW) has acquired rival MVS National, with the combined entity to create the largest ASX-listed valuation services business.
The combined entity will operate under the LMW brand it will have 300 employees, including 100 staff from LMW that are based in Western Australia.
“The merging of LMW and MVS helps accelerate our expansion strategy in the national services market and allows us to build on the success and strength of both organisations,” LMW chief executive Chris Coonan said.
MVS provides property valuation services to the residential, commercial and government sectors.
LandMark White earlier said in an ASX announcement that it had raised $10 million through a right issue and placement for the acquisition.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Property valuation firm LandMark White acquires rival MVS National 

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‘Don’t buy’ is the advice to young Australians thinking of owning property from one of Australia’s leading economists, Deloitte Access Economics economist Chris Richardson.  
The advice confirms the uncertainties around Australia’s property market, as the government looks at ways to make housing more affordable, although there is scepticism about how much they can actually affect the market.
"The one bit of advice I give to young Australians is right now you know...amid our housing markets of the moment is 'don't buy'," Richardson told the National Press Club recently, as reported by The Australian Financial Review.
"Although there are elements of rental stress, and governments can be involved in helping to do things around there and indeed governments have a bigger role there than in other parts of housing markets, let's not forget that rents today make a lot more sense than housing prices,” he said.
Even Treasurer Scott Morrison spoke at length about the private rental market the same week at a speech on housing affordability ahead of the budget, when the government is expected to deliver an affordability package.
He noted that just over two thirds of households are owner occupiers, and almost a third rent - a quarter rent in the private market, and just under 5% rent through community housing providers at sub-market rates or in public housing.
The Treasurer, while acknowledging the affordability issues for both home buyers and renters, said any measures to deal with the situation “must involve a scalpel, not a chainsaw as advocated by the Labor Party”.
While Morrison – and others in the government – have raised the spectre of a range of measures the government was contemplating to make housing affordable, Richardson put a reality check, saying – relative to recent moves in house prices – the impact of any government policy change would be marginal at best.
Referring to Morrison’s speech, Richardson said:
“The most overlooked thing [the Treasurer] said was that there was no silver bullet around this.
“You absolutely do need to look at renters who are of course the flip side of looking at investors.”
He said the government could do "heaps of things", but when "you have more than nine million homes and families in Australia, you're not necessarily going to change things heaps".
"You need to understand how small the levers they have on how big a market the Australian housing market is.”
"They might affect prices by 2-3%: we easily did more than that over the course of November-December".
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

"Don't buy" property right now, economist Chris Richardson tells young Australians

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Regulatory action on multiple fronts to cool prices in an overheated market, which many see as a bubble at risk, could be a case of overshooting and there are dangers signals hidden in a sharp drop in prices, says a leading columnist.
“There is an unease in large parts of the residential property market. Such an unease normally triggers a fall in prices,” according to The Australian columnist Robert Gottliebsen.
A warning by Deloitte Access Economics’ Chris Richardson to first-home buyers that now was a bad time to buy was roundly criticised, but Gottliebsen said he was picking up similar danger signals in parts of the industry itself because of the multiple attacks on the vital housing industry.
“And down in budget preparation land they are planning new attacks with the aim of making it easier for first-home buyers. Scott Morrison, be careful what you wish for,” he writes.
The current volley of attacks, according to Gottliebsen, are:
<ul>
<li>Chinese and other Asian foreign investors want to buy but they get no help from local Australian banks because they can’t prove their income in China to our banks. At the same time, China is making it almost impossible for money directed to Australian housing to legally leave the country. The Chinese who bought apartments “off the plan” two or three years ago are forced to find dubious ways of getting money out of China and/or pay the high interest rates required by the rapidly growing unofficial and unregulated finance system. There is a massive Chinese investor funding problem in Melbourne and a lesser one in Brisbane.</li>
<li>Chinese are re-entering the “off the plan” market with great gusto in the belief that their government will change the rules and/or there will be a reversal in Australian banking attitudes. If we do manage to get through the Melbourne small apartment oversupply problem we are laying the foundations for another and deeper crisis if the current Chinese funding rules do not change.</li>
<li>In the “second-hand” dwelling market, for the most part, Chinese investors do not participate because it is illegal without FIRB approval. However there is clearly buying by local Chinese who have some sort of agreement with their relatives/ friends in China. But the Australian government is cracking down on these arrangements.</li>
<li>The “second-hand” market is largely made up of locals who are pushing up the prices in many areas of Sydney and Melbourne. While there is the normal high activity in house swapping and many first-home buyers in outer suburbs, the biggest force in the market for both apartments and houses is investors.</li>
</ul>
Local investors comprise high-income medical professionals but also teachers, police and trades people like plumbers. The uncertainty about superannuation means people see negatively geared dwellings as a more reliable retirement vehicle, he says.
They have also increased interest rates on investor loans and residential rate loans are being edged up. And so the forces that drove the “second-hand” market higher are being reversed with some savagery. And at the same time, about every regulator is warning of a bubble.
<ul>
<li>Outside the public service, wages are not rising, which exposes risk to the one-third of Australian borrowers (according to RBA figures) who have not built up a repayment buffer, or are less than one month ahead on their home loan repayments. These borrowers are very exposed to an economic downturn or rise in interest rates and shows how vulnerable the current situation is to any further blows in the budget.</li>
<li>There are signs that in Sydney and Melbourne the squeeze on land for development is being eased, particularly in Sydney. The major developer in Sydney, Meriton, has announced that it plans to lift production because long-delayed permits are finally being issued.</li>
</ul>
With all these forces being lined up, home prices should fall but are being help up by the rising populations in Melbourne and Sydney; the rush of foreign students and tourists and problems developers are having organising finance, he says.
In addition, if Labor wins the next election it will most likely dump negative gearing. Hence, investors are buying property before it’s too late. 
Rents in most areas are not falling. Those forces will probably stop a significant fall unless there is a major adverse global event or the budget attacks too hard. And if there is a significant fall the whole Australian economy will be affected, so multiplying the fall, warns Gottliebsen.
“My fear is that the regulators are using weapons to curb the boom that have not been used in a long time. There is risk of overshooting."
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Danger in excessive moves to cool property market: Gottliebsen

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A local Perth developer has jumped in to help out the proud new parents of a set of quintuplets.
Home and land developer Nicheliving completed the project for Kim and Vaughn Tucci, whose home was struggling to accommodate the arrival of five new children to supplement their three older siblings.
Channel Seven’s Today Tonight program was on hand to document the conversion of the Tucci family’s four bedroom, two bathroom home into a double storey dwelling.
Nicheliving director Ronnie Elhaj said he was proud with the final result and the positive impact on the Tucci family.
“Nicheliving has previously supported a number of local community and charity based initiatives, and we’re continually looking for ways to offer support to Perth families,” he said.
“Many of our clients are young families that are trying to get through life, much like Kim and Vaughn.
“We felt the Tucci family story resonated well with our brand ethos and our vision of helping West Australians achieve the Australian Dream.
“We can certainly appreciate that one or two children can be a challenge for parents, let alone quintuplets in addition to the other children in the Tucci family.
“Any family can experience a bit of financial strain in trying to handle the cost of living, so we were more than happy to help.
“Thanks to the generosity of our partners, we were able to provide the Tucci family with a great result.”
Other contributors and partners to the renovation include Loyalty app, WA Span Truss, Hearth House, Attix, Trevors Carpets, Jason Windows, Metroll, Distinctive Ceilings (DGC Group) and ABC Blinds. 
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Perth developer pitches in to help Perth's quintuplet parents

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Following Labor’s thumping win in Western Australia, the new government could introduce a four percent surcharge for foreigners buying residential property in the state, a move which has met with criticism from a leading industry body which says it could hurt the market’s hopes of a recovery. 
Others are more optimistic, saying a clear election win would stimulate the property market as buyers usually hold off major financial decisions till the election outcome.
Other moves by the Mark McGowan government could be changes to stamp duty and formation of an independent infrastructure body, according to an article in the Australian Financial Review.
The previous Liberal government had promised to shave up to $15,000 from the stamp duty for seniors downsizing into a property valued up to $750,000. What Labor does now, the industry will just have to wait and see.
It it introduces the surcharge for foreign buyers of residential property, similar to Victoria, NSW and Queensland, it would do more harm than good, says the Property Council of Australia because of the low foreign investment in the state compared with other states.
"We have the lowest level of foreign investment in property in Australia and putting an extra tax on foreign buyers will make it much harder to get the investment we need to grow the state," the council's WA executive director, Lino Iacomella, was cited as saying by the AFR.
Labor says it will use the funds to put a freeze TAFE fees for the first four years of a McGowan Government.
Among the popular moves, however, Labor has said it will create Infrastructure WA, an independent body long called for by the property industry, to assess and prioritise infrastructure projects.
Before the election, on the common agenda for both Liberal and Labor was strata title reform, such as the creation of community title, which would allow more flexible mixed-use structures with strata properties under different management.
It would also mean owners with plots as small as 1000 square metres, would have flexibility to develop their site in stages, rather than all in one go as happens under current practice, and potentially get better outcomes, said sustainable housing developer Eugenie Stockmann.
Real estate firm Acton chief executive Travis Coleman was cited by www.domain.com.au as saying that there were signs the WA economy was recovering, with the latest economic growth figures for the December 2016 quarter showing positive economic growth for the first time since mid-2015.
“If we have a clear result on Saturday (for whichever major political party), this will give people confidence of a clear political direction for the State over the next four years,” he said.
“So this state election could be the last obstacle towards a noticeable recovery in the Western Australian property market.” 
Be that as it may, the property market is still struggling from the end of the mining boom. House prices in Perth fell 2.4 per cent in February to a median $500,000, while apartments are down 2.8 per cent to a median $400,000, according to CoreLogic data.
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