The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <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> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Ratecity.com.au

<html><body>
Twenty-five lenders have announced rate cuts for their variable rate home loan customers since the RBA cut the cash rate on Tuesday.
So far eight lenders have confirmed they will be passing on the full 0.25% cut to all their variable rate customers.
Just four of these lenders – RACQ, Athena, Homestar Finance and Newcastle Permanent – passed on the full cut the month before.
The average home loan rate cut to be passed on in July is currently around 0.22%, as several lenders opt to pass on less than they did in June including CBA, NAB, ING, Macquarie Bank and Suncorp.
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Lender
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
July rate change
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Date effective
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
June cut (for owner occupied)
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
New lowest ongoing variable rate
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
ANZ
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
12-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.18%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.38%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Athena
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
2-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.09%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Aussie
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Up to 0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
From 18 July
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
TBA
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Bank of Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
16-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.39%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
BankSA
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
16-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.39%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Bankwest
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.19%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
23-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.70%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
CBA
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.19%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
23-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.35%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Firstmac
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
26-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.53%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Greater Bank
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Up to 0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
29-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.32%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Homestar Finance
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
2-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
2.99%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
ING
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
18-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.14%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
<a id="LPlnk713998" href="http://loans.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Loans.com.au</a>
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
26-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.03%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Macquarie Bank
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
18-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.24%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
ME Bank
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.15%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
23-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.39%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
NAB
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.19%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
12-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.35%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Newcastle Permanent
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
29-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.24%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
RACQ
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
From 8 July
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.19%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
RAMS
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
16-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
4.01%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Reduce
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Up to 0.22%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
2-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Up to 0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
2.89%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Resimac
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
24-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Various
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.21%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
St George
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
16-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.38%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
State Custodians
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Up to 0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
24-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
N/A
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
N/A
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Suncorp
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.19%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
19-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.30%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
The Mutual
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
Up to 0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
19-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.25%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
TBA
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom">
Westpac
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
16-Jul
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
0.20%
</td>
<td valign="bottom">
3.58% 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
Keep across the changes with RateCity.com.au’s <a href="https://www.ratecity.com.au/rba-cash-rate." target="_blank">live list of who is cutting</a>, by how much and when.
RateCity.com.au research director Sally Tindall said: “The RBA has made it clear further reductions to the cash rate could be needed, but banks are increasingly finding it difficult to pass these cuts on to their home loan customers in full. 
“They’re juggling depositors, borrowers and shareholders in what is becoming an increasingly difficult equation. 
“A lot of lenders are taking their time to consider their options following this most recent cut.
“If the cash rate falls any further, an increasing number of savings accounts are likely to hit 0.00% interest.”
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Rate update: who’s moved since Tuesday’s cash rate cut

<html><body>
Home loan comparison website RateCity.com.au expects the Reserve Bank to cut rates at the June meeting, and then again as early as August.  
RateCity’s research director Sally Tindall said cutting rates was no longer an “if’, but “when” scenario for the RBA.
“Governor Lowe has been extremely hesitant to cut the cash rate, but he’s working against a backdrop of rising unemployment, falling inflation and less than impressive wages growth,” she said.
“If he doesn’t cut tomorrow, he’ll catch much of the nation by surprise.
“The decision seems close to a foregone conclusion. The one thing that could hold him back is the fact that he only has a few trump cards left in his hand before he bottoms out, but he’s made it very clear he’s prepared to play."
RateCity's forecast for two cuts would take the official interest rate down to 1 percent.
If the cash rate is cut to 1 percent, owner occupier variable home loan interest rates are set to drop below 3 per cent, while investor rates could fall as low as 3.24 per cent.
Click here to enlarge.
<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/2019/6/4/Home-loan%20saving%20rates.jpg" alt="">
“If a rate cut does happen, there will be pressure on the banks to pass it on in full.
“Banks have been hiking rates since 2017 due to the high cost of funding, but this pressure has dissipated, so the next RBA cut should, in theory, be passed on in full.
“That said, it’s been a tough year for the banks in a slowing home loan market, so some lenders may choose to hold part of the cut back,” she said.
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

RateCity predict June and then August rate cut

<html><body>
The RBA has resisted calls to cut the official cash rate, but will be looking closely at this month’s employment data, whether wages growth remains flat and potentially the next round of inflation figures before they pull the trigger. 
Sally Tindall, research director at RateCity.com.au, said borrowers might have to wait until August before getting a rate cut. 
“Australia didn’t get a rate cut, but it’s still not off the cards. Based on the May statement from Phillip Lowe, its likely they’ll hold off until they see more consistent trends in employment and inflation,” she said.   
“But consumers don’t have to wait for the RBA to save money on their home loan. 
“The downturn in the market is putting pressure on banks’ bottom lines. What they need is more business on their books. 
“The best way for borrowers to get a rate cut is to turn themselves from an existing customer into a new one.”
How to get yourself a rate cut 
“Go online, find out what your bank is offering new customers, but also see what others are offering, because ultimately the lower the rate, the more money you’ll have left in your pocket,” said Tindall.
“Call your bank and ask them to match the rate offered to new customers, and if they aren’t prepared to budge you are well within your right to take your business to another lender; that’s the beauty of a variable home loan rate.” 
Lowest ongoing variable rates
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap> </td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap> </td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Company
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Rate
</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Reduce Home Loans
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
3.44%
</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Freedom Lend
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
3.44%
</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
Loans.com.au
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap>
3.48%
</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</body></html>

Rates remain on hold for the 33rd month, but here’s how to get a rate cut

<html><body>
AMP has announced it will discontinue self-managed super fund (SMSF) property lending.
It will continue to support existing SMSF home loan customers, however, from November they will not be permitted to switch to interest-only, internally refinance or extend their loan term.
The announcement follows similar moves from CBA and Westpac in recent weeks.
Westpac stopped SMSF home loans for new customers on 31 July, while CBA announced its ban would take effect from 12 October 2018.
Both Westpac and CBA will continue to support existing SMSF loan customers.
RateCity research director, Sally Tindall, said the writing could be on the wall for SMSF property lending.
“Today’s announcement from AMP comes as a shock to no-one,” she said.
“AMP’s new chairman, David Murray, has been one of the most vocal critics of self-managed super fund property lending,” she said.
In 2014, the Financial System Inquiry recommended that the government remove the exception to the general prohibition on direct borrowing for limited recourse borrowing arrangements by superannuation funds - although Scott Morrison, who was then treasurer, rejected the recommendation.
“Banks are focused on reducing risk in their loan books. In a falling property market, it’s not surprising we’re seeing lenders retreat from this type of lending,” Tindall said.
“Macquarie Bank, Bendigo Bank and Bank of Queensland are now the biggest banks in a dwindling pool of providers offering SMSF property loans,” she said.
List of lenders offering SMSF loans from next month:
<table style="width: 685px;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Lender
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
Product
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
Max. LVR
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
Advertised rate
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Bank Australia
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Residential
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
80%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.25%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Bank of Queensland
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
Business Term Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
75%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.55%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Bendigo Bank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
On assessment
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
On assessment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Big Sky Building Society
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Limited Recourse Investment Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
75%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
6.43%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Heritage Bank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF - Fully Drawn Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
80%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.24%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Hume Bank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
Self-Managed Super Fund Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
70%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.90%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
IMB Bank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
80%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
On assessment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
La Trobe Financial
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Residential
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
80%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.99%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Lendex
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
On assessment
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
On assessment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Liberty Financial
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SuperCredit
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
80%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.99%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
LJ Hooker Home Loans
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
Accelerator SMSF
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
80%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
6.00%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Macquarie Bank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Property Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
70%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
6.00%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Mortgage House
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
Home Loan Prime (SMSF - Class 1)
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
60%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.09%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Red Rock Mortgages
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF residential express
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
70%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
6.29%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Regional Australia Bank
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Housing Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
80%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.87%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Resi
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
On assessment
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
On assessment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Resimac
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
 
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
80%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
On assessment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Switzer Home Loans
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
70%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
6.22%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="163">
Yellow Brick Road
</td>
<td valign="top" width="224">
SMSF Property Loan
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
70%
</td>
<td valign="top" width="113">
5.97%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</body></html>

AMP the latest lender to ditch SMSF property lending 

<html><body>
First home buyers are the biggest holder of home loans in almost six years.
This is despite an overall fall in today’s ABS housing finance figures.
The seasonally adjusted figures for June show an overall drop in new lending of 1.6 per cent from the previous month with falls from both investors and owner-occupiers.
While housing finance continues its downward trend, first home buyers have capitalised on a less-crowded market, recording 18.1 per cent of new home loans in June.
This is the highest proportion since October 2012.
The average loan size for first home buyers has also hit a record high of $349,800.
RateCity research director Sally Tindall said today’s data showed first home buyers were taking advantage of a cooling market.
“First home buyers are finally getting some time in the sun. There’s space in the market for them to find their feet without having to go toe-to-toe with cashed-up investors.
“While a lot of investors have sworn off property until the bottom of the market hits, first home buyers who are looking for a place to call home for the next five or 10 years are often more focused on the long game.
Today’s ABS housing finance figures also show non-bank lenders are continuing to gain market share from the banks.
Non-banks have increased the value of new owner-occupier loans by 13.37 per cent, year-on-year, while banks recorded a drop of 0.81 per cent in the value of new loans over the same period.
“The banks are throwing everything at potential new customers to attract new business and put a stop to this slide. It will be interesting to see how far they go in order to protect their market share,” she concluded.
</body></html>

First home buyers at a six-year high

<html><body>
ANZ has cut owner-occupier principal and interest rates on its basic home loan, bringing the rate down by 34 basis points to 3.65 per cent.
ANZ has also cut some of its fixed home loan rates by up to 24 basis points for owner-occupier principal and interest and up to 13 basis points for investor principal and interest loans.
This follows similar loan rate cuts from Commonwealth Bank earlier this week.
According to the latest Canstar data 10 different institutions made rate changes to their home loan products, with a total of 58 product level changes recorded.
Sally Tindall, research director at RateCity.com.au, said it was a surprising move from ANZ to buck the rate-hike trend.
"This is now the lowest ongoing variable rate offered by a Big Four bank," she said. 
“It shows that the bank is competing hard to get new customers as non-banks threaten their market share."
“This comes at a time when the market was expecting ANZ to hike rates and not cut them and the Royal Commission has turned the playing field on its head,” she concluded.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/8/3/Canstar%201.JPG" alt="">
</body></html>

ANZ now offers the lowest ongoing variable home loan rate among Big Four

<html><body>
<div>
While the RBA are likely going to leave official interest rates on hold when they meet next Tuesday, it hasn’t stopped lenders hiking rates out-of-cycle. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
Heritage Bank is the most recent to hike rates, joining Bank of Queensland, AMP, Auswide and IMB in raising variable home loan interest rates over the last week. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>The increased cost of funding has put the squeeze on banks’ profit margins and some lenders are choosing to pass some of the cost onto borrowers.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<a id="LPlnk206699" href="https://www.ratecity.com.au/home-loans" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a>RateCity spokesperson Sally Tindall said if the bank bill swap rate (BBSW) continues to rise we will see more lenders joining the party.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“Banks are weighing up whether they can wear the rising costs, or hike rates and risk customer backlash."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“After months of negative press generated by the Royal Commission, our banks are treading a fine line."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>“We’ve seen a handful of smaller lenders hike rates, but so far nothing from the big four."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>"It will be interesting to see how long they hold out.” Sally stated.</div>
<div> </div>
<div><img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/6/28/Ratecity%20graph%202.JPG" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>In the decade prior to 2008, Australia’s major banks moved their variable rates in line with the cash rate. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>When the RBA made a cut, so did the banks and by the same amount.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>As a result, the margin between the RBA cash rate and the major banks’ standard variable rates was consistently 1.8%, while the margin between their discounted variable rates was roughly 1.2%.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>But as the global financial crisis unfolded, the costs of funding started to climb.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In January 2008, the major banks made their first out of cycle rate hike in almost nine years, sending shock waves through the public and resetting the industry standard for how interest rates are set.</div>
<div> </div>
<div> <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/6/28/Ratecity%20graph%201.JPG" alt="">
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Over the last decade banks have been making their pricing decisions based on a wide range of competing factors, leading to an ever-growing gap between the cash rate and the banks standard and discounted variable rates.  </div>
<div> </div>
</body></html>

More out-of-cycle home loan rate hikes to come: RateCIty

<html><body>
Banks have put the brakes on lending to people with small deposits, according to new research from RateCity.
Banks have slashed the number of mortgage products with a maximum loan-to-value ratio (LVR) of 95% in the past three years. 
Fewer than a third of home loans in the RateCity database now offer lending up to a maximum of 95% of the value of the property.
That’s down from 76% of all loans on offer in early 2015, in line with lending guidelines by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), who want banks to loan with small deposits to be the exception, rather than the rule.
Sally Tindall, spokesperson at RateCity, said the banks were actively looking for deposits of 20%, if not more.
“For Australians battling to crack into the highly competitive home loan market, low-deposit loans have been a doorway in," Tindall suggested.
"But the rules have changed and now borrowers that might have been given the green light three years ago are starting to be turned away."
RateCity research shows that upgrading from a 5% deposit to a 20% deposit on a $500,000 mortgage will require a buyer to stump up an extra $75,000 in cash.
“These new LVR requirements will set a lot of potential buyers back, because they just don’t have access to that kind of money.
“But the alternative is worse. Stretching yourself thin at record low interest rates can be a recipe for disaster.
“It’s been over seven years since we’ve experienced an RBA rate hike and people have become complacent. These new LVR rules will sharpen the focus who is serious about securing housing finance,” Tindall said.
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Banks tighten the screws on small-deposit home loan borrowers

<html><body>
The Reserve Bank is set to leave interest rates unchanged again when it meets next Tuesday, according to an analysis of 23 leading economic indicators.
Comparison website <a href="https://ratecity.com.au/" target="_blank">RateCity.com.au</a>’s ‘Rate Forecaster’ found that 21 of the 23 indicators suggested the RBA would leave the official cash rate at a record-low 1.50 per cent, where it has been since August 2016.
It’s now been seven years since the Reserve Bank lifted the official cash rate.
RateCity money editor Sally Tindall said it is unlikely the RBA will hike rates anytime soon.
“It’s incredible to think there is a now a large number of first home buyers who’ve never experienced a rate hike. Seven years is a long time between increases.
“However, when the RBA meets on Tuesday there is currently no strong case to move official interest rates.
RateCity’s analysis of official data shows there has been little change in GDP, unemployment, construction, auction clearance rates and retail sales figures.
“Lower than expected inflation figures and wage growth stalling at just 1.9 per cent provide an argument for the Reserve to cut rates, but that’s unlikely.
<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/2017/11/2/inflation5.jpg" alt="">
<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/2017/11/2/Wages1.jpg" alt="">
“The RBA will also be concerned Australia’s household debt-to-income level increased from 190.0 per cent to a record 193.7 per cent in the last quarter – a worrying trend that that leaves them in a difficult position.
“If they hike rates, they will risk sending thousands of Australians into financial hardship. Conversely, if they lower rates, it will encourage others to take on more debt.
<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/2017/11/2/Debt4.jpg" alt="">
“In short, it’s hands are tied until wages growth, and the broader economy, strengthen.
“Until then, home owners can rest easy in the knowledge that their mortgage repayments won’t be increasing anytime soon,” said Tindall.
<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/2017/11/2/Econ3.jpg" alt="">
 
</body></html>

Ratecity.com.au

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Ratecity.com.au

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News