Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355297]

The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=372394]

Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

Regional Markets

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The NSW Government is introducing new measures to crack down on anti-competitive behaviour and expose speculation in the water market, to address concerns raised by regional communities.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the NSW Government would begin public consultation in November to determine what improvements should be made to our existing water registers.
“Water Transparency is currently front of mind in our communities and we have created multiple platforms to improve it in NSW,” Mrs Pavey said.
“We need to ensure that the details captured on our water register are strong enough to ensure transparency, but don’t go too far by putting farmer’s details at risk."
“The interim ACCC report highlighted the potential dangers to farmers of having too much information on the register and indicated a number of unintended negative consequences of such an approach"
Mrs Pavey said she looks forward to the final Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report to be handed down in February 2021, addressing foreign ownership and water speculation. 
Minister Pavey is also now calling on the ACCC to look at overseas ownership, monopoly ownership and unhelpful speculation, along with registration of brokers across state borders.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

NSW cracking down on water market speculators

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Aussie home prices continued to ease in July with the CoreLogic Daily Home Value index of five capital cities down by 2.3 per cent after peaking on April 22. In July, broader national dwelling prices fell by 0.6 per cent, capital city home prices were down 0.8 per cent, but regional home prices were broadly flat.
Attention will focus on the property downturn in Australia’s two most populous cities – Sydney and Melbourne – with virus lockdowns and outbreaks weighing on sentiment and activity. While price declines are broadening across capital cities, regional dwelling prices held up in July, led by gains in regional South Australia (up 1 per cent), Northern Territory (up 0.7 per cent) and New South Wales (up 0.5 per cent). Of course, regional home prices may continue to outperform capital cities in the near-to-medium term as Aussies work remotely and seek lifestyle locations in rural and beachside towns during the pandemic.
And Canberra’s property market appears to be benefiting from the prominent role of the Federal Government and growing public service policy response to the economic downturn. In fact, home prices rose by 0.6 per cent in the nation’s capital in July – the seventh successive month of price increases. REA Group recently reported, “Buyer search activity has more than doubled compared to last year and has seen the biggest increase in search since the first COVID-19 lockdown in March. Rent search activity is up 75 per cent compared to last year, and first home buyer enquiry has tripled compared to the same time last year.”
The Melbourne virus lockdown - with property sales and auctions now being conducted online – had a notable impact on home prices, which fell by 1.2 per cent in July –the biggest decline since January 2019. Melbourne home prices are down by 3.7 per cent since recent peaks on April 6, weighing on national home prices.
With the Victorian Government declaring a ‘state of disaster’ – including the imposition of curfews limiting movements for a further six weeks – it is likely that Melbourne auction clearance rates could return to levels seen in April of around 20 per cent or lower. Data from Domain already shows that just 285 Melbourne homes were listed for sale last week, down 46 per cent from the previous week, with a preliminary auction clearance rate of 58 per cent.
What do the figures show?
Home prices - July
The CoreLogic Home Value Index of national home prices fell by 0.6 per cent in July. But home prices were still 7.1 per cent higher over the year.
In capital cities, prices fell by 0.8 per cent, but prices were still up 7.9 per cent over the year. House prices also fell by 0.8 per cent in July and apartment prices eased by 0.6 per cent. House prices were still up 8.1 per cent on a year ago and prices of apartments increased by 7.5 per cent.
In regional areas, home prices were flat in July with house prices unchanged, but apartment prices rose by 0.1 per cent. Regional home prices were up 3.9 per cent on the year to July.
The average Australian capital city house price (median price) in July was $673,072 and the average unit price was $570,862.
Home prices were lower in six of the eight capital cities in July. Home prices fell by the most in Melbourne (down 1.2 per cent), followed by Sydney (down 0.9 per cent), Perth (down 0.6 per cent), Brisbane (down 0.4 per cent), Darwin (down 0.3 per cent) and Hobart (down 0.2 per cent). But prices rose in Canberra (up 0.6 per cent) and Adelaide (up 0.1 per cent).
Home prices were higher than a year ago in six of the eight capital cities in July. Prices rose the most in Sydney (up 12.1 per cent), followed by Melbourne (up 8.7 per cent), Canberra (up 7.2 per cent), Hobart (up 5.9 per cent), Brisbane (up 3.8 per cent) and Adelaide (up 2.4 per cent). But prices were down in Perth (down 2.5 per cent) and Darwin (down 2.2 per cent).
Total returns on national dwellings rose by 10.9 per cent in the year to July with houses up by 10.7 per cent on a year earlier and units up by 11.4 per cent. In contrast, the S&amp;P/ASX All Ordinaries Accumulation Index fell by 8.4 per cent over the year to July.
Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ indexes - July
The AiGroup’s Performance of Manufacturing Index rose by 2 points to 53.5 in July. Any reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity.
The improvement in factory activity was broad-based, including production (up 4.1 points to 56.4), employment (up 3.8 to 53.4 points), supplier deliveries (up 4.2 to 51.8), and finished stocks (up 5.3 to 51.8). But new orders (down 3 points to 52.7), exports (down 5.8 points to 41.4) and sales (down 3.9 points to 52.2) all eased.
The AiGroup said, “There was a further stabilisation in manufacturing conditions in July. Food &amp; beverage manufacturers noted stabilising demand after months of volatility, while the instant asset tax write-off increased sales for many machinery &amp; equipment manufacturers. Other respondents in this sector noted an increase in demand from the transport and agricultural machinery &amp; equipment. Respondents across all manufacturing sectors noted increased interest in locally made manufactured goods.”
And, “The improvement in manufacturing conditions in July was driven by only two sectors: food &amp; beverages and machinery &amp; equipment. Metal products; chemicals; building materials, wood, furniture &amp; other manufacturing remained firmly in contraction in July. Manufacturers in these sectors reported a lack of sales from customers due to COVID-19. Some respondents noted that they have completed previous orders but had few new orders coming in.”
The ‘final’ CBA/IHS Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index rose from 51.2 in June to 54 in July. Any reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity.
According to CBA/IHS Markit, “The recovery in the Australian manufacturing sector gathered pace in July, according to the latest PMI data, with output and new orders both returning to growth. Survey data also showed that firms stepped up their purchasing activity and business confidence remained positive. However, employment continued to be reduced despite a rise in backlogs of work. Prices meanwhile signalled weakened inflationary pressures, with input prices and output charges increasing at slower rates.”
What are the implications for interest rates and investors?
While CoreLogic’s national home value index is heavily skewed towards to the two big cities, the resilience displayed so far by regional property markets serves to highlight the nationwide variances in performances across capital cities and regional towns. The ACT, in particular, appears set to benefit from rising government employment as services are increasingly rolled out to assist Aussie households and businesses during the pandemic.
The pandemic also appears to be resulting in a change of mindset for some big city urban dwellers. In July, home prices in the Blue Mountains and Central Coast were up modestly. The allure of more affordable housing, remote working arrangements and superior lifestyle choices are already showing up in relatively stable home prices and lower rental vacancies in both regions of New South Wales.
Record low interest rates and mortgage relief from the banks have provided support to the property market. But virus uncertainty, less appetite to take on more mortgage debt, rising unemployment, lower household incomes, lower inbound migration, elevated rental vacancies and the eventual removal of policy support could weigh on property prices over coming months. That said, governments have rolled out a variety of measures, including stamp duty and land tax concessions, along with new residential homebuilding grants to stimulate the market.
The expansion in Aussie manufacturing activity continued into July in a pleasing development for policymakers. Importantly, the improvement in the AiGroup gauge was driven by higher production and employment, but an easing in new orders and falling exports will need to be closely monitored.
Commonwealth Bank Group economists also noted that, “Business expectations remained positive as firms look towards the economy returning to normality in the coming months. Policy stimulus and increased infrastructure work were also factors behind the optimism.” But given Melbourne’s importance as a manufacturing hub, the tightening of restrictions are likely to weigh on demand and confidence in August.
RYAN FELSMAN is a Senior Economist at CommSec
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Regional home prices have remained resilient: CommSec's Ryan Felsman

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EXPERT OBSERVER
An emerging narrative around regional dwelling markets is that they may see increased demand as a result of COVID-19.
This is thought to be driven by the way the pandemic has forcibly introduced remote work for knowledge-based or clerical workers. As employers and employees adapt to remote working conditions, physical proximity to a workplace may become a less important factor in home purchases.
In the June 2020 quarter, about 3 months into the engineered economic slowdown, CoreLogic data showed regional centres have seen higher capital growth than the capital city regions.
The charts below show the rolling quarterly growth of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, alongside quarterly growth of nearby major regional centres.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/7/16/Owen%201.JPG" target="_blank">Click to enlarge:</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/16/Owen%201.JPG" alt="">
This more positive outcome is short term, and is more likely tied to cyclical patterns than changes in demographic trends, which are typically a gradual phenomenon. The charts demonstrate that even though regional centres have not seen price falls in the June quarter, growth rates have seen a slowdown in momentum.
Regional growth rates peaked around late 2019, and could nudge into negative territory later this year without significant improvement to economic conditions or a demonstrated shift in demand side factors like population growth.
Illawarra and Newcastle, and Geelong and Ballarat, also saw a relatively weak upswing compared with the Sydney and Melbourne markets over the second half of 2019.
The relative stability of growth rates mean that these regional centres may not see as deep a downswing in the coming months.
COVID-19 and long term demographic trends
Regional Australia is considered appealing for relatively low levels of density, less congestion, and typically lower price points for property. The median dwelling value for combined regional areas of Australia was $394,570 at June 2020, 38.5% lower than the combined capital city median of $641,671.
One way to assess whether COVID-19 could exacerbate a tree-change or sea-change trend, is to examine population movements before the onset of the pandemic.
ABS internal migration data at the SA4 level sheds some light on this. Areas with the highest levels of net internal migration over 2018-19 (where more people moved to an area from another part of Australia than departed it) are shown below. These include the Capital Region of regional NSW, the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne – West, the Gold Coast and Ipswich.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/16/Owen%202.JPG" alt="">
From these examples, there was already a trend of movement from more suburban or metropolitan areas to regional areas. But two of the highest levels of net internal migration are actually still within capital city bounds. Melbourne – West and Ipswich are technically in greater capital city regions, but see a large number of migrants from the inner city.
This may reflect both availability of developable land transitioning to large greenfield housing estates as well as cohorts such as inner-city renters and first home buyers making the transition to buy in more affordable areas that are still commutable to the CBD.
That is an important trend to consider, because it is a scenario where past migration may have been driven by affordability instead of preference for a regional lifestyle.
If that is the case, a mitigating factor to the draw of regional areas during COVID-19, is that dwellings closer to the city are also becoming cheaper, which may slow migration to the city fringe. But affordability is not the only drawcard of regional Australia. Parts of regional Australia may offer lower levels of population density, which is arguably desirable in the wake of a pandemic.
There have also been recent examples of people departing from higher socio-economic areas to parts of regional Australia.
Over 2018-19, an estimated 1,453 residents form the Sydney - Eastern Suburbs region departed for areas such as the Central Coast, Richmond-Tweed and the Gold Coast.
The normalisation of remote work amid COVID-19 is more likely to bolster regional migration than slow it. But in the wake of the pandemic, the return to an office environment may still be desirable for some employees and employers.
Furthermore, it is important to note that the broad-based impact to housing demand from the pandemic could see prices fall in regional centres over the second half of 2020.
Price falls are unlikely to be as sharp as what will be observed in capital city markets, where more expensive, capital city markets have historically shown more volatility than regional Australia.
ELIZA OWEN is the Head of Research Australia at CoreLogic 
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Can regional housing markets benefit from COVID-19? CoreLogic's Eliza Owen

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Search activity on realestate.com.au has seen a bigger jump in views per listing for regional parts of Australia than for capital cities. This is likely to be explained by COVID-19 as people are perhaps looking for bigger places to live and aren’t currently tied to a central workplace. Longer term, acceptance of flexible working does mean that living in a capital city may no longer be necessary. 
<img class="sc-qYHHM dyhwPj size-full wp-image-594332" src="https://www.realestate.com.au/blog/images/800x500-fit,progressive/2020/06/27164223/dural-property.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="500">
<div class="sc-pTFCl bXqHjO">
It appears that during COVID-19, affordability may be of less importance to property buyers in regional areas and that lifestyle factors are becoming more important. To this point, the most viewed property listing on realestate.com.au in Australia this week is a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-acreage+semi-rural-nsw-dural-132147574" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">property in Dural</a> (pictured above), which has received almost 300,000 views. 
</div>
While broadly, regional Australia has seen an uplift, what is also interesting is the regions that have jumped up in popularity. We tend to see certain areas always being far more popular. Mornington Peninsula, while not technically regional, tops the list, which is driven by a great lifestyle and easy access to Melbourne. Central Coast and Illawarra are consistently in the top three. Both are similarly close to Sydney, have nice beaches and are relatively affordable.
The biggest change has been the two areas that have dropped off the list – Ballarat and south-east Tasmania – and the two that have pushed up – Richmond-Tweed and Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven. The two new additions offer some of the most expensive regional properties in Australia while the ones that have dropped off were affordable.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/5/REA%20MAY%202020.JPG" alt="">
NERIDA CONISBEE is the Chief Economist at the REA
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Flexible working leading to demand for property in regional Australia

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Regional property markets tend to be more resilient compared to their capital city counterparts due to being slightly more insulated from economic shocks, and many Local/State Governments prioritising regional areas growth over the past five years.
For first home buyers and investors, finding an affordable option in capital cities can be challenging. This is especially true as the state average loan only makes up between 51.9% (Sydney) to 76.1% (Brisbane) of the median house price in the capital cities.
The PRD Resilient Regional Areas report highlights affordable regional areas in QLD, VIC, NSW and TAS. These areas not only have median price affordability, but also provide strong indicators for property investment, local employment growth, and a sustainable economic future.
5 selection criteria were used to select the top 12 regional areas:
Affordability – the Local Government Area (LGA) has a median price below the maximum affordable property sale price (average state loan + 20% deposit). Property trends – to ensure statistical reliability, the LGA will have 20 transactions or more in 2018 and 2019, with positive price growth within that time period. Investment – to ensure solid investment opportunities, the LGA will have an on-par or higher rental yield than its capital city, as well as an on-par or lower vacancy rate compared to its capital city. Project development – the LGA will have a high estimated value of future project development, with a higher concentration of commercial and infrastructure projects to ensure a positive economic outlook. Unemployment rate – as of the December Quarter 2019, the LGA will have an on-par or lower unemployment rate than the state average, to ensure there is local job growth.
<div>Based on the above methodology and selection criteria, the following 12 regional locations were deemed to be ‘resilient regions’ with solid fundamentals for sustainable future growth.</div>
<ol>
<li>Douglas Shire (QLD)</li>
<li>Cairns Region (QLD)</li>
<li>Tablelands Region (QLD)</li>
<li>Livingstone Shire (QLD)</li>
<li>Upper Hunter Shire (NSW)</li>
<li>Singleton Area (NSW)</li>
<li>Greater Hume Region (NSW)</li>
<li>Greater Bendigo City (VIC)</li>
<li>Moyne Shire (VIC)</li>
<li>Bass Coast Shire (VIC)</li>
<li>South Gippsland Shire (VIC)</li>
<li>Kentish Municipality (TAS)</li>
</ol>
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Where are the most resilient regional areas in Australia? PRD Real Estate

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EXPERT OBSERVER
I’ve been telling our customers for the past two years that the outstanding property market in Australia is Regional Victoria.
And multiple data sources continue to support the view that anyone seeking affordable property, good rental yields and in particular great capital growth would be wise to consider Regional Victoria.
There is no other market jurisdiction in Australia that has delivered so many locations with double-digit growth in their median prices in the past 12 months. Equally, Regional Victoria is a national leader on locations with strong long-term capital growth rates.
The regional areas of Victoria were also prominent in the latest Pain and Gain Report from CoreLogic which highlights the number of properties sold for a profit in the September 2019 Quarter.
Why is Regional Victoria doing so well? Partly it’s because Victoria is the No.1 economy in the nation. The latest State of the States report from CommSec confirms Victoria as the leading economic performer in the nation, with New South Wales slipping down the rankings to third.
And partly it’s because Victoria continues to be the No.1 state for population growth, gaining significantly from both overseas and interstate migration.
Victoria’s ranking as the No.1 economy and population growth state isn’t just about Melbourne – the regions have been major contributors to the state’s success.
Recent data on unemployment showed that Regional Victoria leads the states in jobs growth and has the lowest unemployment rate. ABS data shows that 20,000 people found work in regional Victoria in the three months to November.
Regional Victoria’s jobless rate is 3.7% – the lowest in the nation and well below the average regional rate of 5.1%. In the past five years, regional Victoria’s unemployment rate has decreased by 2.9 percentage points.
This is translating into exceptional performance in real estate.
CoreLogic’s quarterly Pain and Gain report (which compares the prices of properties sold in the September Quarter with their previous sale) found that Hobart was the national leader – 98% of houses sold made a profit.
But close behind in second place was Regional Victoria, where 97% of houses sold for a price higher than the vendors paid previously (ahead of Melbourne’s 96% and Sydney’s 92% - and the national average of 90%).
In terms of apartments, Regional Victoria ranked third in the national (94%), well above the national average of 80%, Sydney’s 87% and Melbourne’s 85%.
The out-performance of Regional Victoria locations shows up in price growth data for the past year and also for the past decade.
Dozens of Regional Victorian locations have recorded double-digit growth in their median house prices in the past 12 months.
Ballarat has been particularly outstanding, with Ballarat Central (13%), Brown Hill (20%), Golden Point (18%), Lake Wendouree (11%), Mt Pleasant (21%) and Wendouree (10%) all producing strong price growth.
The City of Greater Geelong also produced multiple growth leaders, including Barwon Heads (12%), Bell Park (12%) and Drysdale (20%).
Other high-growth locations were spread around the state, including Newborough (16%), Wonthaggi (14%), Heathcote in Bendigo (17%), Maldon (17%), Irymple near Mildura (23%), Daylesford (13%) and Mansfield (13%).
This kind of growth in not a one-off event – many Regional Victorian locations have long-term capital growth rates above 7% per year, with some nudging 9% per year – which puts them alongside the best in the nation.
The City of Greater Geelong, Ballarat and the Macedon Ranges LGA all have multiple locations with capital growth rates between 7% and 9% per year.
Lake Wendouree in Ballarat has averaged 8.9%, while Woodend (Macedon Ranges) and Norlane (Geelong) have both averaged 8.7% per year.
Others with capital growth rates above 8% per year include Beveridge, Daylesford, Maldon, Geelong (the suburb), Kyneton and Herne Hill (Geelong).
TERRY RYDER is the founder of hotspotting.com.au ryder@hotspotting.com.au twitter.com/hotspotting
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Regional Victoria is Australia's most outstanding property market: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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Distilleries are giving a spirited boost to the property markets in Regional Victorian towns according to an analysis by the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV).
REIV President Robyn Waters said the study showed that median house prices have soared over recent years in regional towns where distilleries have been established.
“Victorians’ love affair with all things artisanal has seen gin joints, whiskey dens and vodka purveyors popping up all over the state,” Waters said
“We love our culinary culture and appreciate fine craftmanship in all its forms, including spirits
“Tourists and locals are flocking to these distilleries to sample their wares which has created jobs, vibrancy and new economies for these regional towns.
Waters said that, in some cases, distilleries have become the social and leisure hub of the town and have become the anchor for other complimentary business such as restaurants and clothing shops
“Of course all of this combines to have a positive impact on real estate in these areas,” Waters said
“Take Healesville for example, the home of Four Pillars Gin, where the median house price has increased 37.54% in the past four years, going from $435,500 in the 12 months to 31 March 2015 to $599,000 in the 12 months to 31 March 2019.
“There has also been strong median growth in Bright, where the Reed and Co Distillery opened in 2016, and Kyneton where Animus Distillery was founded in 2015.”
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Distillery
</td>
<td>
Town
</td>
<td>
2019
</td>
<td>
2018
</td>
<td>
2017
</td>
<td>
2016
</td>
<td>
2015
</td>
<td>
Increase
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://www.fourpillarsgin.com.au/">Four pillars Gin</a>
</td>
<td>
Healesville
</td>
<td>
$599,000
</td>
<td>
$600,000
</td>
<td>
$482,000
</td>
<td>
$475,000
</td>
<td>
$435,500
</td>
<td>
37.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Bass and Flinders Distillery
</td>
<td>
Dromana
</td>
<td>
$791,500
</td>
<td>
$740,000
</td>
<td>
$615,000
</td>
<td>
$623,500
</td>
<td>
$488,500
</td>
<td>
62%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://kilderkindistillery.com.au/">Kilderkin Distillery</a>
</td>
<td>
Alfredton
</td>
<td>
$440,000
</td>
<td>
$420,000
</td>
<td>
$402,500
</td>
<td>
$380,000
</td>
<td>
$370,000
</td>
<td>
18.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://www.bellarinedistillery.com.au/">The Whiskery</a>
</td>
<td>
Drysdale
</td>
<td>
$562,750
</td>
<td>
$435,000
</td>
<td>
$432,000
</td>
<td>
$455,000
</td>
<td>
$432,000
</td>
<td>
30.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://www.reedandcodistillery.com/">Reed &amp; Co Distillery</a>
</td>
<td>
Bright
</td>
<td>
$571,000
</td>
<td>
$530,000
</td>
<td>
$445,000
</td>
<td>
$385,000
</td>
<td>
$397,500
</td>
<td>
43.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://animusdistillery.com/">Animus Distillery</a>
</td>
<td>
Kyneton
</td>
<td>
$585,000
</td>
<td>
$539,000
</td>
<td>
$485,000
</td>
<td>
$472,250
</td>
<td>
$465,000
</td>
<td>
25.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://www.queenscliffbrewhouse.com.au/">Queenscliff Distillery</a>
</td>
<td>
Queenscliff
</td>
<td>
$875,000
</td>
<td>
$962,500
</td>
<td>
$752,500
</td>
<td>
$750,000
</td>
<td>
$740,000
</td>
<td>
18.2%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="https://www.fosseysgin.com.au/">Fossey’s Gin</a>
</td>
<td>
Mildura
</td>
<td>
$307,700
</td>
<td>
$270,500
</td>
<td>
$257,000
</td>
<td>
$255,050
</td>
<td>
$253,000
</td>
<td>
21.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="http://suterandsons.com/thespirit/">Suter &amp; Sons</a>
</td>
<td>
Curlewis
</td>
<td>
$500,000
</td>
<td>
$430,000
</td>
<td>
$407,500
</td>
<td>
$390,000
</td>
<td>
*
</td>
<td>
28.2%
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
*Figure not available due to insufficient sales.
Image courtesy of Visit Melbourne.
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House prices soar in Victorian regional towns where distilleries have been established

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Anyone who reads my reports will know I’m finding many of the best markets across the nation in Regional Australia.
Most of the strongest markets for sales activity and price growth in the past two years have been found outside the capital cities and the regional areas of Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and Queensland continue to present large numbers of growth numbers.
I tell seminar audiences around Australia this is a good thing for investors, because the regions have lower prices and higher rental yields. And, if you choose your locations well, you’re well-placed for good capital growth as well.
It’s a message that most Australians haven’t been getting, because the major research firms focus primarily on the capital cities and major media obsesses over the markets in Melbourne and Sydney.
As I told seminar audiences in Mackay recently, Central Queensland cities will never feature in national media unless there’s a cyclone or flood. Mackay, in fact, is a growth market with low vacancies, strong rentals and rising prices, boosted by positive events in the local economy.
But gradually, it seems, Australia is waking up to the opportunities presented by markets in Regional Australia. 
Agency network PRDnationwide published an August report which predicted that regional centres are set to outperform capital cities over the next six months as affordable prices and higher returns lure buyers.
It said regional areas generally had fared better than metropolitan markets recently and that performance would continue over the second half of the year.
PRDnationwide’s national research manager Asti Mardiasmo said: “Regional areas are more insulated than bigger cities due to the increased infrastructure developments, cheaper house prices and big businesses moving their head offices to regional areas,” Mardiasmo said.
This correlates with Hotspotting research which has identified rising sales activity and good price growth in many of the regional markets in the major eastern states, as well as Tasmania and Western Australia.
The monthly reports of national valuation firm Herron Todd White have also recorded uplift in many of the nation’s regional markets. 
Its latest National Property Clock suggests that markets are rising or recovering in regional centres such as Tamworth, Dubbo, Albury and Bathurst in NSW; Townsville, Mackay, Cairns, Gladstone, the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay and Emerald in Queensland; Karratha and Port Hedland in WA; Shepparton and Wodonga in Victoria; and Launceston in Tasmania.
Markets at the bottom of the cycle ahead of recovery include Alice Springs, Rockhampton and Toowoomba.
Hotspotting would add a number of key regional cities to the list of strong markets, including Ballarat and Bendigo in Victoria, and Orange, Wagga Wagga, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, the Hunter Valley and the Tweed region in NSW.
In the Winter edition of the Price Predictor Index, 30 of the National Top 50 Super-charged Suburbs list were regional locations.
Brisbane-based researcher Propertyology published an analysis of population trends across the nation and suggested the areas where property markets benefited the most from interstate and intrastate migration were regional cities like the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and Geelong.
A recent report by the Regional Australia Institute, based on a research project by the University of South Australia and Southern Cross University, urged Australians to consider the regions as an alternative to the major cities - it says many regional towns offer jobs, affordable housing, lifestyle and scope for economic growth, as well as less congestion and a lower cost of living.
The university research project compared wages, employment, congestion and house prices among outer suburban and metropolitan areas, and the regions.
The study found that while wages might be less in the regions compared to cities, job prospects are often at least as good and the cost of living is lower than the big cities. 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
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Australian investors waking up to regional property market opportunities: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
Australia is strongly tilted towards the capital cities. That’s where the bulk of the population lives, where economies are strongest (generally speaking) and where the greatest share of property sales take place. So, usually, the quarterly editions of The Price Predictor Index published by Hotspotting feature more city locations with growing sales momentum than regional ones. 
But the Winter 2019 edition has the regions are out-performing the capital cities. Regional NSW has far more rising markets than Sydney, Regional Victoria has way more growth than Melbourne and Regional Queensland is outdoing Brisbane. 
Nationally, it’s line ball: we have identified 137 growth markets in the capital cities and 137 in the regional areas. This is a very strong performance by regional Australia and explains why so many of the nation’s growth markets are found in the regions - places like Ballarat, Bendigo, Wagga Wagga, Orange, Mackay and the Sunshine Coast.
Most of the outstanding individual locations currently are in regional areas. They dominate our National Top 50 list of Supercharged Suburbs. Thirty of the featured locations are in regional areas and only 20 are in capital cities. 
Regional NSW provides 13 of the Top 50 locations and Regional Queensland provides 10. There are no contenders from Melbourne and only two from Sydney (but Adelaide provides eight suburbs to the list and Perth six). 
Examples of country NSW centres that have strong growth momentum include the Port Stephens area, Wagga Wagga and Ballina. Regional Queensland areas to feature include Rockhampton and Toowoomba, as well as the buoyant Sunshine Coast market. 
As I observed in this column last week, Regional NSW is not following Sydney’s trend. While most sectors (but not all) of the Sydney market have been in decline, the cities and towns of Regional NSW have delivered many growth markets in the past two years.
The Winter edition of the Price Predictor Index also builds on previous versions in providing hints of recovery in Regional Queensland markets. When the resources boom was raging, investors piled into markets like Gladstone, Moranbah, Emerald, Mackay and Rockhampton - and enjoyed big growth for a short period, before the bubble burst. Now many of these locations are rising again. 
Our National Top 50 list includes Mackay, Rockhampton, Emerald and Toowoomba - indeed, the list has three locations from the Rockhampton LGA. This report also contains further evidence of recovery in Gladstone. (but I continue to urge caution about investing in places where the local economy is largely driven by the mining sector).
Regional Australia also contributes strongly to our National Top 50 list of most consistent markets: half of the locations featured for the steady demand they attract are in the regions outside the capital cities.
They include places like Mildura, a regional centre in rural Victoria that you would seldom hear about: in most quarters in the past three years, Mildura has delivered between 200 and 220 house sales – occasionally slightly fewer and sometimes a little more. Its median house price rose 11% in the past year.
The Raymond Terrace market in the Port Stephens LGA in NSW has recorded between 60 and 76 sales in every quarter for the five years – and its long-term capital growth average is 5% per year, confirming that consistent markets deliver steady growth.
Regional markets also stand out in our analysis of price data. Australian consumers seldom hear about it because media focuses so much on the biggest cities and because most of the data published is generalised in nature: a single growth/decline figure to describe the entire nation or a single figure which purports to depict the market in massive cities like Sydney and Melbourne. 
Behind those sweeping generalisations lie the real stories about markets - and in many cases there’s a lot more real estate growth going on than anyone realises. 
Nine out of ten locations in Tasmania have median prices higher than last year. It’s similar for 60% of Regional NSW, 61% of Regional Queensland and 80% of Regional Victoria.
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
 
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Regional Australian property outperforming capital cities: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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Sales activity across the Newcastle &amp; Lake Macquarie region has fallen by 15 per cent for houses and 27 per cent for units over the year to February 2019, with current sales activity 15 per cent below the five year average for the region, according to the recent CoreLogic Regional Market Update Report for March.
The report focuses on some of the larger regions outside of the Australian capitals.
Of the 6,921 dwelling sales that took place across the region, 5,525 were houses (80 per cent), while 1,396 were units (20 per cent).
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/4/newcastle%20a%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>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/newcastle%20a%20.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
Newcastle &amp; Lake Macquarie saw home values fall over the 12 months to March 2019, with house values down -7.5 per cent and unit values down -9.4 per cent.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/4/newcastle%20b.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> 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/newcastle%20b.jpg" alt="">
 
Source: CoreLogic
CoreLogic suggests that the largest fall in unit values year-on-year was seen across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/4/newcastle%20c.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> 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/newcastle%20c.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
The average time on market for homes in the region has increased by 11 days for houses and 3 days for units over the past year, with the average vendor offering more of a discount to secure a sale when compared to February 2018.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/6/4/newcastle%20d.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> 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/newcastle%20d.jpg" alt="">
Source: CoreLogic
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