Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Joel Robinson

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

Regional Nsw

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
The pre-election negativity that hit real estate in the first half of 2019 impacted previously busy Regional NSW markets, with the lowest number of growth markets in two years. It nevertheless remains one of the nation’s busiest market jurisdictions. 
And price performance has been good in many locations, with 60% of Regional NSW markets delivering median price growth in the past 12 months.
Regional NSW continues to provide a stark contrast to Sydney. While many sectors of the Sydney market have been in decline, the cities and towns of Regional NSW have proved resilient – even though not as strong as in 2018.
Last year Hotspotting’s Spring 2018 survey found 70 locations with rising demand in Regional NSW and the Autumn 2019 identified 61 growth markets. But this latest Winter 2019 found only 40 growth markets – still solid by national standards but well down on the levels of the past year or two.
The sales data on which this survey is based pre-dates the Federal Election in mid-May and the subsequent positive events such as interest rate reductions, easier finance (the APRA changes) and the tax cuts.
So any locations that delivered rising sales activity in that pre-election climate have strong claims to being regarded as growth markets.
There are still growth markets in and around Newcastle (pictured above), although this market overall appears well past its peak. The Newcastle and Lake Macquarie LGAs both have suburbs with growing sales demand, but they are outnumbered by plateau markets.
But locations near Newcastle, such as the Port Stephens LGA, remain buoyant, led by Anna Bay, Medowie and Salamander Bay. Some sections of the Hunter Valley still have momentum, including Cessnock and Muswellbrook.
The same cannot be said for the Central Coast. Two years ago, this was the strongest market in NSW but it’s now well past its peak. Bateau Bay and Budgewoi still have some forward momentum, but the Central Coast now has 19 plateau markets and seven we classify as declining markets (including Toukley, Gwandalan, North Gosford, Point Frederick, San Remo and The Entrance). We note also the decline in median prices in many Central Coast locations.
Similarly, other regional centres close to Sydney have passed their peaks and started to decline, including Wollongong, the Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains (although Katoomba remains busy). The Byron Bay market is another to have lost its mojo.
The growth markets in Regional NSW are now found further afield. The Tweed LGA at the Queensland border is particularly busy at the moment, headed by Casuarina, Kingscliff and Terranora. Quarterly sales in Kingscliff have been 59, 61, 67 and 70 – and its median house price has risen 19% to $1,025,000.
At the other end of the state, Wagga Wagga continues to be a market leader, led by upwardly mobile suburbs like Gobbagombalin, Kooringal and Lake Albert. Quarterly sales in Wagga Wagga (the suburb) have been 37, 39, 48 and 50 in the past 12 months – and its median price has started to rise, up 4% in the past 12 months.
And the Eurobodalla LGA in the South Coast region has some busy markets, notably Catalina and Malua Bay.
A large number of smaller and distant regional centres have growth markets, including Grafton, Forbes, Griffith, Wingham, Mudgee and Gulgong in the Mid Western LGA, Leeton, Lismore, Nambucca Heads and Young.
There has been plenty of price growth in Regional NSW markets, though not as prolific as in our previous survey.
Three months in our Autumn 2019 report we commented: “The vast majority of NSW Regional markets have price levels higher than 12 months ago – 85% of the locations in our survey have recorded growth in the past year.”
This Winter 2019 survey finds that 61% of house markets and 53% of unit markets have median prices higher than a year ago. 
Locations with strong price growth include three locations in the Tweed LGA – Casuarina (up 21% to $1,150,000), Kingscliff (up 19% to $1,025,000) and Tweed Heads South (up 15% to $585,000).
But the biggest growth has been recorded by Berry in the Shoalhaven region, up 25% to $1,300,000.
A number of apartment markets have recorded median price growth above 20%, including Nambucca Heads, Ballina, Sawtell and Taree.
At the other end of the scale, many Central Coast locations have recorded declines in their median prices. House markets to fall include those in Wyoming (8%), Woy Woy (5%), Umina Beach (6%), North Gosford (7%), Long Jetty (9%), Wyong (6%) and Gorokan (8%). 
Among the apartment markets, those to drop include Woy Woy (6%), Toukley (9%), Umina Beach (9%), East Gosford (12%), Gorokan (8%), Terrigal (6%) and Berkeley Vale (19%).
Some of key markets in Wingecarribee LGA in the Southern Highlands region have dropped also, including Bowral (6%) and Mittagong (10%).
Suffolk Park at Byron Bay has recorded a 17% fall in its median house price to $1,050,000.
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
</body></html>

terryryder-YECXbqmri2

2019 property price growth markets in Regional NSW are now found further afield: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
The vast majority of NSW Regional markets have price levels higher than 12 months ago – 85% of the locations in our latest survey have recorded growth in the past year.
Hotspotting has surveyed 303 significant markets across the state outside of Sydney (we exclude small markets with fewer than 30 sales in a year, as small sales samples provided distorted medians and unreliable figures on growth or decline). 
Of these, 171 (56%) have recorded median price growth above 5% and a further 88 (29%) have had growth between 1% and 5%.
The 171 locations with growth above 5% included 78 places which had double-digit price growth in the past 12 months.
It provides quite a stark contrast to the trends in Sydney.
Our survey reveals only 11 Regional NSW locations where prices have dropped by more than 5% and another 33 where prices have fallen marginally (between 1% and 5%).
The regional growth has been led by 14 markets with growth of 20% or more: 
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Ballina units (up 21%), </li>
<li class="li1">Berry houses (up 36%), </li>
<li class="li1">Broken Hill houses (up 21%), </li>
<li class="li1">Casino units (up 31%), </li>
<li class="li1">Casuarina houses (up 20%), </li>
<li class="li1">Crestwood houses (up 25%),</li>
<li class="li1">Moruya houses (up 23%), </li>
<li class="li1">Sawtell units (up 21%), </li>
<li class="li1">Catalina houses (up 20%), </li>
<li class="li1">Shelly Beach houses (up 29%), </li>
<li class="li1">Wangi Wangi houses (up 40%), </li>
<li class="li1">Uranga houses (up 21%), </li>
<li class="li1">Tura Beach units (up 26%), and </li>
<li class="li1">Taree units (up 20%).</li>
</ul>
The Newcastle region (above) continues to be strong on price growth. The LGAs of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens all have multiple suburbs with solid to strong median price growth in the past year.
Lake Macquarie markets with rising prices include Belmont, Belmont North, Cardiff, Cardiff South, Caves Beach, Edgeworth, Macquarie Hills, Speers Point, Swansea, Wangi Wangi and Warners Bay.
Other precincts with significant numbers of locations with solid-to-strong price growth include the Central Coast, the Tweed region, Byron Bay and Ballina.
In terms of locations with rising demand, as measured by quarterly sales activity, this Autumn 2019 survey has found 61 Regional NSW locations with markets trending upwards, up from 53 in the Summer 2019 survey but down on the 70 rising markets identified in the Spring 2018 analysis.
There are new growth leaders revealed in this survey: the Lake Macquarie LGA beside Newcastle has six rising markets while the Wagga Wagga LGA has five.
As we have recorded in previous reports, the Hunter Region is a growth market – the LGAs of Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter (Scone) all present markets where buyer demand is trending higher.
Other centres where markets are busy include the municipalities of Queanbeyan-Palerang, Albury, Ballina, Bathurst, Tamworth and Armidale. Smaller centres with momentum include Parkes, Kyogle, Kempsey, Mudgee, Griffith, Glen Innes, Forbes, Cootamundra , Young and Broken Hill.
A number of major markets that were previously leaders in Regional NSW are now showing signs of having passed their peaks in terms of sales demand, although several of these continue to deliver good price growth.
The Central Coast still has a small number of growth suburbs, but a much greater number of plateau markets – and now there are four we have classified as declining markets. 
This market is perhaps more influenced by Sydney than most in the Regional NSW and the level of sales activity has declined recently – although some locations still have price levels well above those of a year ago, including Shelly Beach (29%), Ettalong Beach (17%), Halekulani (11%), Saratoga (11%) and Wamberal (13%).
Newcastle still has four suburbs classified as rising markets, but many more than are plateau or consistency markets. There are similar trends with Wollongong, Shoalhaven, Shellharbour, the Southern Highlands and the Blue Mountains – notably, most of them places quite close to Sydney.
While our survey found only 11 Regional NSW markets with median prices down more than 5% in the past year, five of them were in the Wollongong LGA, providing further evidence that this previously strong market is now past its peak.
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 New South Wales continues to see property price growth: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Markets in Regional NSW continue to head in the opposite direction to Sydney. While the Sydney market is showing increasing signs of decline (generally speaking – there are exceptions), the cities and towns of Regional NSW are delivering growth markets right across the state.
This is particularly evident in the price data. Hotspotting’s location-by-location analysis has revealed 150 Regional NSW locations where median prices have grown 5% or more in the past year, of which 65 locations have increased more than 10%.
In addition to the 150 places with 5%-plus price growth, there are another 67 locations with annual price growth between 1% and 5%.
The growth has been led by seven locations with growth of 20% or more: Crestwood (up 26%) Evans Head (up 23%), Kiama (up 22%), Catalina (up 21%), Berry (up 20%), Soldiers Point (up 23%) and the Shoal Bay unit market (up 31%).
The Newcastle region has been particularly strong on price growth in the past year. The LGAs of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens all have multiple suburbs with solid to strong median price growth.
The Central Coast is another standout, with 13 suburbs with median price growth above 5%, including Ettalong Beach (up 17%), Kincumber (up 10%) and Wamberai (up 13%).
In terms of locations with rising demand, as measured by quarterly sales activity, our Summer survey has found 53 Regional NSW locations with markets trending upwards. This is slightly below the average of the past two years and is down on the 70 rising markets identified in the Spring 2018 sales survey.
The Queanbeyan-Palerang LGA just outside Canberra is the leading precinct, with five locations with rising demand. Leading locations include Crestwood and Queanbeyan East, where quarterly sales activity has been trending steadily upwards over the past 1-2 years. Crestwood’s median house price has risen 26% in the past 12 months.
The Newcastle region continues to stand out, although Newcastle itself is past the peak in terms of sales activity. There are only two Newcastle suburbs with rising demand but many with plateau markets. The previous strong demand is still delivering significant price growth and a number of suburbs (including Hamilton, Hamilton South, Mayfield, Wallsend and North Lambton) have risen more than 10% in the past year.
Outside Newcastle in neighbouring LGAs, Lake Macquarie and Maitland both have four suburbs with rising demand, while nearby Port Stephens has two. Out in the Hunter Region, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone all have increasing buyer activity. Muswellbrook’s quarterly sales have been 41, 52, 57, 74, 60 and 78 in the past 18 months – and its median house price has risen 8% to $305,000 in the past year.
Tamworth is one of the emerging markets. It now has four suburbs with rising demand, including North Tamworth where quarterly sales have been 17, 30, 34, 39, 34, 41 and 45 – with its median house price up 11.5% to $430,000 in the past 12 months.
There are towns with growth markets right across Regional NSW, including Casino, Kyogle, Cooma, Griffith, Parkes, Gunnedah, Cowra, Glen Innes, Inverell, Gloucester, Lithgow, Mudgee, Tuncurry and Broken Hill.
Some significant markets have passed their peaks in terms of sales activity, but still have strong prices. They include the Central Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong, the towns of the Wingecarribee LGA and the Tweed region near the Queensland border.
In the Tweed area, prices have risen strongly in the past 12 months in Bogangar (11%), Casuarina (19%) and Kingscliff (14%).
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au, ryder@hotspotting.com.au, twitter.com/hotspotting
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Regional NSW rising as Sydney falls: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Regional NSW is now one of the most compelling growth markets in Australia. There are locations right across the state with growing sales activity and many places are delivering double-digit annual price growth.
Regional NSW continues to move in the opposite direction to Sydney. While there are now few rising markets in the state capital, there are growth locations spread across the regions of NSW: a record 39 local government areas have rising markets.
Queanbeyan on the ACT border (above) is the leading precinct, as it continues to stand out as an affordable growth alternative to Canberra. The LGA of Queanbeyan-Palerang has seven Rising Steadily suburbs/towns. Quarterly sales in Queanbeyan (the suburb) have been 39, 40, 50, 59, 38 and 62 in the past 18 months. Many locations in this precinct have had double-digit annual price growth, headed by Crestwood (up 18%).
Newcastle and nearby LGAs also form a compelling growth precinct. Suburbs in the City of Newcastle have had very strong price growth (many have risen between 10% and 20% in the past 12 months).
Now the momentum has shifted to neighbouring Lake Macquarie (which has five suburbs with strongly rising demand) and locations in the nearby Hunter Region (including Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook) and neighbouring Port Stephens. Jointly the Newcastle/Hunter region has 19 suburbs with rising markets.
The Maitland LGA has five of them, including Rutherford (median $400,000) where quarterly sales have been 64, 75, 70, 91, 83, 99, 96, 81 and 102 in the past two years, while Aberglasslyn (median $470,000) has recorded 27, 37, 41 and 48 sales in the past year. Both locations have recorded 6% rises in their median prices, with further growth expected. 
Muswellbrook and Singleton continue to improve after the previous downturn caused by over-development and a downturn in the coal industry. Muswellbrook’s quarterly sales have risen from 41 to 52 to 57 to 74 to 83– and its median price has risen 11% over 12 months to $305,000.
Many suburbs in the Lake Macquarie LGA have had strong annual price growth, including Belmont (up 13%), Edgeworth (up 12.5%), Warners Bay (12.5%) and Swansea (15.5%).
Port Stephens just outside Newcastle is also producing growth markets, with demand rising in Medowie, Corlette and Shoal Bay, and solid markets also in Nelson Bay, Salamander Bay and Raymond Terrace. Many of these locations have had double-digit annual price growth, including Nelson Bay (up 17%) and Medowie (up 12%).
Others to stand out as above-average markets in Regional NSW include Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Gunnedah, Lismore, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga. Sales in Casino in the Richmond Valley area have been 62, 65, 63, 71, 74 and 91 in recent quarters, with the median price up 14% to $285,000.
A number of regional towns that would normally not attract much attention from investors are rising, including Broken Hill, Glen Innes, Gloucester, Inverell, Kempsey, Kyogle, Leeton, Malua Bay, Mudgee and Tumut.
Quarterly sales in Inverell have been 52, 56, 56, 69, 69, 60 and 81, with the median price rising 16% to $275,000 in the past 12 months.
Areas which were among the Regional NSW growth stars previously, but have now levelled out with plateau markets, include locations close to Sydney which caught a ripple effect from the city boom, such as the Blue Mountains, the lifestyle towns of Wingecarribee Shire (the Southern Highlands) as well as Wollongong and nearby locations. 
Other previous growth stars now past their peaks include Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and the Tweed region – but all remain solid markets with prices rising.
The Central Coast LGA, which has been busy for 2-3 years, is still producing growth markets, although it has a greater number of plateau markets. Many Central Coast locations have recorded strong price growth in the past 12 months – including Point Frederick (up 15%), Kincumber (15%), Wamberal (17%) and Gwandalan (13%).
Other regions delivering big price movements include Ballina in the north-east of the state, where Ballina, East Ballina, Lennox Head and West Ballina (up 28%) have lifted significantly the past year. 
Other north-eastern areas with rising prices include Kyogle (up 15%), Lismore (12%) and Casino (14%).
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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Queanbeyan leads the 39 rising growth areas in regional New South Wales: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

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With large areas of New South Wales still in an extended drought, buyers are looking for opportunities to purchase property in higher, more reliable rainfall areas, according to a report released by Herron Todd White (HTW).
The valuation firm noted that areas with average annual rainfall in excess of 1,000 millimetres are continuing to attract buyers with a number of recent sales 75 kilometres south of Walcha in the Nowendoc area.
Some key sales in the Nowendoc area include: Emu Tops (pictured above) which sold in June 2018 for $2.85 million, reflecting $3,562 per acre for the 800 acre holding; Fernleigh which sold for $3.8 million in May 2018 reflecting $2,205 per acre for the 1,723 acre holding; and The Two Mile which achieved a sale price of $9.9 million in May 2018 for the 2,910 acre holding, reflecting $3,400 per acre.
To the east of Walcha, in a 1,000 millimetre average rainfall area, the sale of Enfield North for $10.1 million in March 2018 confirms that "buyers are willing to look past the current drought to secure properties that have the added rainfall security". Enfield North is a 3,774 acre holding with an estimated carrying capacity of 1,000 cows, reflecting $2,676 per acre or $10,100 per cow area improved.
The report noted: "in the New England, demand continues for medium to large scale grazing properties."
<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/2018/10/3/Emu%202.jpg" alt="">
Maiden Creek (pictured above) in the Wollomombi area 60 kilometres east of Armidale sold in March 2018 for $8.85 million. This 4,510 acre holding was located in a 900 millimetre average annual rainfall area and had an estimated longer term carrying capacity of 800 cows, reflecting $1,962 per acre or $11,063 per cow area improved.
Other sales include Yonda at Guyra which sold in April 2018 for $3.97 million. This is a 1,237 acre holding located 16 kilometres from Guyra in a 900 millimetre average annual rainfall area with a reported carrying capacity of 400 cows, reflecting $3,209 per acre or $9,925 per cow area improved. 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Rural NSW regions with more reliable rainfall attracting buyers: HTW

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Most of the strongest markets in the nation are now in regional Australia. And regional NSW is the strongest market jurisdiction in the nation.
The key point is that regional New South Wales is moving in the opposite direction to Sydney. While there are now few rising markets in the state capital, there are growth locations spread across the regions of NSW.
Hotspotting’s Winter 2018 survey for The Price Predictor Index reveals that a record 38 local government areas have growth markets – a total of 60 suburbs or towns with rising sales activity.
1. Newcastle and the Hunter Region form a compelling growth precinct. Suburbs in the City of Newcastle have had very strong price growth (most have had double-digit growth and some have risen 20% or more) in the 12 months.
Now the momentum has shifted to neighbouring Lake Macquarie and locations in the nearby Hunter Region near Newcastle (including Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook).
Sales in the suburb of Rutherford in the Maitland LGA have been 64, 75, 70, 91, 86, 99 and 102 in the past seven quarters, while Medowie in the Port Stephens LGA have risen from around 40 a year ago to 55 in the latest quarter.
2. Muswellbrook and Singleton continue to improve after the previous downturn caused by over-development and a downturn in the coal industry.
Muswellbrook’s quarterly sales have risen from 41 to 52 to 57 to 75 over 12 months. Singleton and Singleton Heights combined previously had 35 to 45 sales per quarter but in the past 12 months quarterly sales have been 55, 58, 88 and 86.
Following the merger of the Wyong and Gosford LGAs to form the Central Coast LGA, this municipality is now a significant market in regional NSW. The sales patterns suggest this market has probably passed its peak – there are a large number of Plateau markets, places where sales activity has tapered off at levels below the peak.
But sales growth in the recent past has created strong growth in median house prices in the last 12 months, including in Narara (13%), North Gosford (16%), Terrigal (10%), Toukley (15%), Umina Beach (17%) and Wyoming (16%).
3. Queanbeyan on the ACT border continues to stand out as an affordable growth alternative to Canberra. The LGA of Queanbeyan-Palerang has multiple suburbs/towns with upwardly-mobile sales activity. Quarterly sales in Queanbeyan (the suburb) have been 38, 40, 50 and 59 in the past year.
Queanbeyan is closer to central Canberra than many parts of the ACT, has more affordable prices than most Canberra suburbs and benefits from first-home-buyer incentives available in NSW.
Other regional centres to stand out as above-average markets in regional NSW include Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Grafton Gunnedah, Lismore, Orange, Parkes, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.
A number of regional towns that would normally not attract much attention from investors are also rising, including Griffith, Inverell, Kempsey, Leeton and Tumut.
A standout is Merimbula on the far south coast of NSW. Quarterly sales have been 36, 46, 47, 56, 55 and 60 in the past 18 months and the median price has risen 18% in the past year.4
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
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The three strongest property markets in NSW: Terry Ryder

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As the property cycle currently sits, regional NSW is a stronger property market than Sydney, but beware it has more pitfalls.
The last financial year saw regional NSW values up 3.2 percent, while metropolitan Sydney was down 4.5 percent.
There'd been strong price growth in the 2016-17 financial year too when regional growth was up 11.9 percent, on the coat tail of the stellar 16 percent growth in Sydney, according to CoreLogic.
But scratch below the headline statistics, and the regions are rife with loss taking.
Yes Sydney is now feeling the pinch with some vendors selling their properties at less than they originally paid.
But not at anywhere near the levels experienced in the regions.
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Over the first quarter of 2018, the proportion of resales at a loss across Sydney was 2.4 percent. 
Botany Bay, Hunters Hill, Mosman and Willoughby had no resales at a loss over the quarter while Burwood, Canterbury and Hurstville had the highest proportion of losses.
The proportion of resales at a loss across the NSW regional markets sat at 4.2 percent.
So even in times of continued regional strength, its loss taking was almost double; and at a time when the share of resales at a loss in regional NSW was at its lowest since 2005.
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The resales at a loss were up in the Illawarra, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, but down on the Mid North Coast.
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CoreLogic research analyst Cameron Kusher forecasts the price decline in Sydney was now resulting in a significant deceleration in growth in regional markets. 
"These regions may see values fall on an annual basis over the coming months," he anticipates.
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Loss taking remained higher among regional investors than owner occupiers. 
Investors, because of taxation rules, are more prepared to incur a loss because they can offset loses against future capital gains.
As declines set in, CoreLogic noted investors, who have been increasingly active in the housing market, may make for the exits which in turn could result in much more supply becoming available for purchase at a time when demand for housing falls because values are declining.
The key demographic backdrop remains unchanged, with the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics population figures. They show around two-thirds or 15.8 million of all 24.6 million Australians live in Sydney, then Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide prompting Simon Kuestenmacher, the director of research at The Demographics Group, to note Australia's fortunes depended heavily on a handful of cities.
"We built one big city with one big central business district in each state, gave each a few satellite cities (for example Wollongong) and also threw in some small towns to manage farming and mining … and, voila, that’s the Australian urban landscape," he suggested.
The silliest thing for cashed up investors to do at this point in the cycle is speculative regional buying which seeks to time the market.
The best risk mitigator is a long-term strategy.... and don't for one moment think we are seeing any permanent passing of the baton from Sydney to the regions.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Regional NSW remains a riskier property investment than Sydney

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Most of regional NSW had positive annual growth for houses, except in Dubbo and Wingecarribee, where prices fell year on year.
In terms of affordability, Albury had a median house price of $310,000 as of September 2017, according to Domain data. A year back, the median price was $305,000.
Other affordable regional NSW centres where first home buyers can get their foot on the property ladder include Richmond Valley, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo and Tamworth regional. The range of median prices in these areas is from $275,000 to $350,000.
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<table class="igc-table __dynamic">
<thead><tr>
<th class="igc-table-header igc-hidden-cell igicon-sort"> </th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">Sept. 2017</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">June 2017</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">Sept. 2016</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">Quarter growth</th>
<th class="igc-table-header igicon-sort">Annual growth</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Albury</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$310,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$299,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$305,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">3.40%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.60%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Armidale Dumaresq </td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$356,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$356,250</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$350,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-0.10%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Ballina</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$621,250</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$577,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$545,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">7.10%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">14.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Bathurst</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$429,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$417,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$390,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">2.80%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">9.90%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Byron</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$820,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$850,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$757,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-3.70%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">8.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Clarence Valley</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$380,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$360,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$338,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">5.30%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">12.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Coffs Harbour</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$485,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$485,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$431,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">0.00%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">12.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Dubbo</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$350,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$340,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$365,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">2.90%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-4.10%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Eurobodalla</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$455,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$450,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$420,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.10%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">8.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Great Lakes</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$492,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$515,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$438,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-4.60%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">12.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Lismore</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$370,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$375,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$340,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-1.40%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">8.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Newcastle</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$595,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$610,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$525,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-2.50%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">13.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Orange</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$366,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$370,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$348,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-1.00%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">5.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Port Macquarie- Hastings </td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$520,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$500,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$465,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">3.80%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">11.80%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Richmond Valley</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$275,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$271,750</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$250,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.20%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">10.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Shellharbour</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$650,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$635,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$557,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">2.30%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">16.70%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Shoalhaven</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$545,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$525,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$456,250</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">3.70%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">19.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Tamworth Regional</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$349,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$340,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$325,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">2.60%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">7.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Tweed</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$573,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$579,750</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$519,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-1.10%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">10.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Wagga Wagga</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$350,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$345,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$322,750</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">1.40%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">8.40%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Wingecarribee </td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$750,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$800,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$765,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-6.70%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-2.00%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="igc-table-header">Wollongong</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$740,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$754,000</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">$649,500</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">-1.90%</td>
<td class="igc-table-cell">13.90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">Source: Domain Group</div>
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<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-bourkelands-125948290" target="_blank">2/27 Osterley Place, Bourkelands</a> in Wagga Wagga (picture above) has sold for $359,500 through Ray White’s Cassie Sheahan. The house is leased at $375 per week.</div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder=""> </div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder="">A four-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-albury-126171606" target="_blank">427 Schubach Street, Albury</a> recently sold for $315,000. The 664 sqm block was sold through Tom Sanderson of Wodonga Real Estate.</div>
<div class="innertext" data-placeholder=""><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/2017/10/19/FHBAlbury.jpg" alt=""></div>
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Regional NSW offers affordable options to first home buyers

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In what is one of the largest regional New South Wales pub transactions for 2017, the Belmore Hotel in Maitland has been sold to a local businessman for $9 million.
The Belmore Hotel is in the Hunter Valley Tourism Precinct, and at the 2011 Census was determined New South Wales’ fastest growing inland Urban Centre. 
The hotel has several bars, a bistro, gaming room with 19 EGMs, 18 pub rooms and a large outdoor beer garden with diversified weekly revenue of approximately $100,000 per week.
The selling agents were Ray White’s Blake Edwards, Andrew Jolliffe and Xavier Plunkett, who sold it on behalf of long-time owners the Murphy family. 
Having indicated that their investment focus is shifting, and after 14 years in the hospitality industry, the Murphy family felt like it was the right time to divest the asset. 
"We've owned the hotel since 2003, and since then we have all grown older and want to do a bit more of our own thing" said Luke Murphy. 
"We still have development interests in the area, which we will now shift our focus onto.” 
Last year too, Ray White sold a hotel in Maitland to a Sydney hotel group for a record Hunter Region price of around $11 million.
"Particularly given the quality of the offerings we are showcasing at our May 31 auctions in the form of Maitland CBD's outstanding Belmore Hotel.
Commenting upon the various demand drivers for the high level of interest in the sale process for the Belmore Hotel, Edwards said the property benefited from a number of business and property positives. 
"Strategically, the well-structured nature of the hotel operation on offer at the Belmore Hotel made sense for our purchaser," Edwards said.
"Although it may sound cliché, it all comes back to the basic investment fundamentals, including strong population growth, a familiarity with the local area, close proximity to a large base of both white and blue collar industries and a distinct absence of large scale competition in the immediate area." 
Jolliffe said he expects the regional market to maintain its current trajectory, and market depth, given the limited opportunity in metro areas; as well as the growth of commercial and residential markets in regional centres. 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Belmore Hotel in regional NSW sells for $9 million

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The slow and inevitable fade of the Sydney market is happening in concert with a rise in New South Wales regional markets.
Hotspotting’s monitoring of sales activity shows there are growth markets across the state – indeed Regional NSW now has more upwardly-mobile markets than Sydney does.
The Newcastle region and the Central Coast stand out, as markets a little north of Sydney head a strong NSW Regional sector.
While the Sydney market is past its peak and has relatively few growth markets compared to 2015/2016, Regional New South Wales has risen.
Our Spring survey has identified almost 50 regional towns or suburbs with rising markets – a little down on the number revealed in the Winter report, but still very strong.
I’ve observed previously that Newcastle and the regions surrounding it have provided the stand-out precinct in Regional NSW.
This remains the case, but with a new market leader - the Lake Macquarie LGA on the fringe of Newcastle.
This municipality has five suburbs where sales activity is rising steadily and six others with steady sales performance. Growth suburbs include Belmont North, Edgeworth, Macquarie Hills, Toronto and Warners Bay.
Nearby LGAs (including the municipalities of Port Stephens, Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton and Muswellbrook) all have busy sales activity. 
Jointly the Newcastle/Hunter region has 19 growth markets (up from 17 three months ago).
To illustrate what some of these markets look like, dwelling sales in Cessnock have been 65, 67, 84, 90, 96 and 101 in the past six consecutive quarters. This kind of pattern inevitably delivers price growth – and the median house price for Cessnock has increased 13% in the past 12 months.
Hunter Valley locations like Muswellbrook and Singleton continue to improve after the previous downturn caused by over-development and a downturn in the coal industry.
Following the merger of the Wyong and Gosford LGAs to form the Central Coast council area, this municipality is now a significant market in Regional NSW.
It has four rising locations, but 24 with steady sales performance (many of them what we called “plateau” markets, where sales have levelled off a little below the peak), which indicates this market overall is strong but past its best.
On the south coast of NSW, both Batehaven and Tuross Head in the Eurobodalla LGA have growth markets.
Queanbeyan on the ACT border continues to excel as an affordable growth alternative to Canberra. Others to stand out as above-average growth markets in Regional NSW include Bathurst, Dubbo, Taree, Tuncurry and Gunnedah.
Tamworth, Orange, Goulburn, Ballina and Wagga Wagga all have solid markets with steady sales activity.
Areas which were among the Regional NSW growth stars previously, but have now levelled out with plateau markets, include locations close to Sydney which caught a ripple effect from the capital city boom: Wollongong, Blue Mountains and the lifestyle towns of Wingecarribee Shire (the Southern Highlands).
Other previous growth stars now past their peaks include Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="mailto:%20%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'%3E%20%3C!--%20var%20prefix%20=%20'ma'%20+%20'il'%20+%20'to';%20var%20path%20=%20'hr'%20+%20'ef'%20+%20'=';%20var%20addy38821%20=%20'ryder'%20+%20'@';%20addy38821%20=%20addy38821%20+%20'hotspotting'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'com'%20+%20'.'%20+%20'au';%20document.write('%3Ca%20'%20+%20path%20+%20'/''%20+%20prefix%20+%20':'%20+%20addy38821%20+%20'/'%3E');%20document.write(addy38821);%20document.write('%3C//a%3E');%20//--%3E/n%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20type='text/javascript'" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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