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

Joel Robinson

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

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

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

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

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

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

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

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

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Residential Auctions

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A coastal Sydney residential apartment property at Dover Heights has been listed for auction.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-dover+heights-123963986" target="_blank">286 Military Road</a>, the 525 square metre property has two street frontages and houses nine blocks of apartments and five lock-up garages.
It has DA approval to create another two apartments from the two garages at street level.
It is marketed as a good investment for self-managed superannuation funds.
The block comprises of five one-bedroom apartments, three two-bedroom apartments and one three-bedroom apartment, as well as a residents’ laundry and garages.
The property features balconies and ocean views with each apartment having a large living area, gas kitchen, bathroom and good-sized bedrooms.
"Although the building is in good condition there is always the potential for refurbishment to obtain higher rental returns," agent Ric Serrao said.
The property is goes on auction on November 24 through Raine and Horne agents Ric Serrao and Patrick Cosgrove.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Coastal apartment block property at Dover Heights for auction

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The final weekend of October had the clearance rate remain high across all the capital cities, recording above 70 percent for the 14th consecutive week.
There were 2,246 auctions held across the capital cities, with a preliminary auction clearance rate of 77 percent, slightly down decrease over last week’s final clearance rate of 78 percent across 2,680 auctions. 
But it was much higher than the corresponding week last year when there was a 61 percent success rate.
Sydney has been the proven spring stayer this year with its auction clearance rate remaining above 80 percent.
Three weeks ago there were four capitals in the picture, but they all dropped off a little. 
Prices ranged across the country from $246,500 in Adelaide to $5.65 million in Sydney, with two strong challenges from prestige Brisbane offerings.
The result comes days before the key Melbourne Cup day interest rate decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia. 
"The strong clearance rate continues to be supported by exceptionally strong auction market conditions in Sydney where the preliminary clearance rate was recorded at 84.4 percent across almost 1,100 auctions, while the preliminary clearance rate in Melbourne (78.6 percent), Canberra (71.1 percent) and Adelaide (75 percent) also tracked above 70 percent," Kevin Brogan said.
Across Sydney, 1,096 homes were taken to auction this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 84.4 percent across 906 reported results.
Last week, the final clearance rate for the city was 82.6 percent, across 897 auctions.
One year ago, 1,391 Sydney homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was 60 percent. 
Clearance rates ranged fror 94 percent on the Northern Beaches to 67 percent in Parramatta. 
The most expensive house sold was a newly built six bedroom Strathfield home (above). 
The sale at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-strathfield-123713270" target="_blank">115 Homebush Road</a> for $5.65 million was $300,000 over reserve through agents Joseph and Sam Georges of Georges Ellis &amp; Co. They said prices were up about 30 per cent in the last year.
The 1120 sq m building block had cost $1.7 million in 2014.
Sydney's Paddington had its own dilapidated terrace story too. 
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-terrace-nsw-paddington-123733818" target="_blank">45 Iris Street offering</a> sold for $1.19 million - $190,000 more than it was purchased for just eight months ago.
The uninhabitable two bedroom terrace had three bidders with it sold to an investor who will implement the recently obtained development approval.
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-31%20at%209.29.45%20AM.png" alt="">
The terrace had been the home of the late artist Christina Coombes who had bought it in 1965 for £3200.
The distraction of the Spring Racing Carnival saw Melbourne listings down - and the preliminary clearance rate dipped from 80 percent to 78 per cent, though remaining well above the 65 percent clearance rate for the city one year ago.
Melbourne hosted around 629 auctions, lower than the 1,377 held last week and consistent with the same period last year.
The strongest performer was the North West region with a 91 percent of success rate. 
The top sale at Hawthorn was a 1000 sq m offering on the Lisson Grove estate which since the 1870s had been regarded as one Hawthorn's most fashionable avenues given the lovely Victorian homes set in large gardens.
Number 65 was one of four single storey villas built between 1884 and 1886 featuring a symmetrical façade with double bay windows.
"We have five young families bidding" Duane Wolowiec said.  
"There are strict heritage restoration conditions including the need to install slate roofing," he said.
Most buyers thought the restoration would cost at least $1.5 million, he added. Hawthorn's median house price currently sits at a record $1.85 million, according to CoreLogic.
There were 192 Brisbane homes taken to auction this week, with 114 results reported so far. The preliminary clearance rate for the city is 52 percent, up from 50 percent last week and also higher than one year ago, when 48 percent of the 188 properties taken to auction were successful.
Brisbane's top weekend result was $5.3 million in Paddington. 
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-31%20at%209.31.51%20AM.png" alt="">
The tri-level 2009-built contemporary home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-paddington-123651270" target="_blank">171 Fernberg Rd</a> (above) sold to a Toowong family.
There was also the $5.25 million sale of the former six decade long home of the late Sir John Pidgeon, a respected leader in the construction and property industry. 
The home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-holland+park-123667174" target="_blank">14 Otway St, Holland Park</a> (below) on 5275 sq m was purchased for $5.225 million by a local buyer. 
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-31%20at%209.32.52%20AM.png" alt="">
Sir John passed away in June.
The auction, through Dixon Family Estate Agents, attracted 36 registered buyers, according to the Courier Mail.
The living room fireplace is an authentic George III white marble inlaid chimney piece, the jamb centred with a relief of Diana and her Hound. 
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 75 percent across 166 auctions this week, up from 71 percent across 100 auctions last week. At the same time last year, 148 homes were taken to auction, with 57 percent recording a successful result.
Adelaide had the nation's cheapest sale at $246,500 in Elizabeth. 
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-31%20at%209.34.07%20AM.png" alt="">
The mid-1960s <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-elizabeth-123810514" target="_blank">three bedroom brick home</a> (above) had been listed with $210,000 hopes, having last sold for $92,500 in 2002.
Canberra’s preliminary auction clearance rate of 71 percent this week matched the 71 percent recorded last year. 
Perth and Hobart were the capitals with lower clearance rates than one year ago. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Sydney the proven spring auction stayer

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GUEST OBSERVER
There is significant local debate about how much the Australian housing market is cooling.
Various indicators are showing different trends. A prominent hedonic house price measure is showing stronger growth than the broad collection of housing price indicators. Auction clearance rates have also been high, suggesting price strength. 
At the same time, new housing loan approvals are below their 2015 peaks, housing credit growth has slowed and housing turnover has fallen. We see the collection of evidence supporting the idea that the housing market has cooled (and so does the RBA). This is welcome, after an extended period of strong housing price growth in Sydney and Melbourne.
Our central view has the RBA on hold from here. If the housing market proves to be more resilient than we expect, this would further bolster that view.
<a href="/images/2016/09/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-27%20at%207.54.17%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/09/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-27%20at%207.54.17%20AM.png" alt="">
Australia has a collection of housing price indicators. These indices take different approaches to dealing with the key measurement challenge, which is that there is significant variation in the sorts of houses that are sold month to month. For example, if a lot of large, well-located and expensive houses are sold in one month and smaller, less well-located, cheap houses are sold another, this can have a big effect on the raw median price measures.
In this case, housing price growth would appear to slow, but this would not be a true picture of the change in price of the overall housing stock. Instead, it would be a reflection of the compositional changes in what was being sold month to month.
The four main measures tracked in Australia that seek to control for these compositional effects are a hedonic measure (Corelogic), a stratified median measure (APM), a repeat-sales measure (Residex) and the official ABS measure, which also uses a stratification approach.
Hedonic measures control for compositional shifts in turnover by accounting for things like number of bedrooms, block size and location, amongst other characteristics. The stratified approach groups houses into ten different price level boxes and then averages the medians from each box to produce an overall measure. The repeat-sales method controls for quality by tracking the same houses through time.
<a href="/images/2016/09/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-27%20at%207.56.58%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/09/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-27%20at%207.56.58%20AM.png" alt="">
At the moment, the various measures are showing y-o-y growth in national housing prices of between 7 percent (Corelogic) and 3 percent (APM) (Charts 1 and 2). On a q-o-q basis, the gap is even larger, with the hedonic measures showing more strength recently. Keep in mind that the main debate is really only about whether the Sydney and Melbourne markets are cooling, as there has been little housing price growth in other cities in recent years (Chart 3).
The gap between the measures has led to some debate about which measure is closest to the truth. A challenge has been that the Corelogic measure, which is showing the strongest growth and has typically been the one most relied upon by the RBA in recent years, has recently had some methodological changes. As a result, the RBA has become less confident about the veracity of this measure, stating in its August official statement that 'strong increases reported by CoreLogic were overstated as a result of methodological changes'. 
<a href="/images/2016/09/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-27%20at%207.57.58%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/09/27/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-27%20at%207.57.58%20AM.png" alt="">
Digging a little deeper into the issue (to the extent that we can without the unit records), we find it interesting that the CoreLogic raw median, which does not adjust for compositional changes, has also shown much slower housing price growth in Sydney than the adjusted measure (Chart 4). The gap between the hedonic measure and the raw median is the largest it has ever been. The clear implication is that compositional shifts in turnover have been quite large recently.
One plausible explanation is that a greater amount of lower-priced housing has been turned over recently. This fits with the fact that a lot of newly built apartments have been coming to market and apartments tend to be lower-priced than detached houses. Apartment prices have also grown more slowly than detached dwelling prices more recently. Lower-priced detached houses are also the ones that are likely to see the biggest spill-over effect from the apartment supply boost, as they are typically a closer substitute to most apartments than higher-priced houses.
Another timely measure of housing market activity, auction clearance rates, has also been high in recent months (Chart 5). This may also be consistent with the gap in the housing price measures. Auctions are more prevalent for higher-priced homes and account for only 30% of housing sales in Melbourne, 20% in Sydney and far lower rates in the other capitals. Auction volumes have recently been lower than in recent years, suggesting fewer high-priced dwellings are being sold.
More sales of lower-priced dwellings would also be consistent with the fall in housing loan approvals and slowdown in housing credit growth, as access to credit is typically a more important factor for lower- priced housing (Chart 6). The tightening of lending standards since late 2014 has also applied most aggressively to loans to investors, which are more prevalent in the apartment market.
The bottom line is that the weight of evidence suggests that there has been some cooling in the housing market (for more details on why the market it is likely to have cooled, see: 'Downunder Digest: Australian housing is still set to cool', 21 June 2016). Compositional shifts in housing turnover are making it difficult to get a clear read on housing price growth, but, importantly, housing loan approvals and credit growth have slowed. For monetary policy, the slowdown in housing credit growth is particularly important. Housing price gains are far more worrisome when they are fuelled by credit. It is the leverage that matters most.
Our central case is that the RBA is unlikely to cut further, with this call grounded in our view that domestic inflation and wages growth is set to stabilise as the rebalancing act comes to its end (see 'Australia's low inflation: It's part of the rebalancing act', 13 July 2016). If housing price growth proves to be stronger than most of the measures show, or there is a re-acceleration of housing prices, loan approvals or credit growth, we see this as likely to bolster, rather than challenge, our case that the RBA is unlikely to cut further. 
<a href="https://www.about.hsbc.com.au/hsbc-in-australia/management-team" target="_blank">PAUL BLOXHAM</a> IS CHIEF ECONOMIST (AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND) FOR HSBC. 
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How much is the housing market cooling? HSBC's Paul Bloxham

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Sydney has a preliminary auction clearance rate of 80.0 percent across 604 reported results for the week ending September 11, according to CoreLogic.  
Across the Eastern region the preliminary clearance rate is 91.6 per cent, and the Central Coast sub-region at 58.3 percent.
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Sydney's Central Coast at 58.3 percent clearance rate: CoreLogic

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Much of the weekend Melbourne action was bayside.
The top auction result was $6.5 million in Brighton when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-brighton-123294222%20" target="_blank">204 Esplanade</a> (above) was sold as a likely development site.
The four bedroom brick 1980s house that last traded in the 1970s sits on 1234 sqm near the sea baths.
Agent Kyle Charlton was suggesting one of very few undeveloped home sites left on the ‍Esplanade would fetch $5 million to $5.5 million.
The weekend's cheapest result across the nation was also in Melbourne at $194,000 in St Kilda.
It was a 1960s studio apartment - just 25 sq m - that had previously traded at $123,000 in 2006.
<img src="/images/2016/09/12/700_st_kilda.jpg" alt="">
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-st+kilda-123377994" target="_blank">6/27 Waterloo Crescent</a> (above) studio has been a $270 a week rental.
There was also significant interest in the nearby 1880s home offering at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-st+kilda-123371802" target="_blank">7 Robe Street, St Kilda</a> (below) which sold at $2.72 million through Marshall White’s Michael Paproth and Daniel McGuire who were expecting more than $2.2 million.
<img src="/images/2016/09/12/500_robe.jpg" alt="">
The renovated, double storey three-bedroom plus study home last sold at $1.925 million in 2009 when sold by two-time Olympic Gold medallist Nick Green who paid $1.15 million in 2002.
The injured Western Bulldogs young gun midfielder Mitch Wallis secured $1.07 million post-auction for his weekend Port Melbourne apartment offering.
Wallis’s two-bedroom apartment at 1<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-port+melbourne-123348630" target="_blank">33/95 Rouse St, Port Melbourne</a> (below) passed in to an investor at $1.06 million with RT Edgar agent Gerald Betts negotiating a sale soon afterwards.
<img src="/images/2016/09/12/600_melb.jpg" alt="">
The 23-year-old AFL footballer - who bought his HM@S apartment five years ago for $900,000 - and his partner, nurse Emily Clemmens have purchased a house in nearby Albert Park.
CoreLogic's national preliminary auction clearance rate sat at 76 percent across the combined capital cities.
Some 2,026 total auctions were held across the capital cities, higher than last week, when 1,899 auctions were held, but remaining lower than one year ago at 2,654.
The clearance rate was down slightly from last week’s clearance rate of 77 percent, which was the highest clearance rate recorded for the year to date.
At the same time last year the clearance rate was 71 percent and in noticeable decline.
In Melbourne, a preliminary auction clearance rate of 78 percent was recorded, slightly lower than last week.
There were 978 auctions held across the city, up from 830 but lower than the 1,189 auctions held one year ago.
Across Sydney, 720 homes were taken to auction - with 550 on Saturday - with a preliminary clearance rate of 80 percent. It mirrored the 80 percent across 747 auctions.
"One year ago, 1,075 Sydney homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was 73.1 percent," CoreLogic's Kevin Brogan said.
Brisbane was host to 148 auctions this week and its 55 percent success rate was up from 52.2 percent last week and higher than one year ago, when 50 percent of the 179 properties taken to auction were successful.
Domain had Brisbane prices ranging from $255,000 at Beenleigh to $2.125 million at Windsor.
Sales included a restored 1894 colonial house in Indooroopilly (below) which fetched $1.6 million with 16 registered bidders keen to secure 19 Jackson Street.
<img src="/images/2016/09/12/600_indoo.jpg" alt="">
It sold prior to its renovation at $745,000 in 2004.
Adelaide recorded a clearance rate of 76 percent across 88 auctions this week.
Across Canberra a total of 60 auctions were held this week, compared to 77 last week and 79 at the same time last year.
Canberra prices ranged from $357,000 in Holt to $2.98 million in Forrest.
Canberra’s preliminary clearance rate of 78 percent well up from 65 percent at the same time last year.
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Bayside Melbourne full of weekend auction action

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The number of auctions scheduled across the capital cities is virtually unchanged over the week, with CoreLogic currently tracking 1,895 residential auctions, just four fewer than last week.
The difference in weekly activity is more prominent on a city-by-city basis, with the number of auctions scheduled in Melbourne rising this week, from 830 last week to 915 this week, compared to a fall in Sydney auction volumes, from 747 last week to 672 this week.
Outside of Sydney and Melbourne, auction activity will remain steady across Brisbane (137) and Perth (27), while more auctions are expected in Adelaide this week (84), however less across Canberra (56).
Capital city auctions this week:
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<li>Sydney: 672</li>
<li>Melbourne: 915</li>
<li>Brisbane: 137</li>
<li>Adelaide: 84</li>
<li>Perth: 27</li>
<li>Canberra: 56</li>
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This week there are three individual suburbs across Australia where more than 15 auctions will be held and each is located in Melbourne. The busiest suburb is Reservoir, with 17 auctions, followed by Glen Waverley and St Kilda, each with 16 homes scheduled for auction.
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Last week, CoreLogic collected a total of 1,723 auction results across the capital cities, with a final auction clearance rate of 77.1 per cent, the highest clearance rate for the year to date, and the highest reading since June last year (77.3 per cent). Last week’s clearance rate of 77.1 per cent was moderately higher than the previous week (74.5 per cent). Last week, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide each recorded their highest year to date clearance rate.
Sydney’s clearance rate hit the 80 per cent mark last week, at 80.7 per cent, while Melbourne’s clearance rate came in just below, at 79.3 per cent, both representing week-on-week improvements for the cities. Across the individual sub-regions of the two major auction markets, the strongest clearance rate was across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs (90.7 per cent) and Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula (94.1 per cent).
<a href="/images/2016/09/09/Screen%20Shot%202016-09-09%20at%202.49.47%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Outside of the capitals, the strongest performing regional markets last week, based on clearance rate, were Wollongong (76.7 percent) and Geelong (89.5 percent), however auction activity across these regions remains low.
 
 
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Capital city auctions over the week to September 11 steady from previous week: CoreLogic National Auction Preview

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A record price was set for a Surry Hills, inner Sydney warehouse at weekend auction when purchased by North Shore buyers.
It fetched $7.95 million some $400,000 higher than the $7.45 million prior top price.
The weekend buyer secured a 780-square-metre four-bedroom three-level warehouse in Bennett Place, a mid-19th century building that had undergone a transformation by designers Hare &amp; Klein (above).
The space came with a four-car garage, artist’s studio, plus plenty of open-plan living areas with lofty ceiling and industrial throwbacks. 
The Bennett Place warehouse previously held the suburb record the last two times it traded, for $5.71 million in 2012 and then $3.1 million in 2009. Not sure it was a record price when it was sold at $350,000 in 1991.
Artist Melinda Marshman and medico husband, David sold the warehouse which sits on the Marshall Street corner having bought it for $5.71 million in 2012 when bought from sculptor Gaby Porter.
The 1870 building, first recorded in Sands Directory as being a carriage and livery stable, has 760 square metres of floor space.
The earlier record stood since last year at $7.55 million, when Mark Ainsworth bought the nearby one with a distinctive heart-shaped pool.
It ranks among the more authentic of the warehouses of Surry Hills that once housed the city’s rag-trade industry. 
The $7.55 million sale last year secured a heart-shaped pool as the centrepiece of 450-square-metre converted warehouse once owned by Stuart Membery. 
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Surry Hills warehouse among the weekend auction top sales

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The nation's cheapest weekend result was in Adelaide where a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-sa-st+kilda-122850590" target="_blank">2/12 Fooks Terrace</a>, St Kilda Beach, SA fetched $183,000 through Peter Migali at The Professionals Salisbury.
It fetched less than its 2010 sale price of $220,000 and its 2007 sale of $195,000. There were three bidders for the 2003 built apartment which is upstairs in the block of six next to the St Kilda Beach Hotel.
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St Kilda Beach price heads backwards in weekend cheapest auction result

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Anytime auctioneer Damien Cooley raised his gavel, more bids came until <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-double+bay-122971786" target="_blank">27 South Avenue, Double Bay</a> finally fetched $3.17 million at weekend auction.
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There were 10 third and final moments over the 12 minute onsite event.
But the humble home owned by late colourful, controversial Commonwealth Games chief Arthur Tunstall that last sold for £420 seventy years ago wasn't Sydney's highest.
That was over at Strathfield, the regular Saturday Sydney auction stadium, where a four-bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-strathfield-122804438" target="_blank">17 Firth Avenue</a> sold for $4.12 million through Georges Ellis and Co.
They had the 16 registered bidders with 55 rapid fire bids for the single storey home on its 1280 sqm block with pool offered for the first time offered in over 30 years.
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The Sydney home auction market has continued to strengthen over recent weekends.
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<div>Domain had the Sydney clearance rate at 75.4 per cent, which was higher than the election weekend’s initial 73.5 per cent result, though below the boom-time 80 per cent reported on the same weekend last year.</div>
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Relatively low auction numbers continue to characterise the Sydney market, according to Domain Group's chief economist, Dr Andrew Wilson with strong competition among buyers.
Just 419 auctions were listed on Saturday, well below the 605 auctioned over the same weekend last year. 
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Melbourne reported a preliminary clearance rate of 75.7 per cent on Saturday, which was the highest rate in nearly three months, below the 79.2 per cent reported over the same weekend last year.
Melbourne clearance rates are now trending upwards compared to the same time last year, Dr Wilson noted.
More than 530 Melbourne homes were listed for auction at the weekend, similar to the 559 auctioned over the same weekend last year.
Melbourne's consistently strong west suburban region reported the highest clearance rate at the weekend with 85.4 per cent and the highest number of sales at 76. 
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The Sydney Central Coast reported the highest regional clearance rate with 83.3 per cent, followed by Canterbury Bankstown with 81.8 per cent, the lower north with 81.5 per cent.
Trailing the pack was the south west with 57.6 per cent and the Blue Mountains with a clearance rate of 50 per cent.
The Central Coast had Sydney's most affordable property when $280,000 was paid for a two-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-wyong-122674530" target="_blank">1/61 Howarth Street, Wyong</a> through LJ Hooker Wyong. The 65 sqm unit, which was available recently at $280 a week, last sold at $140,000 in 1994.
Melbourne's most expensive property was a four-bedroom 1930s Elwood home, renovated in 2009, at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-elwood-122896790" target="_blank">12 Glen Huntly Road</a>, which sold for $2,465,000 through Chisholm and Gamon.
The Californian bungalow had been listed with $2.2 million plus price guidance.
The most affordable Melbourne property was a one-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-brunswick-122878634" target="_blank">2/11 Aberdeen Street</a>, Brunswick, which sold for $271,000 through Ray White.
It last sold in 2006 at $169,000.
Sydney recorded a median auction price of $1,045,500, some 7.5 per cent higher than the $972,500 recorded over the same weekend last year. A total of $228.5 million was reported sold.
Melbourne recorded a median auction price of $650,000, which was 1 per cent lower than the $655,000 recorded over the same weekend last year. A total of $191.4 million was reported sold.
Dr Wilson said lower Sydney auction numbers will continue to characterise the market over coming weekends, with just over 300 auctions expected next weekend — around half the number auctioned over the same weekend last year.
But in Melbourne auction numbers, although typically lower during the winter, are set to remain "robust" for this time of the year with around 550 listings scheduled next weekend.
Dr Wilson said low and falling interest rates continued to support buyer and seller confidence with strong competition amongst banks for mortgage customers also driving housing demand.
"Although the Reserve Bank has decided to leave interest rates on hold over July at the record low 1.75 per cent, the odds have certainly narrowed for a cut sooner rather than later and perhaps as soon as next month.
"The June quarter inflation data due to be released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on July 27 will provide a key determinant of future rate settings, with another low result likely to activate the Bank," Dr Wilson said.
CoreLogic advised some 1,365 capital city auctions were scheduled for the week, with a preliminary clearance rate of 72 per cent. At the same time last year, 1,704 capital city auctions were held with 74.9 per cent clearing.
The nation's cheapest weekend result was in Adelaide where a two bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-sa-st+kilda-122850590" target="_blank">2/12 Fooks Terrace</a>, St Kilda Beach, SA fetched $183,000 through Peter Migali at The Professionals Salisbury.
It fetched less than its 2010 sale price of $220,000 and its 2007 sale of $195,000. There were three bidders for the 2003 built apartment which is upstairs in the block of six next to the St Kilda Beach Hotel.
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16 registered bidders compete in Strathfield auction battle

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Melbourne's preliminary auction clearance rate came in at 71.6 per cent for the week ending 3 July, according to CoreLogic.
The Inner South sub-region had a 100.0 percent clearance rate and South East sub-region came in at 86.4 percent.
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