Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Joel Robinson

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Seasoned Victorian apartment developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a> has logged more than $400 million in sales in its luxury apartment project Palmera Residences at Northcliffe on the Gold Coast.&nbsp;

Central Equity Director Karl Kutner said the sales result reflected a combination of location, product quality and delivery certainty with the project already under construction by building powerhouse Multiplex.&nbsp;

"Surpassing $400 million in sales since launch is a significant milestone and an outstanding endorsement of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera Residences</a>,” he said.&nbsp;

"We believe one of the key reasons for this strong result is the confidence purchasers have in knowing the project is under construction with Multiplex. Buyers are increasingly looking for certainty. They want to know that the project they commit to today will be delivered by an experienced team with a proven track record."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365782]

Kutner said it was clear there was still high demand for luxury projects that offered certainty of delivery.&nbsp;

“We are in a market where many residential developments have faced delays due to rising construction costs, labour shortages and financing challenges,” said Kutner.&nbsp;

"But having construction underway has provided our buyers with resounding confidence backed by more than 40 years of development delivery by Central Equity combined with construction by one of Australia's most respected construction companies."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365785]

Central Equity is one of Australia's most experienced privately-owned property developers. Over more than four decades, the company has delivered in excess of 85 residential developments including 10,000 apartments and many thousands of stand alone homes.&nbsp;

Located on Garfield Terrace at Northcliffe, between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, Palmera Residences occupies one of the Gold Coast's most sought after beachside locations. The development has been designed to appeal to owner occupiers seeking premium residences that combine generous living spaces and resort style amenities.&nbsp;

Palmera Residences will feature an exceptional collection of resort style amenities, including two swimming pools: a generously sized family pool with safe shallow zones for relaxed recreation, and a 20 metre lap pool positioned to maximise all day sunlight.&nbsp;

Residents will also enjoy exclusive access to wellness and recreational facilities including a magnesium pool, sauna, yoga studio, expansive fitted gymnasium, resident lounge, outdoor BBQ’s&nbsp;and indoor and outdoor dining areas, together with a dedicated concierge and luxurious hotel inspired entrance foyer.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365767]

A unique feature at Palmera Residences has been designed to enhance the Gold Coast lifestyle which includes both indoor and outdoor gymnasium facilities, together with thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor dining and entertaining areas. A corner café has also been incorporated to provide residents with a destination for their everyday needs.&nbsp;

Kutner said buyer demand had been broad based with purchasers attracted from interstate as well as throughout South East Queensland.&nbsp;

"We're seeing strong interest from owner occupiers, lifestyle buyers and people relocating to the Gold Coast. Many purchasers have been searching for a premium beachside residence where quality, design and delivery are equally important."&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Kutner said the sales milestone was an important achievement, but the focus remained firmly on delivering an exceptional development.&nbsp;

"While reaching $400 million in sales is an important milestone, our priority remains delivering a project that exceeds purchaser expectations,” he said.&nbsp;

"Palmera Residences has been designed to become one of the Gold Coast's landmark residential addresses, and we look forward to welcoming our purchasers to their new homes."&nbsp;

There are a limited number of residences remaining in selected configurations with pricing from $2,950,000 to $8,950,000. Palmera Residences is also crowned by expansive penthouses with wrap around views.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

Construction certainty and strong buyer demand drive major sales result for luxury Gold Coast development

Palmera Residences fly out the door as sales pass $400 million

National property developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/goldfields-group">Goldfields</a> has appointed BINAH as its construction partner for Quartet, its new Brisbane apartment development in the undersupplied suburb of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/milton-qld-4064">Milton</a>.

Located just two kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and moments from key 2032 Olympic precincts, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/quartet-milton-33-manning-street-milton-qld-4064">Quartet</a> will deliver 131 one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments priced from $1 million to $4.2 million, combining elevated design with a wellness-focused lifestyle offering.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=368000]

Goldfields’ Chief Executive Officer, Lachlan Thompson, said the appointment of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/binah-constructions">BINAH</a> marked an important milestone for the project.&nbsp;

“Bringing BINAH on board as our construction partner will allow us to bring our vision for Quartet forward with a team that has a proven track record of delivering high-quality residential projects,” Thompson said.&nbsp;

“We’ve taken a considered approach to progressing the site because we wanted to deliver the whole package. Buyers ultimately back great developers, great projects and great builders, and with Quartet, we’ve made sure all three line up.

“People want certainty, they want to know the project will be built, that the homes will be delivered as promised, and that the developer stands behind the quality of what they create. That’s something Goldfields has built its reputation on over many years.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=367993]

BINAH’s Managing Director, Khalil Hafza, said the company was proud to be partnering with Goldfields to deliver Quartet.&nbsp;

“Quartet is an exciting project to bring to life, particularly given the level of detail in the residences and the extensive rooftop amenity planned for the building,” Mr Hafza said.&nbsp;

“Our focus is on delivering a high-quality build that brings that design vision to life and creates homes residents will enjoy for many years.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=367999]

The facilities at Quartet have been feared towards the roof, with a&nbsp;25 metre lap pool, spa, sauna and cold plunge, and a communal barbecue area and alfresco.

Town planning was designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> and brought to life by Melbourne-based architecture firm Cera Stribley.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/cera-stribley">Cera Stribley</a> Co-Founder and Managing Principal, Dom Cerantonio, said the project responds to both its riverside setting and Brisbane’s evolving urban character.&nbsp;

“Quartet has been designed to sit comfortably within its riverside context, offering a refined take on urban living through well-planned, generously proportioned residences that will stand the test of time,” Mr Cerantonio said.&nbsp;

“An emphasis on natural light, natural textures and carefully selected finishes from timber and marble to premium appliances, creates calm, considered interiors designed for comfort and long-term liveability.”&nbsp;

Construction of Quartet will commence in July 2026, with completion anticipated in Q4 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108736]

Construction to commence on 131-residence tower designed around wellness-focused living

Goldfields appoints BINAH for Quartet apartments in Milton

The first partnership between national developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis">Fortis</a> and Adelaide-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> has made a strong start, with the pair securing $21 million in unconditional sales at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/one-four-four-hutt-adelaide-144-hutt-street-adelaide-sa-5000">One Four Four Hutt</a>&nbsp;on the edge of the Adelaide CBD.

Over a third of apartments have been snapped up in the boutique 44-apartment project on the corner of Hutt Stret and Wakefield Road. Local downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in Adelaide's tightly-held southeast quarter have been the most prominent purchasers.

The DKO-designed, mixed-use development is one of the few new apartment projects in the precinct, an area where new housing supply has remained limited despite continued demand from buyers wanting to stay close to the CBD, Victoria Park and Adelaide's established east-end amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151233 project_image_fid=375378]

Fortis Head of Development SA Arthur Dendrinos said the early sales reflected both the strength of the local owner-occupier market and confidence in the Hutt Street location.

"The level of early commitment reflects the confidence local buyers have in the Hutt Street precinct," Dendrinos said.

"Many purchasers are long-term east-end residents who love the area and want to stay connected to the neighbourhood. They recognise the value of a well-designed, well-located development.

"Our partnership with Otello has been central to this success, and the number of unconditional sales at this stage only strengthens our confidence in the South Australian market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151233 project_image_fid=375379]

Otello Director Daniel Harris said the sales result also highlighted the lack of new apartment opportunities within the Hutt Street precinct.

"One Four Four Hutt has clearly resonated with buyers, with strong early sales reflecting both the appeal of the Hutt Street corridor and the lifestyle on offer," Harris said.

"The activated ground-floor retail has also been a key drawcard, with purchasers responding to the vision of a more vibrant and connected streetscape, not just the residences themselves."

One Four Four Hutt will deliver 44 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of penthouses, above a ground-floor retail offering designed to further activate the Hutt Street precinct.

Construction is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of this year, with completion anticipated in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151233]

Fortis Head of Development SA Arthur Dendrinos said the early sales reflected both the strength of the local owner-occupier market and confidence in the Hutt Street location.

Fortis makes Adelaide debut with Otello as One Four Four Hutt records strong early sales

Residential Investment

<html><body><div class="tg-tlc-storybody_intro">
Will and Karlie were the winners of this year's The Block in Port Melbourne, with their ground floor garden apartment snapped up by an investor.
However, despite finishing in last place, the penthouse apartment of Kim and Chris ranks as the best for depreciation, according to experts.
Their analysis shows the New South Wales couple's apartment showing a first year deducation of around $87,470 and a total deduction of about $2,448,042.
This money can only be claimed because the buyers of the apartment were investors. They paid $2,305,000 at the auction on Sunday night.
The apartment of the team that finished second last, Geelong best mates Andy and Ben, offered the second highest level of depreciation, with a total of $2,401,413 claimable.
Buyers qualify for deductions upwards of about $80,000 in the first year, totalling more than $2 million after 11-plus years of ownership, according to numbers crunched by BMT Quantity Surveyors.
<table style="height: 233px; width: 511px;" border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>Contestants </td>
<td>First year</td>
<td>Total</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">
Kim and Chris
</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$87,470</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$2,448,042</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">
Ben and Andy
</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$85,718</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$2,401,413</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Julia and Sasha</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$81,004</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$2,230,438</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Dan and Carleen</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$79,649</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$2,187,954</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: left;">Will and Karlie</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$77,324</td>
<td style="text-align: left;">$2,124,227</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
No doubt the additional cash flow property investors receive from depreciation will assist them when crunching their numbers to make purchase decisions.
BMT said some property investors did not realise the significant deductions they could claim.
“Research suggests that 80 percent of property investors fail to take full advantage of property depreciation."
To learn more about depreciation, download our handy guide from Washington Brown <a href="http://propertyobserver.com.au/forward-planning/tools/ebooks-and-webinars/59939-four-property-depreciation-myths-that-investors-need-to-know-washington-brown" target="_blank">here</a>.
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Which apartment in The Block was best for investors with depreciation?

<html><body>
Hotspotting’s Dirty Dozen – the 12 worst places to invest in Australia – has for a long time been dominated by markets closely linked to the resources sector. 
The latest batch – included in the new edition of The Price Predictor Index – has a different flavour. Half of the locations are suburban markets, with considerably less dominance by the mining-related centres.
There are two reasons: oversupply has coincided with a decline in sales to turn many city apartment markets no go zones – and there are glimmers of recovery in some of those down-trodden resources locations.
One of the most remarkable emerging news stories right now is the speed of the turnaround in perception, confidence and activity in the resources sector. After 2-3 years of “the resources boom is over” articles, suddenly the news is dominated by rising commodity prices and announcements of new mining ventures or the revival of projects previously mothballed. 
This is particularly true in Queensland, where the spectacular rise in the price for coal has changed the mentality of the industry and perceptions about the state economy.
Personally, I wish they’d leave coal in the ground and find better, cleaner ways to make steel or fire up power stations. 
But for anyone who owns real estate in places like Mackay, Emerald, Moranbah or Rockhampton in Queensland, as well as the towns of the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, this is seriously good news. There is now genuine hope of vacancy rates coming down and rents and prices rising again.
Consider this from The Courier-Mail on 17 October: “A third Queensland coal mine has announced its ­intention to restart production as demand out of China has pushed the spot price above $US220 a tonne. Cockatoo Coal has emerged from administration with a plan to restart the Baralaba mine early next year. It follows Glencore’s decision to restart production at the Collinsville mine, while Stanmore Coal has taken over the Isaac Plains mine from Vale and Sumitomo and has now settled contracts for November delivery of its semisoft coking coal at $US130 a tonne, which is 75 percent higher than September’s price.”
And this from The Herald in Newcastle on 14 October: “The Hunter coal industry is back on an optimistic footing after big rises in prices both for coking coal for steelmaking and the region’s main product, thermal coal for power stations. In round figures, thermal coal prices are up by about 70 percent on lows earlier this year, while coking coal, which makes up about 15 percent of Hunter output, has effectively doubled. The price increases have led analysts to re-rate most Hunter mines as profitable, whereas a year ago it was widely accepted that two out of three mines were losing money.”
Or this from the Financial Review on 12 October: “The mining industry has reached an agreement with Japanese steel makers that prices for most Australian coking coal will jump 117 percent in just three months, an increase that means that the benefit of rising prices could be felt across the economy. The agreement means most Australian coking coal will be sold for $US200 per tonne over the next three months, compared with $US81 per tonne in the March quarter. The boom in coal prices could add 2 percent to national income this year, boost Federal Budget revenues by close to $7 billion and start wages growing again. Less than a year after the coal industry was accused of being in terminal decline, shuttered mines across Queensland and NSW have been reopened.”
Business Insider reported on 17 October: “With just over two months to go, it appears that 2016 could well be an important turning point for Australia’s mining sector. Commodity prices have recovered, the downturn in capital investment appears to be nearing its end and there are even some signs of a pickup in non-mining infrastructure investment, which is helping to boost sentiment after years of depressing, capital-destroying developments. For an economy that’s still highly-dependent on the mining sector, it’s been welcome news.”
What a startling difference in the rhetoric is so short a space of time.
There are all kinds of implications for economies and government budgets, but also for real estate in affected areas.
For those long-suffering investors who have been agonising over whether to cut their loses and get out of badly-performing properties in places like Gladstone in Queensland and Newman in Western Australia, there is now some hope that hanging on will deliver, in time, a reasonable outcome.
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Half of Hotspotting's Dirty Dozen now in suburban markets

<html><body>
<div id="post-body-8296077642061233663" class="post-body entry-content">
<div>Strewth, you know things haven't been hunky dory for housing markets in your region when the central bank starts profiling financial stability risks in its bi-annual Review. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Housing loan arrears continue to deteriorate in the mining regions of Western Australia and Queensland.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>I have actually heard much about this already from various sources - in some small mining towns the situation is beyond chronic - but now it's starting to feed through to the official data.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Interestingly, nationally applications for property possession are still declining as a share of the total dwelling stock. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>But clearly this is not the case in mining hotspots. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>High vacancy rates, falling rents, and falling prices are hammering property investors in mining regions, reported the Reserve  Bank of Australia (RBA).</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Illiquidity</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Banks have reported that in some regions even with big price discounts properties can't be sold.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The only minor consolation or "cushion" for households in aggregate is that in some of the worst-affected regions mining companies own a high proportion of the dwelling stock, so personal administrations, while rising in mining regions, nationally remain close to 15-year lows.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Though I doubt this feels like much of a consolation if you're the one stuck with an illiquid and depreciating asset.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The RBA profiled the Pilbara and the Kimberley region in coastal Western Australia. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>And in Queensland, the RBA took a shufti at Townsville, Mackay, the Bowen Basin, Central Highlands. 
</div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/18/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-18%20at%201.48.45%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/18/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-18%20at%201.48.45%20PM.png" alt=""></div>
<div class="separator">Crikey.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>. 
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer"> </div>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Mining crunch stress and house prices

<html><body>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2016/10/14/image001-4.png" alt="">
Depreciation is basically a tax deduction available to property investors across Australia.
Depreciation allows you to claim a tax deduction for the wear and tear on an investment property over time.
This tax deduction recognises the fact that the building itself, as well as its plant and equipment will become worn out over time and eventually need to be replaced.
It doesn’t matter that these items were paid for by someone else – the developer or prior owner – as you, the current owner, can claim deductions as they continue to depreciate in value.
To learn more about depreciation, download our handy guide.
{rsform 75}
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Four property depreciation myths that investors need to know: Washington Brown 

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
I imagine if you are taking the time to read what I have to share with you, that you want more from life. To have more in our modern first world economy, it really helps to have money.
People who have more money, tend to focus on a few key factors towards generating wealth. They know that making money is not a sometime thing – it’s an every day journey that can take many years. There are few shortcuts, even for those who are lucky enough to win the lottery. Studies show that many of the winners have little or nothing to show after five years of winning their money. That is because they never learned about money and on which key factors tofocus upon.
There is no time limit on these factors – you can share them with school aged children or commence after you have retired from a lifetime of work. They will work just as well. They will however only work as well as you work them.
You are likely to have heard seen or even tried some or all of them before and may be tempted to dismiss the power of these factors when combined in to a single-minded focus point. They could be a timely reminder for you. And something else for you to consider – thesearen’t my points – they are distilled from lessons taken from some of the richest and most successful people on the planet.
So here they are.
1.     Set goals and visualize achieving them
If you want to make more money, you have to have a clear goal and then a specific plan for how to achieve that goal. Money won’t just appear – you have to work at it. If you have never set a goal before, Google “goalsetting” and find out how to do it.
Rich people choose to commit to attaining wealth. It takes focus, courage, knowledge, and a lot of effort. The main reason most people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want. Rich people are totally clear that they want wealth.
2.     Invest in yourself
Probably the safest and best investment you can make is in your own future. Read at least 30 minutes a day, listen to relevant podcasts while driving and seek out mentors vigorously. You don’t need to be a master in your field, just well-rounded and knowledgeable – able to talk about any relevant subject whether it is financial or otherwise. Consume knowledge like air and put your pursuit of learning above all else. It is said that Warren Buffet spends 80% of his day reading – there’s a clue.
3.     Increase your income
Since it is incredibly difficult to save your way to being a millionaire, the logical thing to do is increase what you are earning now so that you have extra money to put aside. Studies have shown that the wealthyhave multiple streams of income – the most effective is usually three. This could be your day job, a part-time business, a business in which you have full or part-ownership, cash at bank earning interest, share dividends, real estate rental or capital profits from investments.
4.     Save to invest
The only reason to save money is to invest it. Your saved money needs to go into secured, sacred (untouchable) accounts. Never use theseaccounts for anything, not even an emergency. This will force you tocontinue to follow step three (increase income). When you have enough to make an investment, do so and then work to refill that investment account.
The key to consistently setting aside money is to make it automatic. You can start by having your bank account automatically shift a percentage of your income in to a separate untouchable savings account. That way, you’ll never even see the money you’re contributing and you’ll learn to live without it.
5.     Delay gratification
It is vitally important to control your expenditure while you are building your wealth. You might want to spend $20,000 on a holiday or $100,000 on a new car, maybe even a $5,000 suit or $2,000 pair of sunglasses or shoes. And these are all good things to have and do. But not before you have made it and have the kind of wealth and income that make the purchase of these things readily possible. The people who don’t succeed financially are those who have to have it all now. Imagine what you could do with the cash you would spend on thesethings – you could invest in a property or shares that might double in value in 5-10 years and throw off enough income to pay for the luxury things you want. And you would still have the asset.
Warren Buffet lives in the same home he always had and drives a modest ute that he loves. He invested his savings in to solid assets for the long term. Sometimes I wonder why he doesn’t spend some of his wealth on the fun things in life, but I guess he must have made theseconscious choices.
6.     Surround yourself with successful people
There is a long held school of thought that you become like those you associate with and tend to have a similar income to the average of that group of people. So if you want to increase your wealth and income, find others who are already doing that.
Andrew Carnegie has described this principle as the “Mastermind Group.” The idea is to surround yourself with talented people who share your vision, because the alignment of several smart and creative minds is exponentially more powerful than just one.
7.     Aim higher
I wrote my first book – “It’s Easy to Be a Property Millionaire” in 2001, when a millionaire really meant that you had sufficient wealth togenerate a high quality of living and you could choose to work or live your days out in pursuit of things you loves to do and people you wanted to be with. These days that same sum, while not insignificant, just won’t cut it any more. I think you need to aim for $2M or more – since $2M net worth – outside your family home, could reasonably provide you an income of about $100k per year, which is sufficient toprovide a reasonable standard of living.
Of course I encourage you to aim much higher, if that is your choice – it’s up to you.
What you do with these focus points is of course up to you.
But now that I have put them in front of you (again?) what will you do?
Craig Turnbull is an author, property developer and real estate investor. He can be contacted <a href="https://www.craigturnbull.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Want to be wealthy? Focus on these 7 things

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BrickX's monthly rental distributions for September have been deposited into brick holders' wallets based on 30 September ownership. 
All rental distributions paid were in line with forecasts.
"This marks an exciting time for BRICKX Investors, as this is the first distribution paid since our big launch, when we made the platform available for all Australians," Anthony Millet, the BrickX chief said.
Details on each property and the distributions can be seen below
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Annandale (ANN01)
Distribution: $1,200 or $0.12 per Brick
Brick Price: $100.00*
Investors: 456*
<a href="https://brickx.us8.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=c85d85c62b9a47be6dc88e065&amp;id=07145ba6ea&amp;e=be9a375222">Invest in ANN01</a>
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Mosman (MOS01)
Distribution: $3,200 or $0.32 per Brick
Brick Price: $141.00*
Investors: 286*
<a href="https://brickx.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c85d85c62b9a47be6dc88e065&amp;id=eee5c7d675&amp;e=be9a375222">Invest in MOS01</a>
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Prahran (PAR01)
Distribution: $2,400 or $0.24 per Brick
Brick Price: $120.00*
Investors: 145*
<a href="https://brickx.us8.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=c85d85c62b9a47be6dc88e065&amp;id=c16ba22a57&amp;e=be9a375222">Invest in PAR01</a>
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Enmore (ENM01)
Distribution: $1,700 or $0.17 per Brick
Brick Price: $68.00*
Investors: 578*
<a href="https://brickx.us8.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=c85d85c62b9a47be6dc88e065&amp;id=1c3c3d9b18&amp;e=be9a375222">Invest in ENM01</a>
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Anthony Millet, the BrickX chief executive, said they were working towards having 100 properties. 
A waiting list has been commenced for potential investors in the Double Bay investment trust.
*Brick Prices and Investors as at October 5, 2016.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

BRICKX pays monthly rental distributions to property investors

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The need to “dig deep” isn’t just something footy players seek to do in the final quarter of a game – it’s an important mindset for property investors.
Among the many problems on the property playing field is the constant reporting of generalised data. A single figure can describe the entire market in a city of millions.
Unless consumers are willing to delve a little deeper, they will miss the myriad different stories lurking beneath the veneer of that single growth figure.
Some of those stories are strong growth scenarios that investors might want to know about. Equally there are danger signals alerting the switched-on practitioner to traps they should avoid.
There are dozens of examples in the latest quarterly edition of Market Monitor published by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, with a particular focus on Brisbane and the Gold Coast, two places that are attracting plenty of attention from investors nationwide.
The annual growth in the median house price for the Brisbane City LGA is a moderate 5 percent. I’ve heard talking head TV personalities quote numbers like that and tell people that not much is happening in that market and investors should look elsewhere.
The dig-deeper philosophy would alert the more alert to places that are doing significantly better than the average. Brisbane City is a very big municipality, way bigger than equivalent LGAs in Sydney and Melbourne, and covers a large chunk of metropolitan Brisbane. 
There are around 130 suburbs in the Brisbane City LGA and that 5 percent annual growth figure does a thoroughly inadequate job of describing the state of play in its various markets.
Within that sprawling municipality Banyo, Carina Heights, Robertson, Wilston, Yeerongpilly and Seven Hills all have something in common – they’ve recorded growth above 15 percent in their median house prices in 12 months (although the 23-25 percent growth for Robertson and Yeerongpilly may be misleading because of small sales samples). 
Others with double-digit annual growth include Bulimba, Calamvale, Carindale, Clayfield, Coorparoo, Everton Park, Graceville, Greenslopes, Grange, Hemmant, Highgate Hill, Holland Park West, Inala, Jindalee, Lutwyche, Macgregor, Mackenzie, Manly, Mansfield, New Farm, Norman Park, Sunnybank Hills, Wishart and Wooloowin. 
They cover widespread price ranges, from Inala (median $350,000) to New Farm ($1.5 million).
There are numerous positive growth stories there that investors might want to know about - but are unlikely to discover if their idea of research is skimming the daily newspaper. 
There are some well-hidden negative news items as well. Some of the leadership in the REIQ are in denial about Brisbane’s inner-city apartment over-supply. If you read the executive summary, this is what you would find: “The unit market in the Brisbane CBD has continued to face the question of oversupply and so far the data does not support that verdict.”
But the small print data in the report portrays a quite different picture.
The vacancy rate for inner-city apartments is close to 4 percent (and figures from other sources suggest it is considerably higher). It will rise when new high-rise projects are completed.
While Brisbane City’s median house price is up 5 percent in annual terms, there is no change is the median unit price. And several individual inner-city markets have recorded a decline in the past year, including the CBD (down 1.5 percent), East Brisbane (down 4.1 percent), Bowen Hills (down 7.8 percent), New Farm (down 3.8 percent), West End (down 1.6 percent) and Fortitude Valley (down 5.9 percent).
Median prices can be unreliable and misleading, especially for unit markets, but there’s a fairly distinct pattern there.
An analysis of the Brisbane unit market by Urbis indicates that sales levels have fallen for three consecutive quarters and sale prices have been “steadily decreasing” since the end of last year.
Few of these inner-city apartment markets have recorded any rental growth in the past 12 months and several have delivered falling rents. In the Brisbane CBD the median unit rent has dropped from $600 per week to $570, while New Farm/Teneriffe is down from $510 to $500 and Kangaroo Point has dropped from $495 to $475.
The median rents for the Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane precincts are unchanged.
There are similarly divergent stories to be discovered within the many different markets collectively known as the Gold Coast.
Market Monitor says the median house price is up 6.7 percent in 12 months, but there are plenty of suburbs with growth above 10%. A small number – including Broadbeach Waters, Hope Island and Reedy Creek – are credited with growth in the 16-20 percent range, while the most expensive housing market on the Gold Coast, Mermaid Beach, has allegedly increased 30 percent in 12 months.
The single generalised figure for the Gold Coast apartment market portrays a 3.3 percent rise in the median price, but numerous individual markets have done much better. Hope Island median unit price is apparently up 20 percent in 12 months.
But the big beachside high-rise precincts continue to struggle. Surfers Paradise has recorded a small annual rise in its median price, but it remains 4% lower than five years ago. The Mermaid Beach median unit price is down 1.4 percent in 12 months and 4.1 percent lower than five years ago. Broadbeach is up marginally in 12 months but 13 percent lower than in 2011.
Against that trend, both Main Beach and Southport have recorded meaningful annual rises in their median unit prices and are a little ahead of the price levels of five years ago.
The contrasting situations seen in different sub-markets entail an important lesson for property investors. Ignore the shallow one-figure-for-each-city nonsense published by mainstream media and dig deeper to find the information you need to know to buy wisely and safely.
 
Terry Ryder is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/" target="_blank">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting" target="_blank">Twitter.</a>
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Queensland's big beachside high-rise precincts continue to struggle

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The majority of Australian property investors think now is a good time to invest in property with 70- percent of respondents to the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) Property Investor Sentiment Survey thinking so.
This figure is up five percentage points from last year.
Some 32 percent of respondents to the survey say that recent changes to lenders’ investment policies have affected their ability to secure finance, 58 percent are nonetheless looking to buy a property in next 6-12 months. 72 percent  of investors are not worried about the potential removal of negative gearing and only 2 percent think that the currently available negative gearing concessions are the key attraction of real estate investment.
Almost half (47 percent) of those surveyed  are positively geared and a majority (63 percent) of investors who are currently negatively geared expect they will become positively geared within five years.
Ben Kingsley, PIPA chair said that the survey results confirm that property investors remain focused on the long-term benefits of property investment.
“Similar to last year, most property investors are looking past short term challenges, remaining focused on the long-term wealth benefits that are available from residential real estate, including the potential for capital growth and rental income. Importantly, most investors are not speculating on quick gains in a low interest rate environment," he said.
“The survey also affirms that a lot of the discussion about negative gearing misses the mark. Most investors understand that negative gearing is only a short term cash flow position, not a property investment strategy. And only a very small minority are attracted to real estate for these tax concessions."Brisbane remains a preferred destination
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PIPA’s 2016 Property Investor Sentiment Survey - Key stats at a glance 
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  1004 survey respondents 
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  71% of investors believe now is a good time to invest in property 
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  58% of investors are looking to purchase in the next 6-12 months 
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  72% of investors are not worried about possible changes to negative gearing 
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  32% of investors say changes to lenders’ policies have impacted them 
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  65% of property investors secured finance for their last deal via a mortgage broker
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  89% of investors believe people who recommend property investment should be regulated and licensed 
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Property investor confidence remains strong: PIPA national survey

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GUET OBSERVER
Did you know that there is an official ‘countdown to Christmas’ web site?
When I visited <a href="https://emailsanta.com/clock.asp" target="_blank">https://emailsanta.com/clock.asp</a>, there were 104 days to go.
Real estate agents can easily fall into a trap as Christmas approaches.
Every year, hordes of agents go around bemoaning the fact that things go awfully quiet in the property market through the festive season.
Bollocks!
That line of thinking is out-of-date, and not indicative of buyer and seller activity in this day and age.
Often this is the period when buyers and sellers have more time, are making changes and resettling, and have more need for an agent.
It is more commonly agents in non-holiday destinations that perpetuate the perception, who predict and plan for a drop off in market activity over the Christmas-New year period. Holiday spots are not so affected.
And what happens when you don’t keep talking with the buyers and sellers, when you ease off on your prospecting and stop generating listings, and when you pull back on the advertising of your listings and stop maintaining your profile?
When you don’t keep up all this agent activity, your business activity is likely to slow… because it is a self-fulfilling prophesy!
Don’t lose three months income because of a two-week ‘wind down’.
Don’t wind down too early – and take two months to get back to speed in the New Year!
Michael Davoren is managing director, RE/MAX Australia and RE/MAX New Zealand, and can be contacted <a href="https://www.remax.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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The great Xmas real estate misconception: Michael Davoren

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SPONSORED POST
Australians have always had an affinity with property ownership and investment, and when you look at the statistics, it’s not hard to see why.
<a href="/images/2016/09/14/10yearreal%201%201.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/09/14/10yearreal%201%201.png" alt="">
These statistics support the common marketing thread we see in the media around the positives of property investment.  But as an existing property investor the real challenge lies in diversification. 
Diversification in property has traditionally been quite challenging. This isn’t simply due to the outlay of capital needed per purchase, it takes time, the need for investigation, viewings, auctions and then post purchase, there’s the upkeep, maintenance and management of the asset to factor in.
Obviously you can avoid most of this with a REIT or other managed fund structure but with those options you tend to sacrifice transparency and control.
Suffice to say property investment can be frustrating to say the very least. How much easier would it be to have access to an online platform that listed a variety of properties, across different states that you could easily flick through and buy a share in when it suited you?
And it wouldn’t stop there, once purchased your shares would offer monthly returns from any net rental income and regular valuations that would allow you to monitor your capital returns performance.
Undoubtedly, access and transparency would make property investment diversification far easier for both sophisticated and first time investors. And the good news is there is now a solution that offers both of these, it’s called BRICKX.
<a href="https://www.brickx.com/how-it-works?utm_source=propertyobserver&amp;utm_medium=paid&amp;utm_term=brickxoffers&amp;utm_content=article&amp;utm_campaign=launch" target="_blank">BRICKX offers</a> every Australian access to residential property for under $100. As a BRICKX investor you can benefit from monthly rental income and/or capital returns of your investment properties without being concerned with the hassle of leasing and managing them.
Investors also have access to regular valuation updates and to each property’s historical and suburb data, and investment cases.
Learn more about BRICKX at <a href="https://www.brickx.com/how-it-works?utm_source=propertyobserver&amp;utm_medium=paid&amp;utm_term=learnmore&amp;utm_content=article&amp;utm_campaign=launch" target="_blank">www.brickx.com</a>.
BRICKX products are issued by Theta Asset Management Limited (AFSL 230920). You should read the product disclosure statement at <a href="https://www.brickx.com/how-it-works?utm_source=propertyobserver&amp;utm_medium=paid&amp;utm_term=disclaimer&amp;utm_content=article&amp;utm_campaign=launch" target="_blank">www.brickx.com</a> and consider whether BRICKX is right for you.  
 
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