Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

Joel Robinson

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-2" dir="auto">
<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-2" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:5a5ab36c-8dd3-454c-b456-c501f22f0eb4-0" dir="auto">
The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
</section>
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Local Little Bay residents, along with buyers from premium postcodes across Sydney’s affluent Eastern Suburbs, have dominated purchases in developer-builder Urban Property Group’s first Eastern Suburbs apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a>.

The $250 million coastal project, one of the first new developments in the area in several years, has proven particularly popular with downsizers, especially those from Coogee and Bondi. One Double Bay downsizer paid $4.7 million for a four-bedroom penthouse, setting a new local apartment price record in the process.

Buyers have been attracted to the combination of coastal tranquillity, premium design and amenity-rich neighbourhood living. The walkable village setting, along with proximity to three of Sydney’s leading golf courses, New South Wales Golf Club, St Michael’s Golf Club and The Coast Golf Club, has also been a key drawcard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352689]

Built across two low-rise buildings designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hill-thalis-architecture-urban-projects-pty-ltd">Hill Thalis</a> and set along a lush, landscaped green spine, designed by leading landscape architect <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, ESTE Little Bay offers a collection of one, two, three and four-bedroom residences with interiors by Richards Stanisich.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> Sales Director, Tom McIvor said the response to ESTE has been "nothing short of extraordinary."

“Buyers have been quick to recognise ESTE as a rare opportunity to invest in a coastal sanctuary that offers both seclusion and connectivity to the heart of Sydney,” McIvor said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352687]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">SRM Residential</a> Senior Director, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/srm-residential">Clayton Ross</a> said the local market has responded incredibly well, driven by ESTE’s exceptional location and the rarity it offers.

“We’ve seen strong interest from a variety of buyer groups, all of whom are drawn to the exclusivity and quality of the build and construction by the 4.5-star iCIRT-rated builder / developer, Urban Property Group. There’s truly nothing else like it along Sydney’s coastline.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112343 project_image_fid=352690]

The project also includes robust buyer protections, including Resilience Insurance’s Latent Defects Insurance, providing 10 years of structural cover, and an independent iCIRT-rating of the developer.

“The iCIRT-rating adds another layer of confidence,” Ross added. “Buyers see it as a safeguard for their investment and their lifestyle.” A highlight of ESTE’s offering is its exclusive wellness amenities, including a heated rooftop infinity pool and outdoor heated spa, a state-of-the-art Technogym fitness centre, and a sauna.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/este-little-bay-jennifer-street-little-bay-nsw-2036">ESTE Little Bay</a> is topped out and is on track to complete towards the end of 2026, with residents moving in before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112343]

Eastern Suburbs buyers snap up ESTE Little Bay apartments

Residential Market

<html><body>
Apartments in inner-city Brisbane continue to attract significant investor interest.
Local buyer interest in the south-east Queensland property market remains strong, according to Raine &amp; Horne.
The latest data from realestate.com.au shows the median apartment price in the Brisbane LGA was $495,000, as steady growth continues throughout the southeast corner of the state.
“It’s long been talked about that the stream of apartments coming into the Brisbane market would result in a situation of oversupply, but from what we’re seeing, this isn’t the case,” said Steve Worrad, general manager, Raine &amp; Horne Queensland.
“In fact, the smart money from both local buyers and interstate investors is snapping up quality apartments within a few kilometres of the Brisbane CBD.”
The Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) reports that Brisbane has a current apartment rental vacancy rate of around 3.3 percent, citing continuing strong interest from investors and owner-occupiers for new apartments.
The agency has an apartment at 8125/191 Constance Street, Bowen Hills (artist's impression) up for resale off the plan for <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-bowen+hills-121292350">December 15 auction</a>.
8125/191 Constance Street is located in the architecturally-designed, The Tower on the Green, listed through agent Robyn Thomas of Raine &amp; Horne Ascot who says the apartment will be ready for occupation in January 2016.
 
 
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Brisbane apartments still a hot prospect, says Raine & Horne

<html><body>
Johnson Property Group has received approval to develop a tourist precinct within its $388 million masterplanned marina community, Trinity Point overlooking Barden’s Bay in Lake Macquarie.
The NSW Planning Assessment Commission has approved the group's plan to modify its earlier approved Masterplan Concept to incorporate a 5-Star hotel/commercial precinct and an apartment precinct which includes short stay and residential apartments.
“This will be a key economic driver for the local community and a major new tourist destination for New South Wales,” said Keith Johnson, CEO of Johnson Property Group.
The hotel precinct is proposed to comprise a 5-star hotel, a resort-style pool, spa and gym facilities, a 200-seat restaurant and a cafe. 
The apartment precinct is expected to comprise 250 apartments comprising of a mix of residential and short stay units, with car parking.
The company received development application approval to build the first 94 berths of a proposed 188-berth marina as part of the masterplanned community earlier, to be called Trinity Point Marina.
Trinity Point spans 23 hectares and is located in Lake Macquarie, an hour and a half from Sydney. 
Former Miss Universe, model and entrepreneur, Jennifer Hawkins is a brand ambassador of Trinity Point, being a local girl from Holmesville near Newcastle. 
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke joins model Jen Hawkins in becoming an ambassador for Johnson Property Group as he announced this week he had bought into the new development Trinity Point.
<img src="/images/2015/11/23/clarke.jpg" alt="" width="567" height="344">
Caption: Johnson Property Group Managing Director, Keith Johnson and former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke
He bought a three storey, four bedroom terrace off the plan. It cost $1,388,888.
"Trinity Point is going to become an absolute Sydney weekend hotspot – another Palm Beach or daytrip destination but with more of a marina-lifestyle resort focus,” he said.
“We are absolutely delighted to be the first buyers to secure a stunning lakeside home at Trinity Point and are already planning our family holidays and weekend trips away staying in our beautiful three storey terrace house with views out over Lake Macquarie.” 
The launch of land sales at Trinity Point which will take place on November 29 on site.
The first release will comprise a total of 32 land lots, priced from $398,888 ranging in size from 450 square metres to 660 square metres.
To register for interest in land or apartment sales at Trinity Point, register <a href="https://trinitypoint.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.
Once completed, Trinity Point will include 189 residential land lots, 250 residential and short stay apartments and a five star, 65 room Pullman resort.
</body></html>

Johnson Property's Trinity Point gets NSW govt nod to modify Lake Macquarie tourist and residential precinct

<html><body>
A modest late 1950s Harry Seidler-designed home has hit the market on Sydney’s upper north shore at Wahroonga.
The home was designed for the then journalist, turned spiritualist Barry Long and his wife Betty when the couple, with two children, were in their early 30s.
Long, was the last editor of the Truth and became the first editor of the Sunday Mirror during Ezra Norton’s ownership, and was later press secretary to the leader of the opposition, Robert Askin.
But Barry Long quit Sydney on his spiritual journey, selling the house in 1965 after telling his wife at the breakfast table one Sunday morning he was off to India.
<img src="https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/6e48363b54cdda593edbecf254f3f19c?width=650" width="650" height="488">
Pictured above Barry Long with his daughter Annette and mother Kathleen.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-wahroonga-121336382" target="_blank">Alex Mintorn and Dominic Maxwell of McGrath Pymble</a> have suggested the fourth owner will need to pay $1.45 million plus to secure the home at its December 12 auction.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-level house on a 898 sqm block comes with a striking original internal feature, the sandstone fireplace.
Agent Alex Mintorn described it has having a “magic feel, especially in the evening”.
The sandstone fireplace lends a “magic feel, especially in the evening”.
The cellar and jacuzzi at the now modernised home were introduced since the property last traded at $719,000 in 2005.
There are plans drawn to extend the Morris Avenue home by Harry Seidler &amp; Associates office veteran Greg Holman. Seidler was considered to be one of the leading exponents of modernism’s methodology in Australia before he died in 2006.
He designed more than 180 buildings, including Blues Point Tower in 1961, courting controversy throughout his long career as he regularly challenged planning authorities and the planning system in Sydney.
The property is on a 898 sqm block.
At Warrawee a recent offering, known as the 1957 Exley house which was being offered by the family of its original owners, sold before auction having been listed at around $2 million.
There was a 1995 Balmain waterfront sale for $5.75 million midyear.
A modernist, Harry Seidler-designed property in Dover Heights was sold in June. The Kalowski House fetched $3.46 million with Seidler’s design including pioneering floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors along the full width of the northern facade in the 1958 designed home.
However, Thurlow House at Blakehurst struggles to find a buyer.
It has been described as a Mad Men style home, being virtually unchanged since its 1952 construction.
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

1950s Harry Seidler-designed Wahroonga home hits the market

<html><body>
Property Bloom has been developing property in New South Wales Hunter Region for almost fifteen years now and it still amazes me the sheer potential this region has to offer. 
As we near our one hundredth property development, I took some time to reflect on this magnificent region after some light bedtime reading I came across this week. I've shared some of these research links with you.
The Hunter Region has everything going for it; beautiful environment, awesome beaches, fabulous mountain ranges and bush settings, wineries, diverse economy, dynamic industry, vibrant restaurant scene, affordable housing and amazing people and community. It continues to reinvent itself and there is now great focus on making it an information technology and professional services centre. 
Did you know that the Hunter is the first Australian region to measure it's innovation performance on a world scale?  
Measurements included:
Introducing new or significantly improved methods and processes Introducing marketing or organisational innovations Innovative businesses collaborating with others  Businesses innovating in-house
You can check it out <a href="https://rdahunter.org.au/initiatives/2014-hunter-innovation-scorecard" target="_blank">here</a>.
This week the NSW Government released its new twenty year Draft Plan for Growing  the Hunter City and it confirms all that I hoped for and more.  Hunter City is defined as ..." the metropolitan area extending from Toronto and Swansea in the south to Raymond Terrace in the north and from Newcastle Harbour in the east to Lochinvar in the west. It has emerged from the expansion of Newcastle and its surrounding towns and has a rich history and strong growth prospects for the future." 
It has identified Newcastle or the Hunter City as they've coined the area, as Australia's next major city. Of course Newcastle is already a Australia's seventh largest city by population according to population experts 
When you are researching an area in which to invest in, then reading these types of government plans is key to getting a real feel for what is planned for the area. 
The draft plans released identify visions, goals and actions that will guide the strategic planning of the region over the next twenty  years.  They aim to:
<ul>
<li>protect the region’s most important asset, the environment</li>
<li>grow and diversify the economy to create local jobs</li>
<li>create thriving, liveable centres</li>
<li>deliver greater housing choice</li>
<li>in collaboration with councils, establish a committee to drive the coordination and delivery of the actions in the Plan. </li>
</ul>
The public have been invited to have a say in this direction and you can do that here: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/hunter
 Maybe Property Bloom will be celebrating our century of property development sooner than expected, based on what I read about the plans for Australia's next major city; Hunter City. 
 
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>. 
 
</body></html>

jochivers-wq5Bp59R5a

Where is Australia's next major city? Jo Chivers

<html><body>
<img src="/images/2015/11/24/Holdencapital_banner.jpg" alt="" width="408" height="86">
SPONSORED POST
Often property developers, particularly inexperienced or would be developers, will purchase a residential or rural property with view to redeveloping it into townhouses or apartment style developments or residential allotments.
With the current high demand for redevelopment sites, often the purchase price is inflated when compared to similar properties in the immediate surrounds which may not possess redevelopment potential. The developer can justify paying a higher price based on the project profit they can forecast to earn.
Despite the property being a residentially zoned, the trap that the inexperienced buyers fall into is in incorrectly believing that they can obtain residential property finance to purchase what is really a development site. 
Which raises the question of what are the requirements when seeking residential finance as opposed to site funding?
Residential property finance (Investment Loan or Home Loan), can be obtained if the site is purchased for a comparable price to neighboring residential properties, or the applicants have owned the property for a long time or the borrower can demonstrate an ability to service the proposed debt. 
The first hurdle our developer applicants face is a requirement to demonstrate their servicing capacity, however many developers do not have consistent cash flows and the rental income is rarely enough resulting in a servicing shortfall. 
The second stumbling black occurs when the property is valued for the lender and the question arises, is it a residential property or a development site for the purposes of the valuation?
The API regulates the valuation industry heavily and Professional Indemnity insurance is expensive. Claims by lenders can have a huge impact on the valuer’s business costs. So, when conducting a valuation on a residential property, the valuer typically searches for comparable sales in the area to support the purchase price. If the valuer cannot find comparable sales evidence they are unlikely to support pioneering values and will typically discount their valuation accordingly.
A development valuation involves the use of a feasibility analysis of the proposed project and considers the project and development viability in greater detail than a residential valuation based on comparable sales.
Do your own research on the market and provide the valuer with supporting sales evidence that you have collected, don’t rely on the valuer to do all the research or have access to the most recent sales.
When should I order a valuation: The best results occur when the valuer is engaged early, the main benefit of early engagement is that the process allows the developer to assess the valuation risk prior to the settlement occurring. If the valuation comes in short the whole project can fall over very quickly if more equity cannot be secured or settlement extensions cannot be granted. Speak to your broker about the most suitable valuer to engage.
 It is important to have all information ready and organized to send to the valuer upon engagement.
Recently a client contracted to purchase a residential property with development potential for $1.5m with a 12 month settlement period to allow the client sufficient time to achieve development approval with a neighboring development site. The client expected to finance 80% of the purchase price and obtain a loan for $1.2m.
A residential valuer was engaged and responded very quickly with a valuation of $1.2m, a $300,000 discount to the purchase price of $1.5m. The valuer correctly reasoned that the purchase price was outside of the normal range for this location. The valuer noted the redevelopment potential but without a detailed feasibility analysis or council development approval they could not accurately gauge the value of this development potential.
With HCAP involvement we managed to obtain loan for 100% of the valuation figure via a structured debt facility that layered the capital stack with 1st and 2nd mortgage funding by highlighting to the lender the redevelopment potential of the property that the valuer was unable to do. The client was able to settle the acquisition and now has time to obtain the relevant approvals before obtaining finance for stage 1 construction with a full development valuation.
If you are buying a development site, best to engage your valuer early and ensure that you speak to an experienced construction finance broker who can assist you to navigate through this process.
 
This article was written by Dan Holden of HoldenCAPITAL, who are a bespoke construction finance firm, they arrange construction finance and invest in projects through their equity fund, Queen Street INVEST. To discuss your project finance requirement please call (07) 3171 4200 or visit HoldenCAPITAL <a href="https://www.holdencapital.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

firstname-zEygzUaHDN

Some home truths about borrowing against future development sites: HoldenCAPITAL

<html><body>
<img src="/images/2015/11/26/NEW_RAMS_LOGO.jpg" alt="">
Buying a property alone can be more difficult than buying with someone else but with careful preparation it’s certainly doable. 
You’ll feel a great sense of pride if you do buy a place by yourself. It’s a great achievement, and one that many first home buyers accomplish every year.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
<ul>
<li>Work out your budget – Remember the costs of buying such as legal fees, stamp duty and removalist charges when you’re saving for your deposit. Don’t forget strata fees, council rates, utility bills, insurance, and repair costs when working out how much you can afford in mortgage repayments.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Get pre-approval – Before you start seriously looking, get pre-approval on a home loan to confirm the amount you can borrow. This might also improve your bargaining position when you come to make an offer. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Plan for the unexpected – What would happen if you lost your job, fell ill and couldn’t work, or if property prices dropped? Consider income protection insurance as may pay a proportion of your wage if you can’t work due to illness or accident. Get home and contents insurance to cover against property damage or theft.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Be realistic – Saving for a deposit may take longer solo and you may not be able to afford as big a mortgage as if you had someone else to help out. Be prepared to make some compromises to buy what you can afford. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Ask for second opinions – enlist friends and relatives to look at properties you’re considering and tell you what they think. They may see shortcomings or benefits you’ve overlooked. Choose people you trust to give fair and constructive opinions.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Seek advice – mortgage brokers, solicitors, financial planners and building inspectors can provide useful input to your decisions. Also, talk to others who have bought property alone about their experiences. </li>
</ul>
Quick tip: Have confidence. Plenty of people do buy property alone.
TO FIND OUT HOW RAMS CAN HELP EASE YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR LOCAL RAMS HOME LOAN EXPERT OR DROP IN FOR YOUR <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/297888911;125002156;k" target="_blank">FREE FIRST HOME BUYERS’ GUIDE</a>.
For more great property advice and tips on buying your first home from RAMS subscribe to <a href="https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/297885979;125002157;w" target="_blank">The Great Australian Dream property series</a>.
For your free Property Observer eBook from RAMS, 12 tips for first-time buyers, covering everything you need to know when it comes to purchasing property, click here.
Disclaimer: Information in this material is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you. You should also obtain independent professional advice relevant to your financial circumstances.
</body></html>

Tips for buying solo

<html><body>
Auctions for the Block are this weekend with buyer's advocate and judge, Nicole Jacobs describing buyer interest levels as fantastic.
Nicole Jacobs added that the interest is coming from a younger demographic that are working in the city, downsizers and families with children.
Investors are likely to be interested in Suzi and Bonni's apartment as she suggested to Domain that it has the highest tax depreciation of all the apartments however BMT officially advised it was Dean and Shay's apartment with the highest amount of depreciation deductions.
The priciest auction property is likely to be Dean and Shay's penthouse with Jacobs tipping definitely selling in the $2 million plus range.
Also potentially in the $2 million range is Luke and Ebony's apartment due to its popular open plan style.
The television series winners however will be determined by the amount above the as yet undisclosed reserve prices for each apartment, allowing the cheapest apartment to win the show prize. 
Caroline and Kingi's apartment has had "massive" interest, particularly for the internal finishes and could reach up to high $1 millions should there be extreme competition.
Wooden floors in the much maligned Andrew and Whitney's apartment should see their property hit $1.5 million as Nicole describes the couple as a dark horse.
Buyers' agent Nicole Jacobs attended all five auctions last year and bid on behalf of clients at three.
She said last year that she felt there wasn't the depth of buyers who wanted large apartments.
"I was going in to it worried that there were not five buyers at $2 million," she said.
"At that level, people are looking for a townhouse or a home"
The winner will be the highest price paid over the pre auction set reserve.
</body></html>

jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

How much will The Block Octagonal South Yarra apartments go for?

<html><body>
The Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison is canvassing tax reforms that will persuade retirees to downsize into smaller homes in a move to boost the housing supply for younger families.
The bold plan - revealed in The Australian - would need state government support as it would include a one-off exemption from stamp duty on the purchase of the smaller home.
It speculates as an extra incentive, profits from the sale of the family home would be excluded from the Age Pension assets test provided they are channelled into an ­approved retirement product such as life annuities and aged-care bonds.
The Treasurer's tax white paper team are expected to have the reform proposal included in the draft to be released next year.
Mr Morrison will begin discussing stamp duty exemptions at his next meeting with state and territory treasury ministers in December.
The ACT introduced a discounted stamp duty for pensioners downsizing in 2008, and the commonwealth hopes other states follow.
</body></html>

Downsizing stamp duty tax reform on Federal Treasurer's agenda 

<html><body>
SPONSORED POST
An Australian property developer’s latest residential tower is poised to become the centrepiece of one of Sydney’s next urban activation precincts. 
Fully-integrated property developer TOGA is set to unveil One Twenty Macquarie, a residential tower located on Herring Road; Macquarie Park’s thriving central-Boulevard under NSW Government’s Urban Activation Precinct program. 
Due to launch in 2016, One Twenty Macquarie is a23-storey residential tower designed by award-winning Surry Hills architects Turner and will comprise approximately 200 luxury residences, landscaped gardens, parking and a stylish retail café at its ground level.
Perhaps One Twenty Macquarie’s most impressive feature is its urban-backyard; a 460sqm landscaped resident’s garden boasting outdoor seating, a striking timber pergola, barbeque facilities, a reflection pond and break-out leisure spaces.
TOGA Chief Executive Fabrizio Perilli said the design of One Twenty Macquarie utilised the site’s prime location to offer buyers a sophisticated lifestyle at the heart of a convenient CBD precinct.  
“One Twenty Macquarie captures the changing face of Sydney – sleek apartment living with the convenience of shops, restaurants and transport on your doorstop,” Mr Perilli said.
“The strong demand for this postcode reflects Macquarie Park’s tremendous growth,” he said.     
Located at 120 Herring Road, the building is positioned 16 kilometres from Sydney CBD and 450 metres from Macquarie University, Macquarie Shopping Centre and Macquarie University railway station. 
“This is convenient, carefree living at its best,” Mr Perilli added.
Residences at One Twenty Macquarie will boast generous balconies capturing sweeping views to Sydney CBD and across the North Sydney, Chatswood and Homebush districts as well as views overlooking sprawling Lane Cove National Park.
Turner Associate Director Kevin Driver said One Twenty Macquarie was designed to unite city life with nature.
“One Twenty Macquarie sits as a pavilion in a parkland setting, offering high level amenity, coupled with a proximity to both a vibrant centre and lush, verdant nature,” Mr Driver said.
The building’s exterior design presents a tapered façade characterised by white linear ribbons and a distinctive angled ‘floating’ roof form.
Macquarie Park is the second largest business district in NSW, boasts the largest suburban shopping centre in NSW and is projected to be Australia’s fourth largest CBD by 2030. Pointing to Macquarie Park’s growth, TOGA has a significant portfolio of more than 800 apartments completed and under construction in the area.
One Twenty Macquarie’s market debut is highly anticipated following TOGA’s sold out (completed) 618-apartment development Macquarie Central and Macquarie Green; an 80 per cent sold 164-apartment development launched in October this year.  
Established in 1963, TOGA is a fully-integrated Australian owned and operated property developer and hotelier with a portfolio across Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
For over 50 years TOGA has successfully completed world-class developments across Australia and currently has four major projects under construction; Highpoint,a 448-apartment development in Hurstville, Macquarie Green, a 164-dwelling apartment and townhouse development in North Ryde, The Chatswood, a 156-apartment development in Sydney’s Lower North Shore and Harbourfront Balmain, a 121-apartment development on 150 metres of prestige waterfrontage.
Construction of One Twenty Macquarie is expected to complete in late-2018.
TOGA is now accepting registrations of interest for One Twenty Macquarie <a href="https://www.onetwentymacquarie.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

Toga leads the residential renaissance at Macquarie Park

<html><body>
Last week one of my project managers used an interesting story to illustrate a point about being patient when developing property.    
Rich is a country lad brought up on a farm in rural NZ… no it wasn’t a sheep station. Lucky for me, he decided to ‘cross the ditch’ and settle in Australia to make his fortune in developing property in the Hunter Region of NSW. He was working with one of my builders when I discovered his expertise. It was some time later that we ended up working together. 
The message from Rich’s story was simple – “Pushing too hard at the wrong time can cause problems rather than solutions.”   
The message came about whilst discussing how we could fast track lodgement of a particular Development Application.  As project managers I knew we were doing all we could.  I also knew that the other people involved; our builder and engineering consultants, were too.  We wanted to illustrate this to our client.  And then Rich sat down with a steaming cuppa in his hand and spun me a yarn.
I thought I’d share his tale because it made sense, even to a city gal like me.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I did...
Rich:  On the farm we never had a dog to move the cows into the milking shed. But our neighbours did and they were always in a hurry to get the milking done for the day. One day I asked Dad; “Why don’t we have a dog to chase the cows like our neighbours?” 
He responded by saying, “Son, when a dog chases cows, by the time they arrive at the milking shed, they’re all nervous and tense because that dog has been snapping at their heels, barking and generally causing them grief. Because of this, those cows never milk for long and as a consequence, they don’t produce much milk.”
Rich explained that what those stressed out cows did was to produce a lot of crap. The cow manure mounted up quickly and ended up covering the shed while they stood waiting to be milked.  
The neighbours with dogs always finished milking earlier than us, but spent more time cleaning up their milking shed at the end.  They produced very little milk. 
When it was all washed up and done, we always finished around the same time as the neighbours. Although our cows milked longer, we had less to clean up and we always produced a lot more milk. 
Relating this back to our property development situation, the bottom line was if we did things properly and not rush the procurement and planning stages of the process, the delivery and close out will move along smoothly and end up producing a better, more profitable ‘on time’ result. 
My take out of Rich’s yarn: There are times for snappy dogs, but use them sparingly and intelligently. 
Property Bloom understands the need for speed, as do our builders.  At the end of the day we all want to complete the project quickly.  But what we really want to ensure is a development that is well planned, delivered efficiently and on budget - and hopefully with very little crap to clean up at the end!
 
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
</body></html>

Residential Market

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Residential Market

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News