Buyers considering a residence at boutique Gordon townhouse development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/lume-gordon-43-47-dumaresq-street-gordon-nsw-2072">Lume</a>&nbsp;now have another reason to bring forward their decision.

For a limited time, purchasers of a residence at Lume will receive a BMW iX3 50 electric SUV, valued at more than $120,000, as part of their purchase. The offer is designed to add value for buyers while complementing the lifestyle envisioned for the architecturally designed Upper North Shore development.

Scott Timmins, Development Manager at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/winim">WINIM</a>, said the partnership was created to provide buyers with a compelling reason to act.

"In today's market, buyers need a compelling reason to act now, and the BMW partnership was designed to create that catalyst. We wanted to add genuine value for our future purchasers. Choosing the all-electric BMW iX3 50 also reflects the values behind LUME, forward-thinking design, innovation and a more sustainable way of living. It's a premium incentive that complements the lifestyle our buyers aspire to and rewards those who commit early."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374893]

Delivered by WINIM in partnership with Burtonwood Investment Partners, Lume comprises 14 architecturally designed two, three and four-bedroom townhomes created for families seeking the space of a freestanding house with the ease of modern, low-maintenance living.

The three-storey residences, designed by award-winning architecture practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, have been tailored for families and multi-generational living, featuring private internal lifts, flexible lower-level spaces, generous open-plan living and entertaining areas, media rooms, and landscaped outdoor spaces with custom outdoor kitchens.&nbsp;

Inside, engineered oak flooring, bespoke dining joinery with integrated wine fridges and backlit bars, sculptural porcelain bathrooms, Parisi freestanding baths and Astra Walker tapware create interiors that balance functionality with refined finishes.

Each townhome has been designed to combine generous internal spaces with sustainability initiatives such as EV charging infrastructure, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>'s landscaped communal areas, centred around a restored creek line and native planting, encourage residents to connect with nature and spend more time outdoors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=269527]

Rothelowman's Gary Tsui said the architecture was conceived to respond carefully to its Upper North Shore setting.

"Our vision was to create elegant, uplifting homes that draw on and positively contribute to the local character through meticulously considered design and an interaction with the surroundings."

The communal landscape has been designed as more than an open space between homes. Arcadia's Ben Newell and Kate Phillips said the adjoining reserve provided an opportunity to create a distinctive natural retreat for residents.

"Just as waterways carve their way through Ku-ring-gai's landscape, a raised boardwalk weaves through the reserve, connecting the homes to this tranquil oasis."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7354 project_image_fid=374892]

Located just 300 metres from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/gordon-nsw-2072">Gordon</a> Village and Gordon railway station, Lume offers convenient access to Sydney's CBD while placing residents close to some of the North Shore's leading schools, including Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College and Knox Grammar. Lane Cove National Park, Gordon Golf Club and a range of cafés and restaurants further reinforce the family-focused lifestyle on offer, with the BMW iX3 50 complementing everything from local trips around Gordon to weekend drives and city commutes.

Construction is underway with completion expected in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7354]

Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

Two apartments have sold for more than $10 million at EADE Byron Bay, setting some of the highest apartment prices ever achieved in the coastal town and underlining the growing appetite for luxury beachfront apartments in Australia's most popular coastal locations.

The $210 million project by Vitale Property Group has now secured more than $70 million in sales, led by residences that changed hands for $12.75 million and $11.75 million.

The record-breaking transactions reinforce the shift occurring in Byron Bay's premium property market, where affluent downsizers and lifestyle buyers are increasingly opting for high-end apartments over large beachfront homes.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eade-byron-bay-29-shirley-street-byron-bay-nsw-2481">EADE Byron Bay</a> occupies a rare 6,000 sqm absolute beachfront site on the corner of Shirley and Milton Streets overlooking Main Beach and The Wreck surf break, just 350 metres from Byron Bay's town centre.

The 25-residence development is the first beachfront apartment project approved in Byron Bay in more than a decade and is currently under construction, with completion expected in May 2027.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359521]

The project has attracted a mix of local Byron Shire residents downsizing from larger homes, alongside interstate buyers from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane seeking a permanent coastal lifestyle without compromising on space.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball</a> and with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/alexander-co">Alexander &amp; Co</a>, EADE comprises&nbsp;10 garden apartments ranging from 284 sqm to 622 sqm, nine with private pools, five full-floor apartments and 10 rooftop residences with private plunge pools, expansive outdoor entertaining areas and uninterrupted ocean views.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359527]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/vitale-property-group">Vitale Property Group</a> Managing Partner Chris Vitale said the project's combination of scale, location and limited future supply was driving buyer demand.

"There isn't another beachfront holding in Byron Bay of this size and position that could be developed again," Vitale said.

"Buyers are responding to the scarcity and the irreplaceability of a site of this calibre and to floorplans they can't find elsewhere in the market.

"We are seeing buyers place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of the location. The sales achieved to date demonstrate that discerning purchasers recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay.

"Many are coming from larger homes in the Byron region, or from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and are after the space, security and convenience, without the upkeep of a house."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145590 project_image_fid=359523]

The Byron Bay project follows Vitale Property Group's delivery of the Mondrian Hotel and Private Residences at Burleigh Heads, with EADE continuing the developer's focus on luxury coastal developments.

Residents will have access to a resort-style swimming pool, gymnasium, sauna, cold plunge pool, concierge services and dedicated workspaces, while the project is targeting an 8-Star Green Star rating.

EADE Byron Bay is being exclusively marketed by Projx Australia in conjunction with WHITEFOX Projects.

WHITEFOX National Projects Director Phillip Rand said demand had been driven predominantly by owner-occupiers.

"We are seeing buyers at EADE place significant value on quality, space, design, resort-style amenities and the rarity of this location," Rand says.

"The sales achieved to date demonstrate that purchasers at this level recognise the long-term significance of what is being created at EADE Byron Bay."

Residences at EADE Byron Bay are currently priced between $4.75 million and $15.95 million.

&nbsp;

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145590]

Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.

But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.

As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.

For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.

If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.

That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.

It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.

As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.

Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.

<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/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.

The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.

For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.

For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.

A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.

The apartment feature many buyers don't think about, until their first missed delivery

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hg-developments">HG Developments</a> is doubling down on Maud Street in Newstead, filing plans for a new apartment tower just a few doors down from its under-construction Aire Newstead development.

Recently submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for an 18-storey building designed by bureau^proberts, which has drawn heavily on Brisbane's subtropical design principles while referencing the suburb's industrial heritage.

A total of 64 apartments are planned for the amalgamated 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-21-maud-street-newstead-qld-4006">17–21 Maud Street</a>, a short walk from the Brisbane River and Newstead Riverwalk.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a400c7fd-bd15-48f8-a63b-10ede92efe00" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20bldg.png?VersionId=.0vPmjpbC7CNP7kqGWa6L7rGIwsNExaw" />

"The building is defined by a series of vaulted motifs that reinterpret the arches, colonnades and layered facades evident throughout Newstead's historic built fabric," the Urban Design Report states.

"Combined with recessed glazing and generous balconies, these elements create a layered building envelope that provides shade, weather protection and opportunities for natural ventilation whilst establishing a distinctive architectural identity."

The proposal comprises 64 two, three and four-bedroom apartments across 18 residential levels, positioning it alongside a growing number of taller residential projects transforming Newstead's northern precinct. The tower incorporates extensive subtropical landscaping, with cascading planter boxes, deep planting at street level and a landscaped rooftop recreation area.

<img alt="First look: HG Developments plans 18-storey subtropical apartment tower for Newstead" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1d8140f4-8b98-45cd-b1b8-1efe8c8e266b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Maud%20st%20podium.png?VersionId=VAZtbCoD44YCJ57N99fQCAKeSJx7ldZs" />

Bureau Proberts has prioritised passive environmental design throughout the project, with generous balconies, recessed glazing and operable façades helping reduce solar heat gain while maximising natural ventilation. River views become available from the upper levels, while the building has been orientated to capture prevailing breezes from both the Brisbane River and the west.

The architects say landscape is intended to be integral to the building rather than an applied element.

"Vertical greenery, cascading planter boxes and elevated gardens are woven throughout the architecture, softening the built form and strengthening the connection between residents and the subtropical environment."

"Through the integration of landscape, high-quality materials and passive design principles, the development delivers a refined residential address that celebrates Newstead's heritage character while contributing positively to Brisbane's evolving subtropical identity."

Newstead has remained one of Brisbane's most active apartment markets in recent years, with a number of developers continuing to back the inner-city suburb.

HG Developments is currently delivering the 40-apartment Aire Newstead at 25 Maud Street. Fortis recently launched the 65-apartment <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> on Kyabra Street, while builder-developer BPG and Don O'Rorke's Consolidated Properties are both expected to launch their respective Newstead projects before the end of the year.

HG Developments doubles down in Newstead with second Maud Street apartment development

Walk past a new apartment development promoting its sustainability credentials and it's easy to picture rooftop gardens, mature trees, landscaped courtyards and residents surrounded by nature.

But in many cases, that's not actually what those sustainability ratings guarantee.

Australia's leading environmental rating tools have played a significant role in improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings. Yet despite their focus on reducing emissions, many don't require developers to include trees, biodiversity or meaningful green space.

In other words, a building can achieve one of the country's highest sustainability ratings while containing little more than concrete, glass and hard landscaping.

That disconnect has led to the emergence of a new movement across Australia's property industry: nature-based cities.

The concept goes beyond designing buildings that consume less energy. Instead, it encourages developers to treat nature as essential infrastructure, integrating biodiversity, tree canopy, living landscapes and green spaces into projects from the earliest stages of planning.

Research has consistently linked access to nature with better physical and mental health, cooler neighbourhoods, improved biodiversity, stronger climate resilience and more connected communities. As Australia's cities continue to become denser, advocates say those outcomes should be considered just as important as energy efficiency.

Nature Based Cities (NBC) was established in 2022 to help accelerate that shift.

Founded by Hamton Executive Chairman Paul Hameister OAM, the not-for-profit was created after research highlighted a significant gap in Australia's sustainability framework. While existing environmental rating tools rewarded energy performance and emissions reductions, they placed little emphasis on the inclusion of living landscapes.

"We've always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren't there," Hameister says.

"In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that's concrete and glass with not a blade of grass.

"The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn't been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities."

Since its launch, NBC has developed independent design guidelines and accreditation frameworks that encourage developers to prioritise ecology, biodiversity, tree canopy, walkability and living landscapes alongside traditional sustainability measures. The organisation first focused on medium and high-density residential developments before recently expanding into precinct-scale communities and masterplanned neighbourhoods.

Jan Talacko, founder of sustainability consultancy Ark Resources and a member of the Nature Based Cities Advisory Council, says the initiative addresses an area that has largely been overlooked by the property industry.

"Throughout my 25 years of working collaboratively with all stakeholders in the property sector, I've always favoured a pragmatic approach to sustainable design which encourages initiatives that not only meet environmental expectations but also improve amenity," Talacko says.

"Whilst we are making steady progress in relation to energy and carbon emissions from buildings, there has been much less emphasis on encouraging biodiversity and tackling the urban heat island effect.

"The Nature Based Cities initiative responds to a gap in the suite of tools currently used by the property development sector, which don't provide sufficient incentive, or recognition, for the integration of landscaping and greenery."

For apartment buyers, the shift is also changing the questions worth asking.

Rather than assuming a sustainable building will naturally include abundant green space, buyers are increasingly being encouraged to look beyond environmental ratings and ask what nature is actually being delivered. How much tree canopy will the development create? Has biodiversity been considered? Are landscaped spaces designed for people as well as appearance?

As Australia's cities continue to grow upwards and outwards, the next generation of sustainability may not simply be measured by lower emissions, but by how successfully developments bring nature back into everyday urban life.

What does it really mean for a building to be 'green'?

Shares

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Car sharing platform Car Next Door, is raising $1.5 million through a crowd-sourced equity funding platform Equitise, a move its CEO says will drive more engagement of its members with the startup. 
Founded in 2013, Car Next Door has 50,000 users and 1,300 cars listed on the platform. Members can rent a car from as little as $5 an hour to $25 a day. 
The start-up operates in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with plans to expand to the Gold Coast, Canberra, Perth and Adelaide in the next few months.
Its users and revenue have doubled each year since it launched. Turnover is expected to hit $1 million in January.
The move has been a long-term plan of co-founder and chief executive Will Davies.
"Since we started our users have been really keen and passionate about what we're doing and keen to invest and get involved," he was cited as saying The Australian Financial Review.
"It's a good way to get them more engaged and it will help with retention and word-of-mouth."
Car Next Door, which lets users find a car in their neighbourhood to hire from a minimum of $25 per day, 
Car Next Door expects to raise a minimum of $500,000 from sophisticated investors using Equitise, as part of a $4-5 million Series B round, the AFR said.
It has already raised $2.3 million in its latest round from existing investors such as Caltex and Trevor Folsom's Investible.
If the crowdfunding move pays off, Davies expects to go in for another capital raising which would be open to the public once the legislation permitting private companies to partake in crowd-sourced equity funding passes the Senate.
On September 29, the federal government's legislation to enable crowd-sourced equity funding from retail investors for unlisted public companies came into effect, but an amendment to the laws that will open it up to private companies is still going through the Senate.
"The big thing for us will be retail investors. We want people to be able to invest a few thousand dollars," he said.
 
 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Car Next Door to raise $1.5 million through crowd funding

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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
A McGrath spokesperson has dismissed a newspaper report that McGrath could soon be back in private hands.
The Australian Financial Review reported founder John McGrath and former Sydney franchise boss Shane Smollen were "understood to be working on a deal to take back control of the listed real estate flop."
The article quoted one source, identified only as "a senior industry source."
They had reportedly told The Australian Financial Review there was a "lot of movement" going on behind the scenes at McGrath.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
"Private equity is sniffing around and the shareholders, including John McGrath and Shane Smollen are trying to do something," the source said adding an announcement could come before the company's annual meeting, due to be held November 22.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">"We have absolutely no knowledge of these plans," a spokeswoman for McGrath told the newspaper.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">John McGrath, who stepped down as CEO last year, remains the company's biggest shareholder with his 25.9 per cent stake.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section">
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Smollen has an 8.9 per cent share.
The share price - after McGrath's latest profit warning - ended Friday at 52 cents, down from its IPO value of $2.10.
</div>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

McGrath dismisses AFR report on estate agency company returning to private hands

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Having announced a potential earnings downgrade of up to 25 percent, shares in real estate company McGrath have tumbled in ASX trading this morning.
There has been some consolidation in the last hour, bouncing up from its record 45 cent low earlier in the day to a slightly more stable, 51 cents.
The shares dipped from closing at 61 cents on Friday. It was a $2.10 share on listing.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/7/McGrath%20shares.jpg" alt="">
The stock exchange was told company does not expect to reach Bell Potter's estimate of $16.6 million EBITDA for the 2018 full year. It is not the first profit downgrade for the listed estate agency.
In a statement today the McGrath agency said the company has completed the first four months of trading for FY18 but has fallen short of expectations at both the revenue and EBITDA levels.
"The underperformance is largely in company owned sales and is influenced by several factors including continued lower volumes of listings in most markets they serve, lower agent numbers and a significant slow‐down in the traditionally volatile project marketing segment," the statement read.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/7/McGrath3.jpg" alt="">
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It noted McGrath has completed the first four months of trading for FY18.
"The underperformance is largely in Company Owned Sales, and is influenced by several factors including continued lower volumes of listings in most markets we serve, lower agent numbers and a significant slow‐down in the traditionally volatile Project Marketing segment.
"Government policy changes around foreign buyers and developers coupled with tightened lending requirements have particularly affected this segment."
It said its Franchise and Property Management businesses are performing largely at expectations, and both have new management with significant relevant experience.
McGrath has not given earnings guidance for FY18, but notes equities research by Bell Potter which gives a full year estimate of $16.6 million EBITDA.
"The Board believes it prudent to assume continued subdued market conditions, especially in Project Marketing.
"Accordingly, it is assessing a range of measures including the optimal level of cost reductions, balancing shareholder earning requirements with longer term objectives.
"McGrath is committed to maintaining market leading service to vendors, landlords and borrowers, while improving its service to its franchisee partners and agents.
"In order to deliver a result that would align with forecasts in the market of $16.6 million EBITDA in FY18, we would be required to make significant cost cuts that may not be in the best interests of the business in the long term.
"We do not believe that is in the best interests of McGrath or its shareholders."
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/7/700_john.jpg" alt="">
Balancing short and long term objectives, the Board and Executive are finalising a Plan which:
Recognises that the M&amp;A activity anticipated at the time of its 2015 listing on the ASX is unlikely to eventuate;
Recognises that the current market environment does not support expansion of Company Owned Offices in the near term;
Continues to support and strengthen the Franchise and Property Management businesses as they are;
Allows for appropriate cost controls resulting from the above factors, while not damaging the long term prospects for the business.
The Board and CEO will have progressed this work and will update investors at the upcoming AGM.
The preliminary plan, which will be discussed with major shareholders between now and then, is to remove $5 million of annualised costs from the business at a one‐time restructuring cost of $1.4 million to $1.6 million.
Most of these savings will be achieved by restructuring the Board, Executive and Leadership Team, removing management associated with M&amp;A and Company Owned Office expansion activities and non‐revenue generating roles across the organisation.
"Our objective is to at least maintain, if not improve, service delivery to our Sales Agents, Property Managers and Principals."
“We are one of Australia’s largest residential real estate services companies and we continue to leverage the underlying strength of the McGrath brand, quality of its sales agents and network reach”, McGrath CEO, Cameron Judson said.
“Our aim has been to grow the relative contributions of each of our annuity businesses in Property Management, Franchise and Oxygen and de‐risk the volatility of our earnings in Project Marketing and Company Owned Sales.”
He noted the short term imperatives demanded of a listed real estate services company are often at odds with long term capacity building and market share growth.
At the level of cost out contemplated above, FY18 earnings could be 20% to 25% lower than the current analyst estimate, due to high restructuring charges and a partial year of cost savings.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

McGrath shares tumble after 25 percent earnings downgrade possibility

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It is the age-old query of anyone with capacity to invest. Which is the better investment - shares or property?
After allowing for costs, residential property has often provided a higher return than shares according to many studies. Both tend to be far superior to cash and bonds.
But the answer invariably depends on the selected timeline involved.
Property wins in the decade or two decades to December 2015, outperforming Australian shares for the lowest and highest marginal tax rates after gearing, but shares win in the 13 year period to December 2016. That's for an average Australia-wide property investment scenario, with Sydney property investors enjoying far greater success than say regional NSW investors.
Hence the determination really is best answered by your individual capacity, stage of life circumstances, the desired diversity and your outlook.
Much comes down to your risk tolerance, so for some bank deposits rank as the wisest place for savings. 
The recent spending spree by investors on Sydney property was hardly short-term speculation- rather actually driven by the flight to longterm surety with investors seeking a mix of yield and capital gain along the way to hopefully funding their looming retirement years.
Its exuberance almost ended up pushing too far, but it appears the regulatory cooling measures has nipped the Sydney boom back from the edge, before it gave way to a hurtful price reversal.
Housing investment is less volatile than the wild ride of the sharemarket.
And for many investors the actual bricks and mortar seem safer than the stockmarket and its share scrip.
You can always drive past your investment property and see it.
But those share certificates in the bottom draw of the desk in the home office can become totally worthless. These shares can also suffer at the hands of a market of short sellers, speculators who don't want shares to necessarily go up in price.
But property does also offer a much lower level of liquidity and diversification. Investing in the stock market comes with virtually no transaction costs apart from capital gains tax when you exit your investment. Shares potentially offer income and low costs as you don’t directly pay pesky maintenance costs, council rates and land tax bills. 
Your labour of love as an investor can see worrying times when the property is vacant.
A recent analysis from a cashed-up sharemarket investment company rightly warned the very long-term investment chart showed several occasions of property prices going down by significant amounts.
However the example it highlighted was the crash in 1896 when it took six decades before property prices recovered to their previous levels in real terms.
As we all know, past returns are not a good guide to future returns.
And the world is vastly different for the current generation of investors than pre-Federation 1896.
Investors do need to envisage worse case scenarios in our modern times, because yes price growth isn't guaranteed, and indeed prices can go backwards.
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Which is better: Shares Vs Property

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Altair Asset Management’s move to sell off its entire Australian portfolio of underlying shares in unit trusts citing an impending property market "calamity" and an "overvalued" equity market has been described as an over-reaction by industry executives.
Macquarie Group's former head of real estate business Bill Moss said it was overstated, while economist Saul Eslake was of the view that it was difficult to predict accurately period forecasts of collapses.
Altair’s chairman and investment officer Philip Parker said on Monday the fund had advised clients it would sell "hundreds of millions" of dollars of "underlying shares in the Altair unit trusts and then hand back the cash to those same investors". Interestingly, he has also been named a defendant in a court case brought in by his mother in an unrelated assets case involving his firm. 
“The main reason is in my opinion that there are just too many risks at present, and I cannot justify charging our clients fees when there are so many early warning lead indicators of clear and present danger in property and equity markets now,” he said. 
“I would like to make clear this is not a winding up of Altair, but a decision to hand back client monies out of equities which I deem to be far too risky at this point,” Parker said on livewiremarkets.com.
The risks he listed included the Australian East Coast ‘property bubble’ and its impending correction, China’s property and debt issues later this year, overvalued Australian markets and the unpredictable geo-political situation.
He also made it clear that Altair wasn’t being wound up, but the decision was to hand back client monies out of equities which were deemed “far too risky at this point”.
But Moss was of a different view.
"You could have said that [about China] a long time ago," Moss was cited by saying by Fairfax Media.
Australia's property was experiencing a "one-off adjustment" to yields and values because of "incredible demand" from Chinese investors, Moss said.
"I'm not convinced that it's over. From what I'm seeing, there is still a lot of strong interest from China. I would be looking for the real reason they [Altair] have pulled out," he added.
Meanwhile, Eslake said various hedge funds and economists had in the past predicted a property bust but that he had “always struggled to find credible the period forecasts that there is a collapse around the corner”. 
"Are Australian house prices and household debt high? Yes, of course they are and there are some risks that flow from that."
"But to be a 'calamity' .. you would need some things to occur that I can't see occurring anytime soon," he said.
Montgomery Asset Management funder Roger Montgomery, who knows Parker, told The Australian that his funds may not have had the flexibility to go completely to cash while continuing to manage the money, and he would not have taken the decision lightly.
“You have to give someone a lot of respect for doing that,” Montgomery said. “They are genuinely putting their clients’ interest before their own. They are not taking any fees from it.”
Amid all this, Parker is grabbing more eyeballs, with Fairfax Media reporting that he is one of the defendants named in an action stemming from claims brought by his elderly mother, Faye Mary Parker and F M Parker Pty Ltd.
Faye Mary Parker filed the suit against Attis Capital, its director David Reynolds, and Altair Assets and Pepsec, which is an entity linked to Philip Parker and Altair. 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Altair Asset fund's total Australian selloff questioned by experts

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Superannuation fund returns continued their eight year bull run in April.
Boosted by international shares and a fall in the Australian dollar, the median balanced option return posted 1.4 percent.
It built on the 1.5 percent returned in March taking the financial year to date return to 10 percent.
"Even a 300 point loss on Wall St in mid-May wasn’t enough to stop the momentum with May now also looking like delivering positive returns for funds,” said SuperRatings chairman Jeff Bresnahan.
“We have not seen the strong boost in confidence many have been hoping for, but neither have we seen any sign of a sustained pullback or dramatic loss of momentum.
“Despite the fact that significant risks remain, including in the housing market, the outlook for 2017 remains somewhat positive.”
Cash and fixed interest returns remain meagre, sitting at 1.4 percent and 1.3 percent for the financial year to date respectively.
Australian and global shares have been the star performers for the financial year thus far with returns of 15.3 percent and 15.6 percent respectively.
“It would be a great result to achieve a double-digit return for the financial year, but we still have a bit longer to go,” said Mr Bresnahan.
“Volatility has begun to increase in line with continued political uncertainty globally, and market momentum is positive.
“However, investors should be careful not to under-price risk in this environment.”
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-24%20at%2010.21.24%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/05/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-24%20at%2010.21.24%20am.jpg" alt="">
The Australian market had a mixed month in April, posting a return of 1.0 percent, weighed down by negative performance from the Materials (-0.2 percent) and Energy (-0.6 percent) sectors, and a challenging month for Consumer Staples (-2.6 percent).
The main gains came from the Industrials sector (+4.4 percent), with strong gains from Brambles (+10.6 percent) following its announcement that it is on track to meet its 5 percent sales growth target.
Another recovery story came from the much-maligned Bellamy’s, which gained strongly late in the month to post a return of 22.4 percent with the installation of new management, as well as continued demand for Australian baby formula from the Chinese market.
The US market rally continued unabated through April, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average price index posting a rise of 3.6 percent – this despite a disappointing GDP reading of only 0.7 percent for Q1 2017.
The French CAC 40 returned 7.1 percent in April as Emmanuel Macron sailed to victory in the French presidential election, while the EuroStoxx 600 Index gained 5.8 percent, as confidence in the European recovery continued to build.
“Interestingly, equity market gains have coincided with a fall in yields in major markets, as well as a fall in the US dollar,” said Mr Bresnahan.
“With valuations starting to look high in the US, investors are holding out for the President’s proposed tax cuts to be made law, which are needed to consummate the reflation trade.”
Global yields fell in April, continuing a downward trend started in the previous month.
While rates have been trending higher since October 2016 and yield curves have steepened, investors have appeared to embrace duration again, reflected in longer- term fund flow.
The US 10-year Treasury yield fell from 2.39 percent to 2.28 percent after reaching an intra-month low of 2.17 percent.
While recent CPI releases in both Europe and the US have been promising, the numbers have moderated in recent months, and core inflation remains below central bank targets.
Longer-term returns for super continue to sit close to funds’ inflation targets, with the seven-year return sitting at an estimated 7.8 percent p.a. (above most funds’ CPI targets).
The 10-year return moved lower to 4.8 percent p.a., although it remains impacted by the Global Financial Crisis, which occurred nearly ten years ago.
The point of maximum monetary stimulus has passed, signalled by the US Fed’s March rate hike, although monetary policy remains very accommodative globally, and quantitative easing measures in Europe have not yet been tapered.
Compared to a year ago, when the FYTD return was 1.4 percent, there has been a strong turnaround in returns, but the idea of returns being lower for longer is still a key point of discussion in the industry.
While inflation appears to be taking hold, it has moderated in recent months, prompting central banks, and especially the US Fed, to reconsider the pace of tightening.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/05/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-24%20at%2010.23.21%20am.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/05/24/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-24%20at%2010.23.21%20am.jpg" alt="">
 
He noted Australian markets have been supported by fundamentals, with full-time employment continuing to grow in April, and manufacturing firmly in expansion.
However, there is also evidence of a loss of upward price pressure, partly as a result of declining energy prices and tumbling iron ore values through March and April.
The 2017-18 Federal Budget, delivered this month, presented an optimistic view of the economy, with the path back to surplus in 2020-21 predicated on a gradual lift in wages growth from 1.9 percent to 3.75 percent.
“Economic indicators remain robust, although weaker inflation figures may be of some concern to investors as well as central banks."
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Australian super funds offering 10 percent returns 

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Crowdfunding company DomaCom (ASX:DCL) has got regulatory approval to “deal in securities” and has also entered into an agreement with a US crowdfund that will expand the range of investment options for its clients.
The Australian Securities &amp; Investments Commission has given approval to DomaCom to vary its Australian Financial Services Licence that would allow it to launch mortgage bond sub-funds and allow for investment loans in the DomaCom property portfolio.
Chief executive Arthur Naoumidis said the “varied AFS Licence will allow us to offer peer-to-peer mortgage bond sub-funds and a fractional investment model for corporate bonds with work well under way to issue a new Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to support these new products”.
They will offer a yield of 3.54% over the RBA cash rate with the security of a first registered mortgage and a loan-to value ratio(LVR) of less than 50 per cent.
Mortgage bonds will usually have a fixed term of five years and the current expected return of 5.04% with the security of a first registered mortgage and low LVR is expected to be attractive to the SMSF market, it said.
“What DomaCom can achieve with mortgage and corporate bond products is to offer investors the opportunity to lock in yields that are more attractive than bank deposits, use the fractional model to allow them to invest with a minimum amount, and to have potential liquidity of trading using our liquidity facility,” said Naoumidis.
DomaCom has funded 39 property acquisitions — mainly residential — which it claims to be the largest number of book-builds by any crowdfunder in Australia.
Meanwhile, the company announced this week it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Prodigy Network, a leading real estate crowdfunding platform in the United States that has raised more than $410 million of equity from the crowd for their portfolio of assets, valued at US$750 million. 
The agreement will pave the way for Australian investors and advisors to invest in prime commercial real estate assets located in Manhattan. 
Naoumidis said the agreement would open up more overseas property crowdfunding opportunities for Australian investors.  
“Whilst crowdfunding is still a relatively new phenomenon in Australia it is gaining significant ground overseas. There are over 125 such businesses globally with the 2015 transactions estimated to be around US$2.5 billion up from only US$20 million 4 years ago,” he said. 
“Enormous buying power exists in our large industry and retail superannuation funds and our growing A$600 billion self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) market. There are vast sums of money sitting there some of which must be looking for an opportunity to invest in global real estate markets”.
Prodigy Network formally initiated its track record in January 2016, by providing 23% yearly after tax returns to the investors that participated in a 95 unit extended stay property called AKA United Nations, located at 234 E 46th Street. This was the first crowd funded project in the history of New York. 
Their success is explained by two main factors: 1) they both co-develop and co-invest in the deals they present to investors, 2) they have access to an extensive network of US and international mid-sized investors (capital raised from 26 US States and 29 different countries).
The investment platform and developer currently focuses primarily on investments in high-end collaborative workspaces and extended stay hotel developments in Manhattan.
 “We think partnering with DomaCom makes a lot of sense given their strong reputation and scalable distribution network in APAC” said Leonard Chinchay, VP of client relations at Prodigy Network. 
The deal was arranged by Tara Hill Capital in Sydney and Alpine Capital Advisors in New York.
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prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

DomaCom gets ASIC approval for mortgage bonds, enters into deal with US firm

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Which is the better asset class to invest: shares or property?
Off-the-plan marketer Place Advisory pit the share market against Brisbane’s property market, an annual exercise, using the benchmark All Ords Index and sales data for apartments in Inner Brisbane.
Traditionally, shares and property have been strongly correlated and several overall trends have been established: Both asset classes seem to move in cycles together with property responding slightly slower than the All Ords Index to any changes in the wider market. This is likely due to information reporting and the illiquidity of apartments in comparison to shares.
The share market is generally more volatile than the property market – experiencing higher highs and lower lows. The 30-year period has seen the property market outperform the share market – just.
Inner Brisbane apartments have recognised annual median price growth of 6.3% per annum, compared to the All Ords annual return of 5.6%.
Place Advisory used All Ords for the report as it is the best indicator of the health of the share market in the longer term. This is primarily due to the fact that it is the oldest index, and tracks the performance of the 500 largest companies by market capitalisation.
The ASX 500 registered its first annual decrease in 2015 since 2011. As of December 31, the index stood at 5,345 points – down 0.8% on the recorded value 12 months earlier.
The Brisbane property market did not fare much better in terms of price growth. The median apartment price for the six months to December 2015 was $440,000, just $1,000 higher than the corresponding period of 2014.
The share market is generally more volatile than the property market, reacting with a greater level of severity to market fluctuations. In 2008 for example, the values of both asset classes took a hit. However, Brisbane’s median apartment price contracted by 1.5% over that year, whereas the index value of the ASX 500 tumbled by 44%. The trend reversed the following year. Median apartment values in Brisbane rose by 6%, but the ASX 500 value increase by 36%.
"If you’re looking for stability and long term growth, you should consider property as an investment vehicle. There is less volatility in the property market, which means that your hard earned money will generally be more secure in property," says Lachlan Walker, director of Place Advisory and Place Projects in Brisbane. 
"As an investor seeking capital growth, timing is critical- neither shares nor property are completely fool proof."
And as for any investment, research is imperative. 
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Brisbane property outperformed shares in 2015, but only just: Place Advisory

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Real estate group McGrath Ltd, whose shares have lost more than a third of their value since its market debut in December, called for a trading halt on Friday to review its prospectus forecasts.
McGrath said it was "reviewing the 2016 financial year prospectus forecast in light of current market and trading conditions," in an announcement to the stock exchange.
"The trading halt is requested in order to allow McGrath time to finalise its analysis of information and review by the Board," it said. 
It has until Tuesday to provide any update after the board analysis.
The development comes only a day after broker Bell Potter Securities said the stock was undervalued compared with international peers. The broker has a 12-month price target of $2.25 and a 'Buy' rating on the stock.
McGrath's stock fell below its IPO price in its market debut at $2.10 and has lost almost a third of its value since. It closed at $1.30 on Thursday.
Its shares fell to a low of $1.20 on March 16, according to data from Thomson Reuters.
The request for the trading halt comes ahead of an update on how the company is progressing against its forecasts.
The collapse in McGrath's share price stems from investor concern about both the earnings as the Sydney housing market subsides, and about the multiple on which those earnings are priced, a recent AFR report said.
But other sources suggest listings and sales volumes have shrunk in the overall market. 
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Trading halt on McGrath shares as real estate firm reviews prospectus forecasts

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One of the sponsor brokers of McGrath Estate Agents' IPO says the company's stock is undervalued compared with international peers and it retains a 'Buy' in spite of the decline in the share price ever since its market debut in December.
McGrath's stock fell below its IPO price in its market debut at $2.10 and has lost almost a third of its value since.
But Bell Potter Securities is telling clients that international peers are probably the best comparison for McGrath.
"McGrath does not have a close listed comparable company (comp) in Australia and so this begs the question, what should the stock be compared to?" Bell Potter analyst Chris Savage wrote in a note to clients.
"In our view, therefore, it is appropriate to compare McGrath with offshore listed comps of which there are several in both the US and the UK (i.e. real estate markets with some similarities to Australia). In particular, we believe there are three key offshore comps for McGrath – Realogy, Foxtons and Countrywide – which perhaps provide the best guide for what is an appropriate multiple for McGrath."
McGrath is trading well below them, Savage wrote.
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<img src="/images/2016/04/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-14%20at%2010.59.12%20AM.png" alt="" width="622" height="173">
"There are several offshore listed comps which we consider reasonable for McGrath – RE/MAX, Foxtons, Marcus &amp; Millchap, Countrywide, Savills and Realogy – which all have a December year end. The average 2016 and 2017 PE ratios for these stocks are currently 14.5x and 13.2x respectively, which are well above the FY16 and FY17 PE ratios for McGrath of 9.7x and 8.5x.
"Similarly, the average 2016 and 2017 EV/EBITDA multiples for these stocks are currently 7.3x and 7.0x respectively which again are well above the FY16 and FY17 EV/EBITDA multiples for McGrath of 4.9x and 4.0x. If we reduce the list to the key offshore comps of Realogy, Foxtons and Countrywide then the average 2016/2017 PE ratios and EV/EBITDA multiples are 13.2x/11.6x and 8.7x/8.7x which are still well above the McGrath multiples," he said.
<a href="/images/2016/04/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-14%20at%2011.05.28%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-14%20at%2011.05.28%20AM.png" alt="" width="236" height="572">
Bell Potter has kept its 12-month price target on McGrath at $2.25, saying it expects the company to achieve its "pro forma prospectus forecasts in FY16". 
McGrath's shares were last trading at $1.29 on the ASX, down 1.9 percent in mid-morning trade on Thursday. They fell to a low of $1.20 on March 16, according to data from Thomson Reuters.
 
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