Holiday home buyers who have long gravitated to Queenstown’s alpine setting are increasingly looking for low-maintenance apartments that allow them to lock up and leave, while still generating income when they’re away.

For Wendy, who had spent years visiting the Queenstown and Arrowtown region, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/safari-group">Safari Group</a>’s Mountain Oak Apartments provided the opportunity to formalise what had previously been a recurring holiday pattern.

“We always had Queenstown in the back of our minds to buy something there as a holiday home,” she says. “We love the Queenstown and Arrowtown area.”

<img alt="From slopes to markets: Mountain Oak connects residents to the best of Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/658d4f_48c3ec1ae5df4a2cab7d23c07c7f51b3~mv2.jpg?VersionId=27K8oQ4ExDN8Yu70VHDa9Olq59XU36m3" />

Time spent visiting her sister-in-law, who owns in Arrowtown, along with regular stays at Millbrook Resort, had already shaped a strong personal connection to the region.&nbsp;

Rather than approaching the purchase purely as an investment play, Wendy’s starting point was lifestyle.

“We were more thinking about ourselves and where we could stay, and then the rental aspect was second.”

Mountain Oak Apartments, located within the masterplanned Remarkables Park precinct in Frankton, aligned with that thinking. The ability to secure the apartment with a deposit and settle on completion made the timing work.

“The fact that we could put a deposit down with the balance on completion was a bonus for us,” she explains.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/313_Livingv2_WEB.jpg?VersionId=nV229fM0ZeYpoxOrX372HyGjfwY_LR8c" />

Wendy selected a two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse, a configuration that supports both private use and guest flexibility.

“The two-bedroom, two-bathroom configuration appealed from both a rental viewpoint and for the ability to have friends stay while we are there,” she says.

Across the development, two-bedroom apartments range from 64sqm to 78sqm, with two-bedroom plus flexi options from 71sqm to 75sqm, each with an allocated car park. The flexi layouts introduce an additional space suited to work or hobbies, reflecting demand from buyers who split their time between leisure and remote work.

Apartments include underfloor heating in bathrooms, heat pumps to living areas, and joinery positioned to maximise natural light and mountain outlooks. The Remarkables Park precinct is known for its extended winter sunshine hours, water frontage and open views toward The Remarkables.&nbsp;

Units come in light and dark interior colour schemes.

<img alt="Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd685a22-3b95-43a1-87cb-48fdd42bb4ba" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/658d4f_f9f89107c2704ebbbe5a6b36da508cb3~mv2.jpg?VersionId=MigFIEm6b.mrANANwxSmwHvC4RdJUuyR" />

While lifestyle was the primary driver, the fundamentals of the Queenstown market added reassurance.&nbsp;

“Proximity to the airport and tourism being the main attraction all year round,” Wendy says, when asked what stood out from an investment perspective.

Mountain Oak sits just eight kilometres from Queenstown’s CBD and around a two-minute drive from Queenstown Airport.&nbsp;

For Wendy, that airport proximity carries practical value.

“The airport proximity is a bonus, we think that being so close will be an attraction for the convenience side.”

Residents are also a short drive from Coronet Peak, Jack’s Point Golf Course, New World Supermarket, Five Mile Shopping Centre, and the dining, medical, gym, cinema and library amenities within the town centre, as well as the seasonal Remarkables Market.

Importantly, the purchase does not lock owners into a single use. Mountain Oak offers the flexibility to opt for short-term visitor accommodation or longer-term residential rental management, with 365-day visitor accommodation consent in place. Owners can utilise Safari Group’s 24/7 on-site management service or appoint their own provider, and do not need to decide on a strategy immediately.

“It was a bonus that we can rent it out as well as use it for ourselves,” she says.

Additional buying options, including furniture packages and storage units available for purchase within the building, further support a lock-and-leave model suited to interstate and overseas owners.

<img alt="Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments brings new investment potential to Queenstown" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Ext_Cam15_Sunny.jpg?VersionId=SJAROUM_1s.Tr5ciMk4EEj5oAt_Vewmv" />

Mountain Oak Apartments comprises 141 residences, ranging from one-bedroom configurations through to larger apartments and penthouses. One-bedroom apartments are currently priced from NZ$639,000, with three-bedroom options from NZ$1,299,000.

With 365-day visitor accommodation consent, the development is structured to respond to Queenstown’s established four-season tourism economy, spanning winter ski traffic and summer hiking, cycling, golf and lake-based activity.

Although Wendy acknowledges the strength of rental demand, her approach remains long term.

“We’re not planning to sell it anytime soon, so we are keen to hang on to it, but the passive income will be a bonus.”

Confidence in the developer also influenced her decision. Before proceeding, Wendy sought feedback within the local building community.

“We asked around and Safari Group had a good reputation,” she says.

Safari Group has delivered more than 2,000 hotel units and residential apartments across over 18 developments nationwide, with more than 25 years’ experience in the sector.

With completion anticipated by mid-2027, Mountain Oak is attracting a cross-section of buyers, from yield-focused investors to lifestyle purchasers seeking a foothold in one of New Zealand’s most tightly held alpine markets.

For Wendy, it represents both a future holiday base and a long-term asset within Queenstown’s year-round tourism economy.

Joel Robinson

How Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown

Eduard Litver's Capitel Group is seeking to redevelop Chatswood's Mandarin Centre in the heart of the burgeoning suburb.

Capitel Group, in a joint venture with Metis Group, has filed a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to demolish the Mandarin Centre and construct a 32-storey tower designed by Skidmore, Owings &amp; Merrill (SOM) with 325 apartments.

The 3,524 sqm site at 61A-65 Albert Avenue will also home extensive retail amenity, both at street-level and across a four-level podium.

<img alt="First look: Metis and Capitel unveil $1.2bn+ plan to redevelop Chatswood’s Mandarin Centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="905976ea-08cd-409f-8a4c-33a3fb8bf351" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/1771923441002.png?VersionId=f_xI2ejpxQvEm4fPqGji01RY9_AWVY6O" />

In its early stage Design Report submitted to the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority, SOM describes the ambition for the project as one that “aims to revitalise and reactivate an important corner of the Chatswood CBD.”

The architects note that the existing shopping centre “has a lack of vertical connection between its five levels of retail and a cumbersome pedestrian access from the street to the second-level transit connection,” framing the redevelopment as an opportunity to reconfigure circulation and better integrate with surrounding transport infrastructure.

The design adopts a single tower configuration, shaped through early testing to respond to neighbouring buildings and key public spaces.

Retail activation is concentrated at ground and lower podium levels, with a focus on food and beverage, lifestyle and wellness tenancies. The intent is to create a more permeable ground plane and improve connections between Albert Avenue, Victor Street and the Chatswood transport interchange, located within walking distance of the site.

<img alt="First look: Metis and Capitel unveil $1.2bn+ plan to redevelop Chatswood’s Mandarin Centre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1e0c8cb-ee9b-41c1-97ac-0455c043b9e7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/1771923442914.png?VersionId=y.Kbo.9bzLIbOabeygYts8Uf9imI.Dqh" />

The site occupies a prominent position on the southern edge of the Chatswood CBD core, bounded by Albert Avenue and Victor Street. It sits near the rail and metro interchange and within close proximity to Chatswood Chase, Westfield Chatswood, Chatswood Oval and a range of commercial office towers and residential buildings.

Chatswood has been one, and continues to be, of the most popular suburbs for developers in recent years. The most recent tower to launch is Hyecorp's Celine on Archer Street, which followed The Anderson by Changfa and Huirong.

Soon to launch is Coronation's Archer &amp; Albert nearby the new proposal.

Chatswood boom continues with Capitel and Metis’s $1.2 billion Mandarin Centre redevelopment

Apartment development applications continue to tally up in Rose Bay following the NSW Gov's 2025 update to the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.

&nbsp;

Some $200 million worth of developments were filed in the space of four weeks at the back end of last year, with the likes of Fyve, HSN, Luxcon and Fortis all seeking to creating new apartment buildings.

The latest plans are for an amalgamated 3,105 sqm site across Conway Avenue, Fernleigh Avenue, and Carlisle Street. Developer Mathieson Property is planning <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dian-2-6-conway-avenue-rose-bay-nsw-2029">Dian</a>, 70 apartments across a new eight-storey building, perched on a ridgeline within walking distance of Rose Bay Town Centre.

The State Significant Development Application (SSDA), includes one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations. Over 15 per cent will be dedicated as affordable, as per the NSW Government's push for affordable housing. The 17 apartments will be managed by a community housing provider for 15 years following completion of the building.

<img alt="First Look: Mathieson Property unveils eight-storey infill housing proposal ‘Dian’ in Rose Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f99c21d9-e69d-4a23-ae35-3244cfa0b4ae" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Rose%20Bay%20site_0.png?VersionId=67KSZfecJ3fvn1ewo9xxKrneRT.Nsjwd" />

MHNDU has designed the building around three central cores, with lower-level apartments arranged to maximise corner balconies and cross-ventilation. Upper levels are configured with dual north–south aspects to capture harbour views and solar access.

Private open space is a key feature of the scheme, with generous balconies and terraces throughout. Five ground-floor apartments would include private pools, while one upper-level residence will feature a rooftop terrace and pool. A communal room and adjoining landscaped outdoor terraces provide shared open space for residents.

<img alt="First Look: Mathieson Property unveils eight-storey infill housing proposal ‘Dian’ in Rose Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dd2e275f-c270-4eb1-9a02-2b573b8eb540" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Rose%20Bay%20front_0.png?VersionId=Us5jNEG6iLFLLMfQSzVBVdILYobBj.g9" />

The site sits around 365 metres walking distance of Rose Bay Town Centre and around 312 metres from regular bus services on New South Head Road, meeting the accessible area criteria under the Housing SEPP.

In early 2025, the NSW Government implemented significant changes to its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, altering planning controls to allow greater density for new apartment projects within an 800-metre walking distance of stations and town centres in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/woollahra-nsw-2025">Woollahra</a>&nbsp;Local Government Area, overriding existing local controls. Buildings are now permitted to rise up to six storeys within 400 metres of a station or centre, or eight storeys where affordable housing is incorporated, and up to four storeys within the 401 to 800 metre radius, which can increase to six storeys with affordable housing.

Mathieson Property unveils Dian Rose Bay apartment development

Lower North Shore developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hyecorp-property-group">Hyecorp</a> is preparing to launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/celine-chatswood-37-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">Celine</a>, its new apartment development in Chatswood.

Set within a blue ribbon location on Archer Street, Celine will rise on a quiet, tree-lined enclave on the edge of the South Chatswood Heritage Conservation Area, a short walk from the connectivity which Chatswood is famous for.

Celine will deliver 122 one, two, three, and four-bedroom residences, designed to accommodate a broad range of buyers, from owner-occupiers to investors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362610]

Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fuse-architecture-0">Fuse Architects</a>, the 29-storey tower has been shaped to respond to its Archer Street setting, with a defined podium and slender upper levels.&nbsp;

The building incorporates a two-storey residential lobby at the corner, double-height retail fronting Bertram Street, food and beverage tenancies along a through-site link, and two levels of commercial office space.&nbsp;

A landscaped pedestrian connection between Archer and Bertram streets will provide a publicly accessible link through the site, extending activity at ground level beyond the building footprint.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362606]

Inside, Hyecorp is emphasising scale and flexibility. Most residences will incorporate multipurpose rooms, allowing buyers to configure additional living, study or guest space within their floorplan.&nbsp;

Kitchens have been designed with proportions more commonly associated with standalone homes, complemented by Gaggenau and Miele appliances, integrated refrigeration, Miele laundry appliances, Taj Mahal stone and bronze tapware.&nbsp;

Buyers will also have the option to tailor aspects of their home through the developer’s “Live Your Way” personalisation service.

Resident amenity will include an outdoor pool, gym and sauna, as well as barbecue and lounge areas designed for shared use. Upper levels are oriented to capture eastern outlooks towards the Sydney CBD and surrounding greenery.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149594 project_image_fid=362633]

The location places future residents within 800 metres of Chatswood Interchange, providing access to metro and rail services, and within walking distance of Westfield, Chatswood Chase and the Chatswood Concourse. Parks including Chatswood Park and Beauchamp Park are nearby, along with a cluster of schools and private hospitals.

Celine continues Hyecorp’s focus on the Lower North Shore. The Australian, family-owned developer has been operating locally for more than 30 years, with recent projects including Audrey in St Leonards, now nearing completion, and Juliet in Roseville. With registrations expected to open soon, Celine represents the group’s latest addition to the Chatswood apartment market.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149594]

Hyecorp unveils Celine, a striking new apartment tower in the heart of Chatswood

International development company <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/spg-land">SPG Land</a> has kicked off construction of the $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/paradiso-place-surfers-paradise-103-ferny-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Paradiso Place</a>, one of the highest value developments to get underway on the Gold Coast in more than a decade.

Located on a 1.15ha site stretching from Surfers Paradise Boulevard to Ferny Avenue, Paradiso Place, when completed, will deliver 845 residences across three residential towers. &nbsp;

Paradiso Place has been several years in planning by SPG, which has now pushed the green light on construction to meet pent-up demand from investors and owner occupiers.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185858]

The move follows minor amendments to the original design to cater to buyer demand, including the provision of more premium residential amenity, including private dining, lounge and events spaces for residents to entertain guests.

The three towers, comprising 41, 40 and 44 levels, will bring to the market 845 apartments with each tower boasting its own podium level interconnected skybridge to create a unique elevated ‘beachside village’ for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362500]

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>-designed development will bring a broad range of residences to the market, most offering ocean views and all enjoying five-star hotel amenities with world-class facilities and the convenience ground level retail precinct.

&nbsp;

Construction of Paradiso Place has been made possible by SPG’s newly established SPG Built division partnered with experienced project management group Eastview Australia, a company that has supported the development of a raft of major projects on the Gold Coast over the past two decades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362499]

“It’s a very exciting time for Paradiso Place as we start construction,” said SPG Land Chairman David Wang.

“We have spent our energy refreshing design and assembling the best team and waiting for what we believe is the right time to start construction on one of the most exciting mixed-use developments to proceed on the Gold Coast since Oracle in Broadbeach and Circle on Cavill in Surfers Paradise. &nbsp;

“The local and interstate downsizer market is getting stronger, and we see Paradiso Place as the right project for our times right now. Our company has the capacity to deliver large-scale projects, and we are thrilled to be bringing this vision to reality.”

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185861]

SPG Invest, a company founded in Australia in 1998 with a focus on high-end real estate and premium hospitality assets, has delivered 56 projects in the Asia-Pacific region over the past twenty-five years, including The Peninsula Hotel Shanghai and the Global 188 twin-tower project in Suzhou and Cambridge Residences at Robina.

Paradiso Place will deliver a range of new apartments with two-, three- and four-bedroom layouts, as well as a collection of sub-penthouse and penthouse apartments across three levels. Prices start from $950,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185852]

“We have a very strong vision for Paradiso Place – we are creating a unique beachside residential community where contemporary design &amp; architecture and luxury materials combine with five star residents’ amenities and the convenience of a premium retail precinct on the ground floor”, said SPG Land CEO Dr Ying Rao&nbsp;

“We are confident that the community will recognise that this is more than just another development. Paradiso Place will bring a much-needed retail precinct and lifestyle hub to northern Surfers Paradise with premium retail, lifestyle and food and beverage options,” Said Dr Rao&nbsp;

“The retail precinct is critical to enhancing the lifestyle amenity for residents and guests, so SPG will retain control of this precinct to curate a premium retail offering that will support this thriving new community.

“SPG will also retain short-term holiday letting to control premium and luxury outcomes in line with our vision.”

Construction of Stage 1 Paradiso Place is expected to be completed by end of 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=106566]

Construction commences on $1.5 billion Paradiso Place development in Surfers Paradise

Spring Listings

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EXPERT OBSERVER
The number of new listings being added to the combined capitals housing market has seen a hefty 44% rise from the depths of the winter slowdown in early July through to the first week of October, however that hasn’t been enough to push fresh listing numbers in line with previous years.  The number of new capital city listings over the past twenty eight days was tracking at the lowest level for this time of the year since CoreLogic started tracking real estate listings in 2007.
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/new_and_total_listing_capital_cities.png" width="600" height="399">
 22,939 fresh real estate listings were added to the capital city housing markets over the past twenty eight days; 13% lower than the same time last year and 15% below the thirteen year average.    New stock levels are down across every capital city, with the largest fall in Darwin where newly advertised listings are 36% lower than a year ago and 63% below the highs recorded in 2007.   Darwin housing conditions have been weak since the middle of 2014, so its understandable that home owners would be reluctant to list their property under such challenging selling conditions.  
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/new_and_total_listing_capital_cities_chart.png" width="600" height="370">
 The same logic can’t be used for stronger markets though.  Properties in Hobart are averaging just 28 days to sell and homes are selling, on average, in less than fifty days across Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, yet vendors seem to be lacking confidence to put their home on the market with new listing numbers down in these cities also.  Auction clearance rates remain high across the main auction markets and prices are under renewed upwards pressure. So why the lack of new listings in cities where housing market conditions are picking up.   It’s reasonable to expect there would be some level of pent up demand amongst home owners who were unwilling to sell during the downturn and were waiting for selling conditions to improve. Potentially a partial explanation can found in persistently low levels of consumer sentiment.  The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment recorded its lowest reading since mid-2015 in October.  With Australians increasingly concerned about their finances and the economic outlook, it may be the case that prospective vendors are choosing to sit on their hands until they feel more confident.  A property transaction, whether it be an option to sell or buy, is a high commitment decision that is much harder to make during periods of uncertainty.  Another explanation is the recency of the improved market conditions.  Capital city dwelling values were still trending lower only three months ago and the change to more positive conditions wasn’t widely anticipated.  Realistically it can take some time for home owners to get their affairs in order and prepare their property for sale.  With this context, a lag between the improved market conditions and a more substantial rise in new listings isn’t all that surprising.  
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/capital_city_listing_summary.png" width="600" height="342">Capital City Listing Summary
 Another barrier that may be preventing a more significant lift in listing numbers is high transaction costs, especially if the home owner is downsizing or upgrading which would incur a stamp duty payment.   With market activity rising, active buyers are becoming more competitive across a shallow pool of listings which is adding some urgency to the market.  With increased competition, vendors are regaining some of the leverage they lost through the housing downturn and buyers could be feeling the first pangs of FOMO as they see properties selling faster and prices rising. 
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2019-10/monthly_sales_combine_capital_cities.png" width="600" height="282">Monthly Sales, Combined Capital Cities
 Historically the seasonal peak in new listing numbers is around the second week of November, so there is still some time for the spring / early summer listing season to ramp up.  If the market recovery continues at the same pace as the last few months its almost certain that more home owners based in the markets showing strength will take advantage of the renewed level of buyer demand.
TIM LAWLESS is the CoreLogic head of research
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tlawless-5VLUrbAk9s

Spring hasn't quite sprung for real estate listings: Tim Lawless

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We all know Spring as supposedly the best time to be bringing your home to the market. 
What is often forgotten is that if everyone acts in the same way looking to sell during Spring, there is a lot more competition amongst vendors and it can be more difficult to sell.  In fact, looking at auction markets, the clearance rate quite regularly falls during Spring as volumes rise.
<a href="/images/2016/11/27/chart-1-1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/27/chart-1-1.jpg" alt="">
On a weekly basis throughout 2016, auction clearance rates across the combined capital cities have been recorded at an average of 70.9 percent.  If we compare this to the previous years, the average weekly auction clearance rates were recorded at: 48.0 percent in 2011, 50.4 percent in 2012, 66.2 percent in 2013, 67.8 percent in 2014 and 72.0 percent in 2015.  Over recent years clearance rates have fallen over the final quarter of the year, however, this year there has been no such fade-away in clearance rates.  In comparison to 2015 for example, auction clearance rates were much higher earlier in the year than they have been this year while in 2015 clearance rates faded substantially over the final quarter of the year.
<a href="/images/2016/11/27/chart-2-2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/27/chart-2-2.jpg" alt="">
The average number of properties being put up for auction each week has been lower in 2016 than it has been over recent years.  So far in 2016, there has, on average, been 1,765 auctions each week across the capital cities.  By comparison, average auction counts over recent years have been recorded at: 1,384 in 2011, 1,334 in 2012, 1,733 in 2013, 2,029 in 2014 and 2,170 in 2015.   
Auction volumes so far this year have been similar to those in 2013 however, in 2013 average clearance rates were on average quite a bit lower at 66.2 percent compared to 70.9 percent this year.  If we look at the past three years auction volumes through the final quarter of the year, we can see volumes rising through Spring as the selling euphoria hits.  So far this year, , volumes have risen but they have not hit the heights of 2014 and 2015, subsequently auction clearance rates have so far not faded through the end of the year like they did in 2014 and 2015 and have in each of the previous years highlighted.
A lower volume of auctions overall has certainly been a key driver of why auction clearance rates have been stronger this year.  Importantly, this is not just a feature of the auction market itself, new and total listings in the two largest auction markets (Sydney and Melbourne) are lower than they were a year ago so overall, there is less stock available for sale to choose from.
<a href="/images/2016/11/27/chart-3-2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/27/chart-3-2.jpg" alt="">
Focusing on auction statistics for the final quarter of each of the past four years in the regions of Sydney and Melbourne it shows that almost every region in both cities has seen an increase in average auction clearance rates so far in 2016 compared to 2015.  At the same time, average auction volumes are lower than they were last year across all regions of Sydney and Melbourne. 
In Sydney in particular the regions that have had relatively weaker auction clearance rates over recent years have generally so far this year seen proportionally fewer auctions.  This seems to suggest that vendors are getting more selective about using an auction to sell in those areas which are not traditional auction-centric markets.
The combination of fewer overall properties for sale, fewer homes being taken to auction and vendors being more selective around which homes to auction seems to be resulting in much stronger auction clearance rates.  Additional factors over the year such as lower interest rates are also likely to be supporting the market.  If these conditions persist, it is reasonable to expect that for the remainder of 2016 and into 2017 the auction market will remain strong.
<div>
Cameron Kusher is research analyst for CoreLogic. You can contact him <a href="https://blog.corelogic.com.au/about/">here</a>.
 
</div>
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ckusher-ujnxiKuFQs

Spring auction clearance rates not fading like past selling seasons

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Pre-listing activity was up in early August, according to CoreLogic's Early Market Indicators report.
The report found in contrast that listings and mortgage activity was down.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/8/4/CL%20EMI%201.JPG" alt="">
 
Pre-listing activity is down 12.71% when compared YTD year on year.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/8/4/CL%20EMI%202.JPG" alt="">
Newly advertised properties for sale have seen numbers drop this week down 1%. Their month on month changes saw a similar drop.
Newly advertised properties for rent have seen a much larger drop of 5%, however their month on month changes were not impacted as harshly.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/8/4/CL%20EMI%203.JPG" alt="">
Mortgage activity is up year on year however did fall slightly this week down 0.24%
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/8/4/CL%20EMI%204.JPG" alt="">
There has been a notable increase in loans of every category barring MIP which fell significantly.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Pre-listing activity is up while listings and mortgaging are down: CoreLogic

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A key takeaway from CoreLogic data amid the pandemic, is that transaction activity slows significantly in response to COVID-19 restrictions. The resulting loss of employment, lower consumer sentiment and border closures have had a much larger impact on the number of properties marketed and sold, than property prices themselves.  This was seen from the Stage 2 restrictions implemented from the 25th of March. New listings fell 50.3% from mid-March to early May. This exacerbated the seasonal dip in for sale listings throughout March and April. 
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/rolling_28_day_count_of_new_for_sale_listings_national_aug2020.jpg" width="1028" height="539">
However, as Melbourne reached the halfway mark of its Stage 4 restrictions in late August, national listings activity has completely diverged from the usual listings patterns in the lead up to spring.  In the 4 years prior to the pandemic, the number of new properties listed for sale nationally has, on average, increased 6.3% between late July and late August. This year however, the equivalent period has seen a 9.6% decline in new listings nationally.   Unsurprisingly, this can be attributed to a sharp fall in new listings across Melbourne. The decline in new listings across Melbourne’s property market was 54.9% in the month to August 23rd, accounting for over 100% of the national decline.  Conversely, most other capital cities saw an increase in new listings, as greater levels of consumer confidence, and lower levels of COVID-19 cases, saw vendors ramping up for the spring selling season. Across Sydney however, new listings had also started to slip marginally. The severe drop-off in listings is validated by a fall in the number of comparative market analysis reports generated across CoreLogic platforms by real estate agents in Victoria. The average number of reports generated per week in Victoria fell 24.6% from July over the month of August to date. 
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/rolling_28_day_count_of_new_for_sale_listings_melbourne.jpg" width="1034" height="526"><img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/monthly_change_in_new_listings_count_to_23rd_august_2020.jpg" width="611" height="289">
<h4>Why do transactions slow in times of strict social distancing</h4>
The reasons for slowed transaction activity during COVID restrictions are two-fold. The first is the physical limitation of buying and selling property under social distancing rules. Property sales may be less scalable as fewer people can physically inspect, show and value property.   The second is the economic uncertainty generated by stage 4 lockdowns. As consumption falls and unemployment spikes, vendors feel less confident selling their property and getting their desired price. This is further supported by the close movement exhibited between sales volumes and the consumer sentiment index. Significant falls in monthly sales volumes have closely aligned with this indicator. 
<img src="https://www.corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/2020-08/consumer_sentiment_v_national_volume_of_dwelling_sales.jpg" width="817" height="385">
The drop in sales volumes in times of high economic uncertainty, such as around the GFC and the national Stage 2 restrictions in March and April, indicates sellers and buyers are less likely to participate in property transactions during negative economic shocks or periods of heightened uncertainty.  Additionally, a vital part of the tight lid on new listings has been mortgage repayment deferral offerings from banks. This has meant that people who cannot currently service their mortgage do not have to list as a distressed or motivated seller. This dynamic may change in the lead up to March, when banks may need to end repayment deferrals.  Property owners who have deferred their mortgages, but are not in a position to reinstate their repayments by the end of March, may decide to offload their property in the lead up to this expiry date. It’s reasonable to expect mortgage arrears will increase from currently low levels, which could gradually see a larger number of distressed listings come on the market.
The intention to sell and buy property is evidently linked to consumer confidence, which in turn has been influenced by case numbers of COVID-19, and the stringency of government response in impacting economic activity.  The initial restrictions through March and April saw a sharp drop in listings nationally, but these recovered quickly. A similar pattern was seen in sales volumes. The low cost of debt and strong recovery in consumer confidence created pent-up demand for property as Australia got ahead of the virus curve. This was perhaps one of the few ‘V-shaped’ recoveries observed amid the pandemic.  However, once restrictions are repealed in Melbourne this time around, the recovery in transaction activity is likely to be weaker.  That is because employment is taking another hit, consumer sentiment is dampened by the reality of a second outbreak of the virus, and a reduction in fiscal support is only a month away. Ultimately, the second round of restrictions across Victoria is likely to create a weaker ‘spring selling season’ than in previous years. 
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Spring real estate listings off to slow start: Core Logic's Eliza Owen 

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The number of properties currently listed for sale nationally is tracking at the lowest level in nine years, according to market analysis from CoreLogic.
Freshly advertised stock for sale is at its lowest level since 2010, down almost 22% from the same time last year.
Over the 28 days of July 27,848 newly listed properties were advertised for sale nationwide.
There has been a spurt as a week ago the fresh listings stood at 16,439.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/1/listings.png" alt="">
In Sydney and Melbourne specifically, the number of newly advertised private treaty properties for sale hasn’t been as low as it is currently since CoreLogic began tracking listings in 2007 - 12 years ago.
Meanwhile Adelaide and Perth were the only auction markets to see a higher number of homes taken to auction this week compared to the same week one year ago.
As the market seemingly begins to stabilise however, there are signs that vendor confidence might be turning according to analyst Cameron Kusher who noted, “with the spring listing season only one month away, there is a strong chance listing numbers will rebound sharply as pent-up vendor demand is unleashed.”
Some 1,014 capital city homes are scheduled to go under the hammer this week, down 10 per cent on last week when 1,124 auctions took place, and lower than the 1,324 auctions held over the same week last year.
In Sydney, 352 homes are set for auction this week, down on the 394 auctions held last week and lower than the 462 auctions held last year.
Some 460 auctions are scheduled to take place across Melbourne this weekend, down on the week prior when 544 auctions took place across the city, and 26.9 per cent fewer auctions than the same week one year ago.
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Fresh property listing numbers at 12 year lows in Sydney and Melbourne

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Spring auction volumes rose across the capital cities, with 1,907 homes taken to market.
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The listings secured a 58 percent preliminary clearance rate.
Last weekend, there was a 55 percent success rate from the 1,748 auctions.
The same week last year saw a much higher 66.9 per cent success rate from 2,258 auctions.
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There were 654 auctions held in Sydney, returning a preliminary auction clearance rate of 57.8 per cent.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/9/10/corelogic.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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Last week, there were 664 auctions held and the final auction clearance rate was 53.8 per cent, while one year ago, 826 Sydney homes went to auction and the clearance rate came in at 65.8 per cent.
AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver said the reduced supply was restricting the decline.
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Sydney's top sale was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-paddington-129063078" target="_blank">173 Underwood Street Paddington</a> (top) which fetched $6.05 million post-auction.
Fairfax Media described the auction as an "auction fizzer" as there was not a single bid from the three registered bidders for the terrace set on 388 square metres.
Melbourne's most expensive home sold was a four-bedroom home in Toorak (below) sold at $6.01 million.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/9/10/selwyn.jpg" alt="">
There were five registered bidders for <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/18-selborne-road-toorak-vic/property-details-sold-residential-12046698/" target="_blank">18 Selborne Road</a> with bidding kicking off at $5.4 million at its Marshall White auction.
Kieran Jiwa at the James Buyers Advocates described the auction vibe as "strong."
The new owners will renovate the 25-year-old home which had come with $5.4 million to $5.8 million price guidance.
It last sold at 1996 at $487,500.
Melbourne was the busiest capital city weekend auction locality.
There was a clearance rate of 62.4 per cent across 894 auctions, up from 57 per cent across 805 auctions last week. 
One year ago, the clearance rate was a stronger 71.8 per cent across a significantly higher volume of auctions (1,111). 
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Adelaide returned the strongest preliminary clearance rate of 64.8 per cent, just ahead of 64.4 percent in Canberra.
Only 18.8 per cent of homes sold across Perth. There was a 49 percent success rate in Brisbane.
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Brisbane's top sale was $4.35 million for a grand house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-clayfield-128815842" target="_blank">100 Oriel Road, Clayfield</a> by a local family with school aged children upgrading from nearby Hendra.  Ray White New Farm agent Tom Lyne said the 1987 built home had been tightly held for three decades.
The four bedroom which sits on 2034 sqm with manicured gardens and Helidon sandstone.
“A home of this calibre is rarely offered to the Brisbane market.”
An accountant Gregory Hall secured a $920,000 East Brisbane home at weekend auction which will bring an end to his family living on their catamaran moored at Dockside, Kangaroo Point.
They have been there since 2010 after they sailed from South Africa with their three children. 
"We were actually heading for New Zealand but we fell in love with Brisbane,” said the CFO who works in Milton.
“We have just sold our boat and the time is right for us now to buy a home as our children are bigger,” he said.
The family had been looking since last December. Selling agent Madi Roche of Ray White East Brisbane secured the weekend sale of the six bedroom 1910 home on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-east+brisbane-129043566" target="_blank">Didsbury Street, East Brisbane</a>.
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Auction volumes and clearance rates rise in Spring

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Sydney’s auction market had its weakest start to the spring selling season for five years.
Domain reported Sydney's clearance rate of 67.1 per cent was down on the 67.9 per cent recorded on the last weekend of winter.
Both results sit well below the 80 per cent reported this time last year.
Saturday’s tally was the third consecutive decline in weekend rates.
"Sydney’s auction market has had its worst start to the spring selling season since 2012 with the local market clearly running out of puff over the last month," Domain economist Dr Andrew Wilson noted.
"The lower north was sharply down this weekend with just 63.3 per cent," he said.
"Inner-suburban, higher priced regions continue to generally produce the best suburban results in Sydney, but clearance rates in those areas are now consistently lower than recorded over autumn and the early winter market," he noted.
CoreLogic's entire week results were a slightly healthier 70.5 per cent across Sydney, but leading auctioneers reported a weakening trend.
Cooley Auctions secured 56 percent from its 50 plus auctions.
"A balanced or normal market clearance rate is 50 percent to 60 percent and that's where we are headed," Damien Cooley said.
Ray White Sydney auctioneer Jerome Smith said the market was patchy in some parts. 
The most expensive house sold at auction in Sydney was a five-bedroom Strathfield home.
Set on 1416 square metres at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/73-newton-road-strathfield-nsw-2135-2013752236" target="_blank">73 Newton Road, Strathfield</a>, Devine Real Estate sold the home for $5.5 million as a deceased estate.
It was on the market for the first time in 88 years.
It was marketed as one of few remaining blocks in Strathfield with enough space for a tennis court.
The new owners planned to rent out the existing house for a year and then construct a new single residence.
Melbourne's top sale was when a grand Victorian in South Yarra sold for $7.015 million, after a contest between three bidders.
The buyers had sold the four-bedroom terrace at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-south+yarra-126101606" target="_blank">16 William St</a> to the vendors six years ago, Abercromby’s Armadale auctioneer Tim Derham told The Herald Sun.
The current owners engaged Techne Architecture + Interior Design to renovate and extend it shortly after purchasing it for $3.755 million in 2011. 
Across Melbourne 73.5 per cent of the 839 reported auctions sold on the weekend.
There were 976 properties taken to auction across the city, down from 1,124 last week when the final clearance rate was recorded at 72.3 per cent.
Over the same week last year, 830 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 79.3 per cent was recorded.
The strongest Melbourne clearance was recorded across the Outer East region, where 80.8 per cent of the 52 auctions were successful.
There was a tie for the nation's cheapest result.
A one bedroom Brunswick East apartment sold pre-auction for $320,000 making it Melbourne’s cheapest weekend auction listing.
The 40 sqm apartment had been a $300 a week rental.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-vic-brunswick+east-126135986" target="_blank">3/50A Brunswick Road</a>, the 1970s Monte Carlo apartment last sold in July 2000 for $89,950.
In Adelaide, a 1910 Mount Barker house sold for $320,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-mount+barker-126003610" target="_blank">20 Albert Road</a>, the three bedroom home on the 1200 sqm block has many original features including a rare pressed tin facade.
It also has pressed tin ceilings.
There is an open fire place in most rooms.
In Adelaide, a 60.4 per cent preliminary result was recorded across 75 auctions.
While the weakest capital city, the preliminary clearance rate in Brisbane increased to 47.1 per cent, from 43.9 per cent last week.
Brisbane auction volumes were slightly lower with 136 auctions held, down from 140 last week.
But Brisbane achieved one of the highest under the hammer results for some time when a four bedroom Teneriffe house sold for $4.8 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-teneriffe-126138898" target="_blank">77 Macquarie Street</a>, amid some of Brisbane’s most exclusive real estate, it features three levels of riverfront living with views.
Built in 2001 it last sold for $3.785 million in 2014.
The property, with 488 sqm of living space, was offered through Ray White agents Matt Lancashire and Brandon Wortley.
Perth’s clearance rate of 63.6 per cent across 11 auction results is up from last week, when 35 auctions were held and a clearance rate of 48.3 per cent was recorded.
Across Canberra, 69 homes were taken to auction this week.
Preliminary results show a clearance rate of 68.4 per cent, down from 71.9 per cent the previous week.
Canberra prices ranged from a $540,000 three bedroom Dunlop townhouse and a four bedroom O’Malley house that sold for $1.4 million.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-o%27malley-126136534" target="_blank">20 Numeralla Street</a>, O'Malley, the 1995-built home on a 1049 sqm block last sold for $1.23 million in 2009.
Canberra’s cheapest weekend result at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-townhouse-act-dunlop-126127882" target="_blank">3/34 Sunshine Loop</a> last sold for $409,000 in 2014
CoreLogic's latest weekend update indicated that auction numbers were down for spring's opening compared to the prior weekend.
There were 2,060 properties taken to auction this week, down from 2,270 last week.
It was higher than this time last year, when 1,899 auctions.
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Sydney's weakest spring selling season start for five years

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Some 1400 Melbourne homes are expected to go to auction this coming weekend, 26 November, in what will be the biggest test of the spring selling selling season, according to Domain Group's chief economist Andrew Wilson.
He said the weekend will see the Sydney market host its peak spring Super Saturday of auctions with more than 950 homes due to go under the hammer.
"Auction numbers have been significantly lower in Sydney this year compared to last, however, the gap has been narrowing in recent weekends providing more choice for hungry buyers," he said.
"The Sydney market will host its peak spring Super Saturday of auctions with more than 950 homes due to go under the hammer.
"Late spring auction numbers have increased sharply since the Melbourne Cup holiday weekend, with the usual rush to market by sellers who want to get in before the year ends. 
"Higher listings have contributed to a slight easing in clearance rates in recent weeks, but results remain firmly in favour of sellers in what remains strong local market conditions."
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