The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Sqm Research

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Windsor ranks among the top Queensland suburbs with four stars meaning that it will outperforms or is likely to outperform other suburbs the majority of the time, according to SQM’s latest report.
The report gave Windsor a ranking of 4.21.
This is followed by Eight Mile Plains with 4.12 and Brendale with 4.1.
Windsor is an inner-northern suburb of Brisbane
4030 Windsor 4.21
4113 Eight Mile Plains 4.12
4500 Brendale 4.1
4161 Alexandra Hills 4.06
4157 Capalaba 4.03
4061 The Gap 4.02
4035 Albany Creek 4.01
4128 Tanah Merah 4.01
A four bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-windsor-123807942" target="_blank">35 Bess Street</a> (above) is for sale for over $1.05 million and a four bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-windsor-123519262" target="_blank">37 Sixth Avenue</a> (below) that sold for $1.9 million are the kind of properties you can expect to buy in Windsor.
<img src="/images/2016/11/24/37%20Sixth%20Avenue.jpg" alt="">
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Windsor property ranked by SQM among top Queensland suburbs to outperform

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The Reserve Bank of Australia will need the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority to reign in home lending once again, or lift interest rates, or do both to avert a dangerous housing bubble, says housing expert Louis Christopher in his newly released Christopher’s Housing Boom and Bust Report 2017.
Under one scenario house prices in Sydney could rise up to 16 percent, the other scenario shows prices could rise as high as 18 percent.
Louis Christopher, the managing director of SQM Research calculated the housing market is currently at its second most overvalued point on record and now, given a combination of factors including loose monetary policy, strong population growth and booming local economies, prices in Sydney and Melbourne will be rising from this very lofty valuation point.
SQM Research forecasts an acceleration of dwelling price rises in Sydney and Melbourne with Sydney dwelling prices forecasted to rise 11 percent to 16 percent for the 2017 calendar year, while Melbourne is forecasted to rise by 10 percent to 15 percent.
The capital city average forecast is for dwelling prices to rise 6 percent to 10 percent. 
The forecasts assume a stable interest rate environment, a stable exchange rate and no further home lending restrictions by APRA.
If lending rates are cut again by the RBA, Sydney and Melbourne prices could rise by up to 18 percent for the year as forecasted by SQM’s “Scenario 2 outlook”.
The Scenario 2 outlook has three drivers such as a 0.25 percent cut in rates during mid-2017, APRA takes 'more action' after mid-2017 and the Aussie dollar ranges between US70-80 cents.
“The end of 2017 will see both Sydney and Melbourne markets dangerously overvalued and paving the way for a possible correction in 2018,” Christopher said.
“The authorities need to take action sooner rather than later. Failure to do so will result in double digit national housing price growth in 2017 driven by out-of-control Sydney and Melbourne housing markets.
“The problem this time round is tapping on APRA’s shoulders once again could be a little more complicated as it will need to involve restricting owner occupied credit growth – something which the banks will be more reluctant to do. And given the recent announcement of the 7% interest rate servicing test, APRA may well feel reluctant to take further action.”
<a href="/images/2016/11/01/Housing%20bubble.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/11/01/Housing%20bubble.jpg" alt="">
Elsewhere in the nation, the housing market is expected to be mixed, with Perth and Darwin prices expected to fall again.
However, it is likely 2017 will be the last year of price falls generated by the mining downturn for these cities.
Behind Sydney and Melbourne, Hobart is expected to be the next fastest growing city, with Hobart dwelling prices forecasted to rise 7 percent to 12 percent.
Brisbane is forecasted to rise 3 percent to 7 percent with the market been held back by an existing oversupply situation of dwellings which is covered in detail in the report.
Meanwhile, Canberra has now entered into a slow housing recovery with prices also expected to rise 3 percent to 7 percent.
Adelaide is expected to rise a modest 2 percent to 4 percent for next year.
Louis Christopher’s Housing Boom and Bust Report this year also has a full breakdown of every postcode in the country covering current market statistics and its inaugural postcode investor ratings.
The full report can be found on <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au">www.sqmresearch.com.au</a>  for $59.95.
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Sydney house prices could rise by 16 percent in 2017: SQM's Louis Christopher 

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The number of national residential vacancies rose in September, with 75,412 rental homes available, giving a national vacancy rate of 2.4 percent, up from 2.3 percent in August 2016, according to SQM Research.
The biggest capital cities Sydney and Melbourne recorded vacancies rates of 1.8 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively, up marginally from August 2016, while Brisbane’s vacancy rate rose to 2.9 percent, up from 2.7 percent.
Perth reported the highest vacancy rate at 5 percent, though it was steady from the previous month.
Hobart had the tightest rate at just 0.6 percent. Year-on-year results demonstrate that the national vacancy rate is up slightly.
<a href="/images/2016/10/18/vacancy.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/18/vacancy.jpg" alt="">
Reflecting its high vacancy rate, Perth has again recorded big falls in asking rents of 9.5 percent for houses and 11.1 percent for units over the past 12 months.
Yearly falls have also been posted in Darwin, with asking rents down 4.8 percent for houses and 3.5 percent for units, though Darwin remains the second most expensive city for rents in Australia, following Sydney, where asking rents for houses sit at $725 a week and $511 for units.
Asking rents have also jumped in Canberra, up 12.3 percent for houses and 9.3 percent for units from a year earlier. Despite a tight vacancy rate, Hobart continues to offer the most affordable rental accommodation, with houses costing just $359 a week and units averaging $287 a week.
Managing Director of SQM Research, Louis Christopher, said: "Asking rents have slipped back in Brisbane as vacancy rates have continued to rise this year.
At 2.9 percent, the rental market is favouring tenants and given the ongoing new apartment surge, I think rents in Brisbane will continue to fall from here, particularly in the inner city.
“Looking forward, vacancies are likely to rise in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney over 2017 as more new high-rise apartment developments come onto the market. However, we maintain that the oversupply issue appears to be constrained to concentrated areas such as the inner-city regions. We are not as confident we will see a contagion affect where the whole capital city market is affected.”
<a href="/images/2016/10/18/weekly%20rent%20index.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/18/weekly%20rent%20index.jpg" alt="">
SQM’s calculations of vacancies are based on online rental listings that have been advertised for three weeks or more compared to the total number of established rental properties.
SQM considers this to be a superior methodology compared to using a potentially incomplete sample of agency surveys or merely relying on raw online listings advertised.
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Vacancy rates rise in September: SQM Research

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The number of Australian residential property sale listings rose in all capital cities during the month of September 2016, with the Spring selling season attracting vendors into the market, according to SQM Research.
The number of national residential property listings rose 4.3%, with September recording 347,358 new listings, a rise of 2.4% from a year earlier. Sydney led the gains, with a 10.3% jump in monthly listings.
<a href="/images/2016/10/04/SQM%201.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="/images/2016/10/04/SQM%201.png" width="650" height="204">
Notably, Sydney property listings have jumped 13.2% from one year ago, reflecting the buoyancy of the property market there and the eagerness of vendors to take advantage of impressive capital gains in that city.
Elsewhere, Brisbane recorded a strong monthly gain of 7.4%, with listings up an impressive 12% from a year earlier. Other cities reporting a big boost in monthly property listings were Canberra, with a 6.5% rise, followed by a 5.1% rise in property listings in Melbourne. Even in Perth, where house prices are falling, monthly listings were up 4.7%, and they are up a healthy 9.6% from a year earlier. Only Hobart listings are down from a year earlier, one of the reasons for strong price rises in the city. Adelaide and Darwin listings posted modest growth.
Asking prices
Sydney and Melbourne property markets are still the strongest in the nation, with high auction clearance rates reflecting strong demand for property in both cities, with buyers still putting up their hands to bid despite high prices.
As can be seen from the table below, asking prices for property have jumped in Melbourne, following on from strong price gains in Sydney, where the insatiable appetite for property is being led by record low interest rates and strong population growth in both cities, especially in Melbourne.
Leading the way, year-on-year results reveal Melbourne median asking prices have jumped 15.1% for houses and 4.8% for units compared to this time last year. Hobart has also recorded yearly changes, with median asking prices for units climbing 25% from a year earlier and unit prices up 6.1%.
<a href="/images/2016/10/04/SQM%202.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/04/SQM%202.png" width="650">
Meanwhile, median asking prices for houses in both Darwin and Perth continue to fall. According to SQM Research, the median asking price for a house in Perth is $683,200, 5% lower than this time last year and in Darwin it is $619,700, 6.9% lower.
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Property listings rise in September: SQM Research

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A Blue Fig, Darwin unit (below) has become a burden to its owner.
"It's been on the market since August 2015 and still hasn't sold," SQM's Louis Christopher said.
"The price has just come down again to $430,000 as the vendor reassess their expectations in a city that has been trampled on by the mining downturn.
"Investors might be reluctant to buy a unit in an area where the vacancy rate has been climbing since 2012 and is now around 3.3%," he suggests.
<a href="/images/2016/10/04/Unit.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge </a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/04/Unit.png" alt="">
Reflecting that, the asking rent for a two bedroom unit in the 0810 postcode has fallen almost 20% in the three years to be around $375 a week now.
"Who knows when that decline in rents will stop?
"Only a brave buyer perhaps would put a date on it.
"As for asking prices for units, those too have been trending downwards in the 0810 postcode," Christopher said.
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Darwin unit slashed to possibly get it sold: SQM Research

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SQM's top ten nationwide most discounted properties list this week included a South Australia property making its debut.
Set on 6,480sqm, it is a six bedroom, three bathroom, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.allhomes.com.au/ah/sa/sale-residential/27-stone-street-panorama-southern-adelaide/1316954932011" target="_blank">red double brick 1971 home</a>. Last sold in 1989, it was designed by Adelaide Architect Deane Treloar for the Coxon family.
SQM advised the bushland property has been on the market since late last year and has since then been reduced a total $415,000 from the $1.39 million initially sought by the vendor who dropped the price just below the million dollar mark earlier this year. 
"This property is no doubt a bargain and offers plenty of value to buyers interested in the area or searching for the perfect holiday home," SQM's Louis Christopher said. 
<img src="/images/2015/05/21/700_sqm.jpg" alt="">
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

South Australia "holiday home bargain" on top 10 most discounted offerings across Australia

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The number of residential vacancies nationally decreased very marginally in May, according to SQM Research, with vacancies sitting at 2.2% nationally, or 65,075 vacancies.
Canberra, Melbourne and Darwin are the only capital cities recording a decrease in vacancies.
Year on year, vacancies remain up – by 0.2% - with the trend of 2% plus vacancies ongoing, suggesting renters are getting the upper hand, suggested SQM Research’s managing director Louis Christopher.
<img src="/images/2014/06/18/vacansies%20june%2018.png" alt="">
Source: SQM Research.
Rents have remained flat across the cities, with the <a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_rent_weeks.php?region=nsw%3A%3ASydney&amp;type=c&amp;t=1" target="_blank">Asking Rents Index</a> recording a flat $528 per week for houses and $416 for units.
“Rental growth so far this year has been patchy as a result of the moderate increase in supply of available rental properties and I believe vacancy rates will continue to gradually rise over the course of 2014, with the longer term view that the large increases in building approvals will translate to higher vacancy rates in 2015 and 2016. Overall it is going to be increasingly difficult for landlords to lift the rent for the foreseeable future,” said Christopher.
This leaves the vacancy rates as below.
MELBOURNE - 2.4%
PERTH - 2.3%
CANBERRA - 2.3%
BRISBANE - 2.3%
HOBART - 1.8%
SYDNEY - 1.7%
ADELAIDE - 1.6%
DARWIN - 1.4%
Source: SQM Research
For more insights into Sydney’s vacancy situation, read over page.
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SYDNEY RENTAL MARKET
In Sydney, vacancy rates were recorded by the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales as rising for the second month in a row. REINSW president Malcolm Gunning notes that this is due to the completion of large scale apartment projects.
They record Sydney’s vacancy rate at 1.9%, with a 0.2% rise for May 2014 in their REINSW Vacancy Rate Survey.
“We are getting back to a more neutral position with high volumes of apartments being completed,” said Gunning. “Fifty per cent of new apartments are purchased by investors and we are now seeing them seeking tenants. The development stock gives tenants a bit more of a fair go and choice.”
BIGGEST VACANCY RATE JUMPS
Wollongong vacancy rates: Increased by 0.9%, to 2.4% Newcastle vacancy rates: Increased by 0.9%, to 3.9% Illawarra vacancy rates: Increased by 0.3%, to 1.9% Hunter region vacancy rates: Increased by 0.4%, to 3.4%
The area with the highest availability, remains the Central West – falling 0.2% to 4.7%, with New England increased 0.1% to 3.5%. LOWEST VACANCY RATES
Orana: Fell 0.8% to 1.5% Albury: Steady, 1.6%
SYDNEY STATISTICS
Inner Sydney vacancy rates: Increased 0.3%, to 1.9% Middle Sydney vacancy rates: Increased 0.5% to 2.5% Outer Sydney vacancy rates: Decreased 0.1%, to 1.6%
With the increase in Sydney’s inner city vacancy rates, Century 21 suggests that the inner west is a renters market, noting that in February a total of 67 listings for rental were recorded by Australian Property Monitors. In May this figure was recorded as double the number with 134 rentals advertised.
“Basically, it is a renters’ market,” said Century 21 Synergy Dulwich Hill director Angelo Lofitis.
 “If you have an investment property in the suburb of Dulwich Hill and have been trying to find a new tenant recently, you’ll probably be finding that it takes a little longer than usual to lease right now,” he said.
“On the other hand, if you are selling, you can still expect the high prices and quick sale that Dulwich Hill is renowned for, as this is yet to change and remains consistently on the rise.”
Loftis, however, says that the reason behind the vacancies is the increase of upgraders in the area who are looking to rent a larger property, rather than owning a smaller home.
“Up-graders’, as a sub-section of buyers in the inner west, have started leaving their rental properties and going on to buy in the area, hence property values are still strong and growing,” he said.
What are your current experiences with trying to get tenants in Sydney?
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No rent hikes any time soon as vacancies stay above 2%: SQM Research

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May saw the number of homes listed on the market grow by 5.2%, according to SQM Research.
A total of 366,413 homes were on the market in Australia last month, with five Fridays for the month boosting numbers. The research firm believes that <a href="/expert-insights/buying/market-frenzy-fading-with-asking-prices-at-a-standstill-and-stock-levels-stagnating-sqm-research">stock levels have stagnated</a>, with last year’s “frenzy in the market” fading. 
The total number of listed homes for May, by capital city:
<ul>
<li>
Adelaide: 16,879 Stock on the market was up 4.3% from April (16,182 homes listed). Listings were down 6.0% from May 2013 (17,959). 
</li>
<li>
Brisbane: 27,966 Stock on the market was up 8.1% from April (25,852 homes listed). Listings were up 0.7% from May 2013 (27,766). 
</li>
<li>
Canberra: 3,542 Stock on the market was up 7.9% from April (3,283 homes listed). Listings were down 11.4% from May 2013 (3,998). 
</li>
<li>
Darwin: 1,543 Stock on the market was up 9.7% from April (1,407 homes listed). Listings were up 21.7% from May 2013 (1,268). 
</li>
<li>
Hobart: 4,499 Stock on the market was up 1.7% from April (4,422 homes listed). Listings were down 4.2% from May 2013 (4,696). 
</li>
<li>
Melbourne: 47,492 Stock on the market was up 6.4% from April (44,622 homes listed). Listings were down 2.2% from May 2013 (48,511). 
</li>
<li>
Perth: 22,207 Stock on the market was up 8.3% from April (20,507 homes listed). Listings were up 5.7% from May 2013 (21,011). 
</li>
<li>
Sydney: 25,699 Stock on the market was up 12.9% from April (22,762 homes listed). Listings were down 6.4% from May 2013 (27,468). 
</li>
</ul>
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How many homes were listed in your capital city last month?

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National residential property listings rose 5.2% between April and May, with 366,413 residential properties listed according to SQM Research.
The research firm believes that stock levels have stagnated, with last year’s “frenzy in the market” fading. Total stock on the market was down 1.8% from May 2013.
However, SQM has also noted that the monthly rise in stock levels was largely due to the five May Fridays this year. With only four Fridays usually occurring in a month, the extra week meant more listings for a larger sample, particularly given that many new listings are released on a Friday for the weekend.
Darwin was the only capital city to see a big jump in listings since May last year, with stock up by 21.7%. According to SQM, stock level increases are an ongoing trend in the city. Canberra saw the largest decrease in stock listings in the last year. Despite an expected downturn in the city, stock on the market decreased by 11.4%.
On a monthly basis, no capital city saw a decrease in listings. However, the smallest increase in stock on the market was recorded in Hobart, where the number of listings rose 1.7% for the month to 4,499.
Average house and unit prices have also stayed relatively flat on a month to month basis as shown by SQM Research’s Asking Price Index. SQM recorded a 0.7% increase for house prices between April and May and a 0.5% increase for units.
SQM Research’s managing director Louis Christopher says that given market conditions, he doesn’t expect an increase in interest rates right now.
“Some heat has come out of the national housing market as SQM Research is no longer recording the large scale, year on year decreases in listings that was occurring this time last year,” he said.
“Right now, it appears to be a market that is steady and not too strong yet not too weak. At this stage I don’t believe the market is at the point where an upward pressure would be placed on interest rates.”
 
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Market "frenzy" fading with asking prices at a standstill and stock levels stagnating: SQM Research

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New figures from SQM Research have seen vacancy rates jumping across the country, to see the national figure hit 2.3%, compared to 2.0%.
It’s the highest vacancy rate recorded for April since the inception of SQM’s index, in 2005,  and SQM's head of research Louis Christopher expects that for some areas this could be about to get worse.
<img src="/images/2014/05/19/vacancy%20may%2019%20one.png" alt="">
As can be seen in the table above, increases were seen across all states and territories in April 2014, compared to March 2014. When compared to the corresponding month in 2013, the story is somewhat more mixed.
Adelaide is down 0.1% since April 2013, and the market is also tighter in Hobart and Melbourne.
Perth and Canberra “are clearly looking sick” Christopher explained to Property Observer, “and I would say Darwin is going to follow suit.”
Melbourne, he noted, is bouncing back after two tight months previously.
“Nevertheless [it’s] more than just coincidence as our asking rents also recording a stagnant rental market,” he said.
National asking rents have remained flat, and over the past 12 months to May the capital city increase for units was just 1.7%, while dropping back 1.5% for houses.
“As we predicted this time last year, rental growth is slowing to the point where we are recording a flat rental market and in some instances significant rental falls as is the case with Perth and Canberra. With the national recovery in building approvals and completions, I can only surmise that the rental market is increasingly going to favour tenants over the next 12 months. And so rental yields for potential property investors will look even less attractive from their current low levels,” Christopher said.
Despite this, the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales’ vacancy rate statistics have seen pressure remain on Sydney’s market, as well as Wollongong, Albury and the Northern Rivers.
However, they also recorded a vacancy rate rise – bringing the number of properties for rent up 0.3% across Sydney, explained REINSW president Malcolm Gunning.
“Inner Sydney vacancy rates remain the tightest, despite an increase of 0.3% to 1.6%. In middle Sydney availability rose 0.4% at 2.0% and outer Sydney was up 0.2% at 1.7%,” said Gunning.
Inner city LGAs include Ashfield, Botany Bay, Lane Cove, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Mosman, North Sydney, Randwick, Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra.
Middle Sydney LGAs includes Auburn, Bankstown, Burwood, Canterbury, Canada Bay, Hunters Hill, Hurstville, Kogarah, Ku-ring-gai, Manly, Parramatta, Rockdale, Ryde, Strathfield and Willoughby.
And outer Sydney includes Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Gosford, Hawkesbury, Holroyd, Hornsby, Liverpool, Penrith, Pittwater, Sutherland, Warringah, Wollondilly and Wyong.
Wollongong vacancy rates are now at lows that were last seen three years ago, said Gunning.
“Wollongong is an attractive proposition for those who wish to relocate from Sydney. Its beachside location is a more affordable option for those who are seeking a more relaxed lifestyle and this is putting pressure on the number of properties available,” he said.
Meanwhile, vacancy rates dropped 0.5% in Albury and the Northern Rivers, while Newcastle’s increased by 0.5%.
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