KTQ has unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/casilia-16-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Casilia</a>, the final residential release within the Kirra Point precinct which really kicked off the boom in the area back in 2019.

The final stage comprises&nbsp;87 residences and marks the culmination of a long-term, family-led vision for Kirra Point, as the precinct moves toward completion in tandem with the development.

Around $100 million in sales have been achieved already, close to 35 per cent of the residences secured ahead of launch. There have been a significant number of buyers returning from the first stage of the development, Miles Residences, securing another property within Kirra Point.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152295 project_image_fid=368410]

Selling agent Tim Keenan from Keenan Byrne said the response reflects both the scarcity of the offering and Kirra’s growing reputation as a premium coastal market.

“This is effectively Kirra’s final act, the last release within what has become one of the Southern Gold Coast’s most tightly held beachfront precincts,” Keenan said.

“We’ve seen exceptionally strong pre-sale interest, from VIP waitlists through to off-market enquiry, which speaks to both the quality of the product and the confidence buyers have in the precinct. What’s particularly compelling is the number of buyers returning from Miles, either upgrading or investing again, which is a strong signal of how the precinct has been received."

Keenan adds that at the same time, north-facing beachfront remains exceptionally rare in Australia, limited to places like Noosa, Byron and Kirra, which is underpinning long-term value.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152295 project_image_fid=368415]

Positioned along one of Australia’s few true north-facing beaches, Casilia offers a mix of two and three-bedroom residences with pricing ranging from $1.87 million to $7.15 million and two exclusive penthouses. Residences are oriented to capture varying outlooks, from uninterrupted Pacific Ocean views across Kirra Beach to hinterland vistas, with upper levels and shared amenity taking in sweeping perspectives along the Gold Coast coastline.

At rooftop level, a north-facing pool deck captures expansive, uninterrupted views over Kirra Beach and north towards Surface Paradise. The space incorporates a heated resort-style pool, mineral spa, sun lounges and a covered BBQ cantina.

Buyer profiles are broad, typically aged between 40 and 70, with a strong skew toward second-home ownership, drawn by a combination of lifestyle, relative value, proximity to Gold Coast Airport and lower congestion compared to more established markets such as Byron Bay and Noosa.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152295 project_image_fid=368414]

The project is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ktq-group">KTQ Group</a>, a family-owned Australian property group with a diverse portfolio spanning residential, hospitality and commercial developments. The group has delivered a number of notable projects across sectors, including the award-winning Elements of Byron resort, demonstrating its depth of experience across both hospitality and residential development.

Known for its long-term approach to place-making, KTQ Group retains a vested interest in its projects, often holding assets within its portfolio, which has also helped build trust among buyers and reinforced confidence in both the vision and delivery certainty of the precinct.

“Casilia represents the final opportunity to secure a residence within Kirra Point and brings to market the last release within our long-term vision for the precinct," KTQ Group's Jeremy Holmes said.

"Kirra Point has been more than a decade in the making, and that timeframe reflects the care behind each decision, it takes listening, balance and vision to arrive at something that feels right for the location.

“Our approach has always been to deliver Kirra Point as a destination in its own right, a connected coastal neighbourhood integrating residential, hospitality and wellness, rather than a standalone project. It’s a vision that respects place, pace and permanence, and contributes to a sense of community that feels authentic to Kirra.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152295 project_image_fid=368411]

Once complete, the Kirra Point masterplan will incorporate a mix of dining establishments, bars and cafés, alongside the Kirra Point Health Club and a future 91-room independent resort hotel, creating a walkable, integrated lifestyle precinct.

Architecutue and interiors at Casilia have been designed by the experienced design houses of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/little-boat-projects">Little Boat Projects</a> and O’Neil Architecture &amp; Interior Design, The design moves beyond the conventional coastal apartments, instead taking cues &nbsp;from the surrounding landscape - layering natural materials, soft curves and warm textures to create spaces that respond to light, airflow and the rhythms of coastal living.

Residences are designed with an array of floorplates, generous proportions and intuitive flow, while at ground level Casilia connects into the broader precinct, where future laneways, retail and hospitality offerings will contribute to a neighbourhood defined as much by how people live day-to-day as its beachfront position.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152295]

The final residential release within the Kirra Point masterplan is set to launch, as strong pre-sales signal sustained demand for the Southern Gold Coast

Joel Robinson

A decade in the making: KTQ launches Casilia at Kirra Point

South East Queensland developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a>’s entry into the Gold Coast apartment market has progressed from pipeline to market, with its Chevron Island project Bronze on Chevron now formally available to purchase ahead of a planned 2029 completion.

The 119-apartment development on Mawarra Street marks the Brisbane-headquartered builder-developer’s first residential play in the Gold Coast, following its expansion south from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bronze-on-chevron-8-mawarra-street-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Bronze on Chevron</a> comprises a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, with pricing starting from just over $1.5 million. The project is being delivered under Gardner Vaughan’s fully integrated model, with the group acting as both developer and builder, a structure it has consistently applied across its South East Queensland portfolio.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367182]

Architecture has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jeremy-ferrier-landscape-design">Jeremy Ferrier</a>. The building presents as a single-tower scheme, with a focus on maximising outlook across both the Surfers Paradise skyline and the Nerang River.

Apartments have been planned with open-plan living zones extending to generous balconies, a response to the site’s dual-aspect positioning between river and ocean. Interiors follow a restrained coastal palette, with two colour schemes offered, and an emphasis on natural light and cross-ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367181]

Resident amenity is concentrated across more than 1,250 sqm and includes a resort-style pool, gym, yoga lawn and rooftop entertaining areas. A function space with catering facilities forms part of the upper-level offering, alongside north- and south-facing outdoor areas.

Ground level will incorporate two retail tenancies, intended to extend the existing village character of the surrounding streets.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367200]

The project sits within walking distance of Thomas Drive’s established dining strip, while maintaining proximity to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Surfers Paradise</a> beach and broader Gold Coast amenity. The location, positioned on Chevron Island between the river and coastline, has increasingly attracted mid- to high-density development in recent years as the precinct evolves beyond its low-rise origins.

Gardner Vaughan’s move into the Gold Coast was first signalled in 2025, with the group identifying the region as a natural extension of its operations. Chief Executive Officer Simon Betteridge described the expansion as both “strategic and natural”, citing demand for well-designed apartments in lifestyle-driven markets.

Construction is expected to complete in early 2029.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107520]

Gardner Vaughan brings Bronze on Chevron to market as Gold Coast debut

One of the penthouses at Lily Lane, the latest stage of Carrington Place by Ellipse Property, has set a new local apartment price record.

The four-bedroom residence, purchased by a local downsizer, sold for $5.75 million—around 75 per cent higher than the previous record of $3.3 million.

Over 40 per cent of the first release of apartments at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lily-lane-at-carrington-place-castle-hill-32-carrington-road-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Lily Lane</a> have already been snapped up just six weeks since it launched to the market.

&nbsp;

Located at 32 Carrington Road, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/castle-hill-nsw-2154">Castle Hill</a> and designed by award-winning architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ptw">PTW</a>, Lily Lane is directly opposite the Hills Showground Metro station. It offers a total 213 units over two 12-storey towers - a mix of 67 one-bedroom, 100 two-bedroom and 46 three-bedroom apartments - with a ground-floor retail offering.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=368352]

Blake Schulze, National Director – Residential at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a>, says around 44 per cent of buyers are&nbsp;owner occupiers, with 35 per cent being investors and 21 per cent first homebuyers.

“Developments of this calibre are very rare in the Hills District, and Lily Lane’s sales success demonstrates the depth of demand for over-sized apartments that genuinely compete with freestanding homes," Schulze says.

"We are seeing particular demand from downsizers who want to remain in the area but transition into spacious, high-quality apartment living."

On the penthouse sale, it says it shows buyers&nbsp;are prepared to pay a premium for scale, quality, and direct access to the Metro.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=368351]

One-bedroom apartments are sized from 50-72 sqm with prices starting at $745,000, while two-bedrooms are priced from $990,000 with sizes from 75 to 132 square metres. Three-bedroom floorplans are sized between 97 and 182 sqm,, with prices starting at $1,395,000.&nbsp;

The three remaining penthouses, spanning up to 262 sqm, are priced from $2.9 million.

Over 75 per cent of apartments include dedicated studies, multipurpose rooms or family rooms, with select layouts offering walk-in pantries and laundries. Apartments are appointed with premium Miele appliances including ovens, washing machines, dryers, gas cooktops and dishwashers, while larger residences also incorporate integrated Miele microwaves, Fisher &amp; Paykel integrated refrigerators and five-burner Miele cooktops.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151821 project_image_fid=360285]

Lily Lane will be constructed by award-winning iCIRT-rated builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/decode">Decode Group</a>, with construction to commence in mid-2026 and expected to complete early 2029.

Carrington Place comprises more than 800 apartments and is being delivered across multiple stages, with completion expected in 2032. Integrated with neighbouring bushland, the project will feature over 20,000 sq, of outdoor recreational area, including a one-kilometre boardwalk to Fred Caterson Reserve.&nbsp;

The Hills Showground Metro Station is just a two-minute walk away, offering fast connectivity to Sydney’s CBD, North Sydney, Chatswood, Macquarie Park and Norwest Business Park.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151821]

Ellipse sets Castle Hill apartment record with $5.75 million Lily Lane penthouse sale

Fresh off completing its Delano Crows Nest development, Lindsay Bennelong has lodged plans for its next project, this time turning its attention back to the beach.

The developer, started 20 years ago by Clarendon Homes founder Peter Campbell, is proposing a 37-apartment scheme at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-25-ashburner-street-manly-nsw-2095">17-25 Ashburner Street</a>, Manly, positioned between the southern end of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/manly-nsw-2095">Manly</a> Beach and East Manly Cove.

Lindsay Bennelong called on local architecture firm Platform Architects to design the new building, given their success at Finn, Lindsay Bennelong's current luxury apartment project on North Steyne.&nbsp;

According to the Design Verification Statement by Bridie Gough of Platform Architects, the proposal “relates to the current context but also the desired future character of taller buildings suitable to the new planning controls.”

The site has been identified as a Low to Mid-Rise Housing (LMR) location, given its position within 400 metres of the Manly Town Centre E1 Business Zone. The LMR controls are intended to unlock additional housing supply in well-located areas close to public transport, allowing developers to seek increased height limits to support greater density.

“The proposal seeks to provide this increased level of housing whilst being respectful of some of the smaller scale buildings also nearby,” the statement reads.

Lindsay Bennelong Development Director Leigh Manser said the project has been carefully aligned with the intent of the LMR controls. The proposal will significantly increase housing yield on the site, replacing four houses and 10 apartments, comprising 25 bedrooms, with 37 new apartments delivering a total of 94 bedrooms, whilst remaining compliant with the LMR controls.

“Sydney is in a severe undersupply, and delivering more dwellings and more bedrooms than what currently exists is exactly what the LMR policy is designed to activate,” Manser said, noting that nine of the apartments will be allocated as affordable housing for frontline workers.

“We have already commenced discussions with our community housing provider to determine the rental levels that frontline workers can realistically afford in this location,” he said. “These will need to sit well below the standard affordable housing benchmark of 20 per cent below market rent, and that has been factored into our feasibility and pricing.”

<img alt="Manly" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ad03000f-19f9-48b4-b27d-e85ca800a1da" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-30%20at%208.41.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=a.txHwCZgbCInlQ6QXbIrI.umvW1T.r8" />

The design of the building incorporates a wave-like indentation running through the façade, referencing the nearby coastline and anchoring the building within its local context.

The&nbsp;Design Verification Statement says careful consideration has been given to the articulation of the building, ensuring the bulk is broken down to a more human scale through a defined four-storey podium."

The scheme includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a full-time building manager's office and wellness facilities including a sauna and a gym.

“The design ensures a high level of amenity, with apartments offering generous private open space, many with expansive views, and all with comfortable proportions."

<img alt="Bennelong" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6a7f2812-72a1-4959-84b0-997e8cd88aed" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-04-30%20at%2010.15.50%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6iMxU3MkXmHVHAoNhYBjnqgka8CUZNbk" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lindsay-bennelong-developments">Lindsay Bennelong</a>&nbsp;is currently developing Finn Manly, just four full-floor luxury apartments on North Steyne. They recently welcomed residents to its 81-unit Delano Crows Nest development, a&nbsp;carefully scaled infill project designed to bridge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/crows-nest-nsw-2065">Crows Nest</a>’s lively village centre with its surrounding heritage streets.

Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ajc-architects">AJC Architects</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/delano-crows-nest-27-57-falcon-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Delano</a>&nbsp;is arranged across three low-rise buildings, incorporating a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments alongside a limited number of townhomes addressing Hayberry Lane. The architectural approach drew on the area’s Art Deco lineage, reinterpreted through contemporary detailing and framed by landscaped communal gardens.

The developer also has a development site in Maroubra.

First look: Lindsay Bennelong's new Manly apartment development revealed

Fifty-nine residences across 37 levels. No more than two per floor. With 80 per cent now sold, what remains at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/madeline-by-mosaic-broadbeach-22-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Madeline by Mosaic</a> is a short list.

Madeline was always conceived at a scale that sits outside the normal register of Gold Coast apartment living. The residences are half- and full-floor configurations, with the largest spanning more than 400 sqm, dimensions that place them closer to the penthouse end of the market regardless of where they sit in the building.

That scale is the organising principle of everything else: how the floorplans are laid out, how the materials read, how the connection between inside and outside works.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355941]

The interiors were developed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser &amp; Partners</a>, the architecture practice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group">Mosaic</a> brought in as design partner for the first time on this project. The palette runs to natural stone, textured timbers, and soft metallics, materials chosen as much for their tactile quality as their appearance.

Light cleverly shifts across surfaces through the day, and the design is explicit about wanting that to be noticed. Full-height glazing runs across the primary living areas, and where the building faces east toward the ocean, those walls of glass are doing real work: framing a view corridor that the site's position directly opposite Broadbeach State School's playing fields keeps permanently open.

That outlook is the site's most consequential asset. In a suburb where new towers continue to rise, a protected view line is genuinely rare, and the Mary Avenue address secures it. Residents at Madeline will look out over open parkland rather than the rear of another building, a distinction that becomes more meaningful with each new development approved nearby.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=355939]

The private outdoor spaces are sized to match the residences themselves. Terraces on the upper levels frame uninterrupted ocean panoramas, and the planning ensures that living areas extend into those outdoor zones rather than treating them as separate attachments. The flow between the two is part of the design intent, not an afterthought.

Inside, the finish specification reflects the same approach. Rich stone benchtops, warm timber joinery, bespoke hardware, each element specified to hold up over time rather than read as a moment in a particular trend cycle.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150135 project_image_fid=3409]

Beyond the residences, the amenity offering extends that register. A lap pool and sun deck anchor the outdoor space, alongside a magnesium pool, cold plunge, steam room, and sauna.

A commercial-grade gymnasium, residents' lounge, library, and boardroom round out a programme that functions more like a private members club than a standard building amenity floor.

Construction has commenced under Mosaic's in-house building arm, with completion scheduled for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150135]

Madeline by Mosaic delivers penthouse-level living across every apartment

Sydney Market

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<div id="post-body-651116980849945678" class="post-body entry-content">
<div>There are still a great many property investors around in the market right now, so there shouldn't be too much upwards pressure on rents at the national level.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>And, so it is!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The weighted average annual rents inflation across Australia's eight capital cities steadied at +0.7 per cent in the third quarter of calendar year 2016, according to the ABS Consumer Price Index figures. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>As you can clearly see in the chart below, nominal rental prices at the national level only tend to spike dramatically when property investors are spooked out of the market for some reason, thereby stymying the available supply of rental stock.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>This has only happened twice over the past 35 years or so, with the most recent trigger point being the global financial crisis. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>However, with mortgage rates close to their record lows, there are presently oodles of investors in the domestic market - and many more from overseas too! - even in the face of recent curbs. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/28/pete1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
 <div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/28/pete1.jpg" alt=""></div>
 <div>
City by city 
</div>
<div>Of course, the outlook is as always quite different for each capital city, region, and sub-region. 
</div>
<div>I have presented a second chart below as an index to show what has happened to nominal rents over the last four-and-a-half decades.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>One of the reasons I have done so is that although commentators seemingly love to spin out 'inflation-adjusted' results, the reality for many of us living today is that we often have 'rent versus buy' equations to weigh up, and for these decisions we understandably - and logically - tend to think in nominal terms. "Are rents rising? Are dwelling prices rising? What about holding costs? Will mortgage rates increase or decrease? What is the smartest financial decision here?"</div>
<div> </div>
<div>In Sydney, annual rents inflation accelerated slightly to +2.5 per cent, which is still close to double the +1.3 per cent headline rate of inflation.</div>
<div>
 Blogsites and media do love a good falling rents meme, but this hasn't really been backed up by the facts, at least in Sydney's case. Indeed, Sydney rents have increased at double the rate of inflation for nearly a decade now. 
</div>
<div>Since the beginning of 2007 Sydney's rental index has increased by +54 per cent, exactly double the rate of inflation for the harbour city over the same time horizon. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Rental growth may be softer than it was, and in fact it is already easing in some pockets of Sydney, but rents have hardly 'fallen' since the financial crisis as commentary sometimes tries to imply.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>It's a very different Jackanory in the resources capitals, mind you. After a great surge in both rents and dwelling prices through the heady days of the resources boom, the rental index numbers are in full on decline mode in Perth, falling back by -6.4 per cent over the year to September. This puts the rental index for Perth back close to where it was at the peak of the mining boom four years ago in Q3 2012. <div>And in Darwin, the equivalent year-on-year decline has been -7.7 per cent, although certain other metrics have implied that the real estate market in the Top End may be stabilising somewhat. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-28%20at%208.51.32%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div><img src="/images/2016/10/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-28%20at%208.51.32%20AM.png" alt=""></div>
 <div>Rental growth is flat on this index in Canberra, while interestingly the rental growth index for Adelaide has by and large tracked that of Melbourne closely for almost the entire data series since 1972. You learn something new every day!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Supply response cavalry now arriving</div>
 <div>The chart above hints at why Rory Robertson was always unlikely to lose his high profile 2008 bet cf. Sydney house prices correcting sharply.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>While the annual rate of population growth in New South Wales rose incessantly from 2004 to 2008 up to an annualised peak of nearly 118,000, very little accommodation was actually being built, and this has resulted in nearly a chronic supply shortage and nearly a decade of strong rents growth. </div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-28%20at%208.52.55%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-28%20at%208.52.55%20AM.png" alt=""></div>
<div> </div>
<div>What you don't need any charts to tell you - just listen to the jackhammers! - is that this dynamic has at last changed, with dwelling construction at now really hitting its straps over the last couple of years, and a veritable flood of apartment completions in the post. --- In other news, Domain reported that Sydney's median house price rose by +2.7 per cent in the September quarter to a fresh all-time high of $1,068,000. In Melbourne, the median house price rose by an even more sprightly +3.1 per cent over the quarter and +9.1 per cent over the year to also hit a record high of $774,000. Somewhat surprisingly, median unit prices in Melbourne performed even more strongly again in the quarter in rising by +4.5 percent, to be +5.5 percent higher over the year. Melbourne has been constructing dwellings like fury in recent years, but population growth has accelerated to extraordinarily high levels as you can see in the chart above. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blogger</a>. 
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div class="post-footer"> </div>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Rental growth steadies, though not in Sydney

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CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless talks the Sydney housing market.
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Sydney's market update for November: CoreLogic

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Despite COVID-19, the Sydney property is strongly forging ahead with auction clearance rates tracking at levels similar to those of 12 months ago, according to RiskWise Property Research.
Houses achieved a 71.1 per cent preliminary clearance rate and, overall, of the total volume of 625 properties, a 69.5 per cent clearance rate.
The volume of auctions was 18 per cent higher than a year earlier according to CoreLogic, and the final auction clearance rate is expected to finish at around 64 per cent, marginally above the decade average.
RiskWise CEO Doron Peleg said this was another consistent result, and similar to those seen in recent weeks.
“When you have a larger volume and higher clearance rates, this means that we have a stronger market,” Mr Peleg said. 
“Houses, in particular, are showing strong results while units achieved only 66.3 per cent clearance rate which shows that, as expected, they have less resilience.
“Houses in Sydney also performed well last week with clearance rates recently running above those for units.
“Overall, the 69.5 clearance rate for Sydney is similar to results achieved around the same time last year when the Sydney property market was enjoying a strong recovery period following the election results, interest rate cuts and some loosening of the credit restrictions, particularly in relation to APRA's floor assessment.” 
This week, the top performing areas in Sydney, based on the preliminary figures, were the Northern Beaches (81.3%) and the Inner West (77.8%).
Buyers Buyers COO Pete Wargent said home buyers with long-term holding strategies were well positioned to negotiate aggressively to purchase high-quality houses that usually enjoyed very strong demand and were sold through auction campaigns at premium prices.
“The average holding period of houses in Sydney, that in 75.9 per cent of cases belong to owner-occupiers, is 12.2 years. This means owner-occupiers with secure jobs and no serviceability issues are not impacted by short-term market movements, unless they need re-finance,” Mr Wargent said. 
He said the Sydney property market delivered solid capital growth of 22 per cent in the past five years with popular areas enjoying even stronger results.
For example, houses in Paddington experienced price increase of 56 per cent and in St. Peters houses saw capital growth of 51 per cent during that period. 
This shows that although there were credit restrictions by APRA, scrutinising of loan applications as a result of the Royal Commission and material price reductions due to fears of changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax until the election result in May 2019, houses in Sydney enjoy strong demand and deliver solid capital growth. 
In addition, over the medium and the long term, solid price growth is highly likely for houses, particularly due to a systematic undersupply in the inner and middle rings, and also in the more affordable outer areas with good access to the CBD, such as the western suburbs.
“What this all means is now is the time to buy if you are a first home buyer or an owner-occupier as this current slowdown in the property market is only temporary, with houses in popular areas likely to experience solid capital growth in the medium to long term.
“Once the COVID-19 issue is resolved, most likely in 2021, the traditional connection between low interest rates and increase in dwelling prices is likely to take place.”
Other top performing areas included Newcastle and Port Macquarie, with a clearance rate of 80.0 per cent, clearly demonstrating that the demand for lifestyle locations is playing a key role in the property market.
Mr Wargent stressed, however, that investors buying rental apartments unsuitable for families were taking an enormous gamble, with both equity and cash flow risk expected to materially increase.
Serviceability is also a major factor for investors who rely on a stable rental income to cover the costs associated with property, particularly the mortgage.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Houses in Sydney deliver 71% clearance rate

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Rental yields in Sydney have been on the decline over the past decade, as rents have failed to keep pace with increasing property prices, according to the latest Herron Todd White (HTW) residential report. 

The valuation firm took a look at yields across the country and dissect where to find the best returns in residential markets.

According to SQM research, average yields for houses in Sydney fell from 3.7% in August 2009 to 2.8% in August 2019, while units fell from 4.9% to 3.7% over the same period.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6798]

The HTW report notes while prices were rising, investors were happy for the capital growth to offset the declining rental yields.

<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/10/9/sydney%20yield%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 

<img alt="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/10/9/sydney%20yield%20.jpg">

Source: data from SQM Research

"Unfortunately as prices began to fall over the past two years, rental yields did not climb as expected, as increasing rental vacancies put downward pressure on asking rents," the valuation firm said. 

"Obviously Sydney is a large city and rental yields will differ across its many regions.

"So which regions are currently providing the best average yields? For houses, the Lower North Shore has the highest average yield at 3.5%, while south-western Sydney and western Sydney enjoy a 3.3% yield.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7317]

"On the unit side, the CBD is the clear winner for average rental yield at 4.4%, while the Hills Districts, south- western Sydney and western Sydney were at 4.1%," the valuation firm added. 

With yields at 10-year lows across most parts of Sydney, investors are looking at alternatives to the standard house or unit to help improve their potential yields, HTW noted.
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What are the Sydney suburbs with the highest residential rental yields: HTW 

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
There is no relief for tenants looking to move over the short to medium term or for those facing lease renewals.
Over the last 12 months, Sydney’s metropolitan office vacancy rate has fallen below 5%.
The last time that happened was during the late 1980’s boom.
Moreover, the period of low vacancies has only just begun, with BIS Oxford Economics forecasting a sub-5% vacancy rate for at least three more years.
That is not good news for tenants with a short to medium term lease expiry – they will face much higher rents and limited relocation options.
Conversely, the balance of power in lease negotiations has shifted back towards building owners and will stay there for some time yet.
Sydney’s office vacancies have fallen significantly over the last two years, as moderate net absorption (underpinned by a solid NSW economic and employment growth) was met by below average completions and close to zero net additions to stock.
By the end of 2018, it is estimated the Sydney metropolitan vacancy rate will fall to 4.6%.
Sydney’s problem is on the supply side, not the demand side.
With almost nothing added to stock over the last two years, demand is starting to be constrained by a shortage of available space.
With vacancy rates a primary driver of rents, CBD prime average net stated rents have risen by over 20% since December 2016 with effective rents (taking into account leasing incentives) up by one third.
Indeed, since the post GFC cycle trough in 2009 face rentals have risen by close to 70% and around 125% in effective rent terms.
The bad news for tenants facing upcoming lease expiries is there is no relief from rising rents in sight for at least three years.
The current round of office projects underway – focused on the CBD, North Sydney, Parramatta and Eveleigh – will be easily absorbed by the market, keeping the metropolitan vacancy rate below 5% until at least 2021, with the CBD even tighter.
Low metro-wide vacancies mean there will be limited options available for CBD tenants seeking to move out of the City to avoid rising rents in the medium term.
Rents will be rising strongly in the suburban markets as well.
Building owners’ time has come within the Sydney office market and it looks set to stay that way for some time to come.
LEE WALKER is the responsible for BIS Oxford Economics's Sydney and Perth commercial forecasting studies
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The Sydney office market is facing at least three more years of low vacancies: Lee Walker

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Warmer weather has seen vacancy rates steady across Sydney as renters seek accommodation in the heart of the city, according to research from the Real Estate Institute of New South Wales.
REINSW President Leanne Pilkington said the September 2018 REINSW Vacancy Rate Survey saw metropolitan Sydney vacancy rates down 0.2 percentage points at 2.8%.
“The change in season has seen renters return to the Inner Sydney market with vacancy rates falling 0.5% to 2.4%, a level last seen in May,” Pilkington said.
“Middle Sydney remained steady at 3.1% while Outer Sydney dropped 0.2% at 2.9%.”
In the Hunter, vacancy rates rose 0.1 percentage points to 1.9%, with Newcastle up 0.8 percentage points at 2.9%.
The Illawarra slipped 0.2 percentage points despite Wollongong being up 0.1 percentage points to 2.1%.
Across regional areas, New England remained steady at 2.2%, Northern Rivers rose 0.3 percentage points to 1.3% and Orana rose 0.2 percentage points to 2.0%.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/22/vacancy%20rate%201%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here </a>to enlarge
<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/2018/10/22/vacancy%20rate%201%20.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/22/vacancy%20rate%202.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge
<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/2018/10/22/vacancy%20rate%202.jpg" alt="">
Source: REINSW
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Spring sees renters return to inner Sydney market: REINSW

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The recent boom in housing supply in Sydney is slowing rapidly due to excessive levies and planning changes.
The development industry is a major provider of jobs in New South Wales, providing 400,000 direct jobs as well as generating huge employment in supporting industries and services.
But a recent survey of Urban Taskforce members indicates that the number of pre-sales for apartments has slowed down and this could have major impacts on employment, particularly in Sydney.
While the property industry is a huge driver of jobs in NSW it is the residential sector that represents 70% of these jobs.
It is therefore critical to keep the supply of residential projects flowing at the levels the NSW Government has proposed.
With 325,000 new homes required over 20 years according to the Greater Sydney Commission that translates to over 37,000 new homes a year.
The peak in recent times has reached this figure but there is a worrying drop in approvals over recent months and there seems to be an even bigger drop in pre-sales of apartments.
There are a number of contributing factors to the slowing housing market.
These include confusion over possible affordable housing levies, the raising of the cap on Section 94 infrastructure levies, the increase in the stamp duty from 4 to 8% in NSW for foreign investors which has turned them away and the restrictive policies of banks in lending to purchasers and to developers.
The Urban Taskforce has produced a publication on the importance of jobs from the development industry to the NSW economy which demonstrates the extensive number of specialist jobs that are part of residential construction, including apprenticeships which provide valuable training and opportunities for young people.
We need to keep the economy performing strongly so that the jobs and the funds keep flowing to federal and state governments from GST and Stamp Duty taxes.
Chris Johnson heads the Urban Taskforce, a property development industry group, representing Australia’s most prominent property developers and equity financiers.
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Sydney housing boom starting to slow - and jobs will take a hit: Chris Johnson

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Sydney is nearing the point of the property cycle where after years as a sellers' market, it's becoming a buyers' market.
The shift to the buyer's favour comes because there's plenty of stock for sale, accompanied by a flailing auction success rate, and vendors prepared to drop their prices to secure their sale. Last month Sydney property values sat in negative annual growth territory, according to CoreLogic, albeit down 3.4% after around 75% growth since 2012.
Cooley Auctions' auctioneer Damien Cooley recently suggested a healthy auction market, where both sellers and buyers had equal bargaining positions, was between 50% and 60%.
That's where the market currently sits.
Cooley suggests it becomes a buyers' markets should clearance rates become less than 50%.
Buyers certainly are acting like the tide has turned.
It is not that buying has frozen due to any fears, just that home buyers have turned tough in their negotiations.
They are having to lower their buying expectations since they are discovering the banks won't lend everything they yearn for.
Sellers who engage inexperienced agents who've never dealt with a weakened market will be especially exposed as a buyers market puts sellers in an especially vulnerable position if they need to sell because they have already bought elsewhere.
It is not a time for sales' gimmicks, just realism.
It is a time for strong marketing so there's the increased prospect of the property being seen by the reduced numbers of active buyers, plus those potentials who have basically tuned out through months, or maybe years, of missing out.
There's also those passive buyers who don't consider themselves in the market, but could be tempted by what they see on offer.
It's likely fewer listings during the winter hibernation will slow the downward price momentum, but setting the right asking price is crucial for vendors who want to sell before spring volumes pickup.
Overall there's 26,000 offerings across Sydney - around 26% more stock than this time last year - which means buyers have more choice.
There were 22,000 listings at the start of last spring.
Discounting on asking prices is normal, however in an emerging slowing or falling market, the mismatch between asking and paid prices is likely to be at its highest, possibly due to pride or naivety.
CoreLogic currently puts the required discount before sale at 6.2% for private treaty listings that are taking around 40 days. In March it was at a 5.6% discount and 31 days, and in March last year it was a 4.1% after just 27 days on market. 
Little wonder buyers reckon the market is finally trending their way, so wise vendors might move to marginally underprice the market to get ahead of the emerging curve.
This article first appeared in The Daily Telegraph. 
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Sydney market is changing from sellers' market to buyers' market 

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Sydney fresh listings are finally higher than this time last year, according to CoreLogic.
All up Sydney listings are 23% up on the same time in 2017.
An early Easter has triggered the current spurt agents suggest, although it was too early for many potential vendors to hit the market.
Sydney and Perth are the only capitals where fresh 2018 listings are higher than the same time last year.
<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/2018/2/19/new%20listings.jpg" alt="">
Sydney auction volumes were down by about 15% last weekend.
A preliminary auction clearance rate of 69.1% was recorded across the combined capital cities as auction activity ramped up this week, with a total of 1,963 homes taken to auction, increasing from the 1,490 auctions held last week when (based on final results) 63.7% cleared.
While auction activity has increased over the last couple of weeks coming out of the slowdown, volumes are increasing at a slower pace than what was seen over the equivalent period last year (2,291).
 <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/2018/2/19/C1.jpg" alt="">
The reduced auction volume has helped boost the clearance rate in early 2018 auctions.
<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/2018/2/19/C6.jpg" alt="">
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Fresh Sydney listings above 2017 for first time this year: CoreLogic

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Monthly national residential listings fell January 2018 by nearly 5%, according to SQM Research.
Listings dropped to 303,901 across the country, a total of a 6.2% decrease over the year.
The fall is not surprising, says SQM Research managing director Louis Christoper, given January is typically the quietest month of the year.
"Year-on-year, listings are much higher in Sydney, with more homeowners happy to list their properties compared to one year ago, and take profits.In Canberra, listings fell 6.2% while in Adelaide listings dropped 5.8%," he said.
"In Brisbane, stock on market fell by 3.9% with more modest falls in Perth of 2.1% and 1.3% in Darwin. In Hobart, listings were down by 2.6% over the month of January.
“Looking forward, with interest rates still at low levels and a possible expansion in lending by the banks, we expect a year of modest prices gains in Sydney and most other capital cities.
“The auction clearance rate results and the asking prices over the remainder of February will give us some good insight in terms of how the market has opened. While we did record a strong lift in asking prices in January, it has been based on a lower count of listings, so I will not read too much into the rise at this stage.”  
Melbourne was the only double digit monthly change in January, with listings dropping a near 14% from 28,895 to 24,881.
Sydney's listings have dropped 7% while Canberra and Adelaide each saw declines of around 6% in the month. Perth recorded the lowest monthly change with 2% listings decrease.
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="77">
City
</td>
<td width="77">
JAN 2017 Total
</td>
<td width="77">
DEC 2017 Total
</td>
<td width="77">
JAN 2018 Total
</td>
<td width="77">
Monthly change %
</td>
<td width="77">
Yearly change %
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
Adelaide
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          15,675
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          16,588
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          15,620
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-5.8%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-0.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
Brisbane
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          28,511
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          30,040
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          28,882
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-3.9%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
1.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
Canberra
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            3,003
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            3,527
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            3,307
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-6.2%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
10.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
Darwin
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            2,037
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            2,055
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            2,028
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-1.3%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-0.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
Hobart
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            3,333
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            2,426
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
            2,362
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-2.6%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-29.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
Melbourne
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          28,249
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          28,895
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          24,881
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-13.9%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-11.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
Perth
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          25,804
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          25,277
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          24,735
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-2.1%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-4.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
Sydney
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          21,633
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          28,103
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
          26,150
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-6.9%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
20.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="77">
National
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
        323,904 
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
        319,192 
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
        303,901 
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-4.8%
</td>
<td nowrap width="77">
-6.2%
 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The highest stock decrease from this time last year was in Hobart, with houses flying off the shelves.
Hobart's listings have dropped nearly 30% from 3,333 to 2,362 since this time last year.
Despite a near 7% monthly decrease, Sydney has 21% more stock than last January.
Canberra has the second highest stock increase, up 10%.
Melbourne's near 14% monthly change in the last month has contributed to its 12% decrease on amount of listings from this time last year.
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