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


Joel Robinson

Boutique Gordon townhomes now come with a BMW iX3 50

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


Vitale breaks Byron Bay records with EADE sales flurry 

<p>When buying an apartment, most people compare the big-ticket items first. Floorplans. Kitchens. Balcony size. Natural light. The view.</p>

<p>But there's one everyday consideration that often doesn't come up until after moving in: how parcels are delivered.</p>

<p>As online shopping has become part of everyday life, parcel deliveries have shifted from an occasional event to a regular occurrence. Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally.</p>

<p>For apartment residents, that can present a challenge.</p>

<p>If nobody is home to accept a delivery, parcels may be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in a building lobby or common area, or require building management to step in. In higher-density buildings, where dozens or even hundreds of residents may receive deliveries each day, parcel management has become an increasingly important part of everyday living.</p>

<p>That can create a range of frustrations. A missed delivery often means making time to collect a parcel elsewhere, while packages left unattended in foyers or mail areas can create clutter and increase the risk of theft. What seems like a minor inconvenience can quickly become a recurring issue for residents who shop online regularly.</p>

<p>It's one of those details that rarely features in a display suite but can have a noticeable impact once residents move in.</p>

<p>As a result, buyers are beginning to look beyond traditional apartment features and consider how a building supports day-to-day convenience, including whether there are secure options for receiving deliveries.</p>

<p>Australia Post's Parcel Lockers provide one solution.</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CkF2oKmlACg?si=C50sDaoUUn2nuLmq" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Rather than having a parcel delivered directly to an apartment, eligible deliveries can be sent to a nominated Parcel Locker. Once the parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN at a time that suits them.</p>

<p>The Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with installations at Post Offices, shopping centres, transport hubs and an increasing number of residential developments. By providing a secure collection point, Parcel Lockers help reduce missed deliveries and avoid parcels being left unattended in common areas.</p>

<p>For developers, parcel infrastructure is becoming another way to improve the resident experience. Rather than relying on concierge staff or leaving parcels in communal spaces, secure collection points help streamline deliveries while preserving the presentation and functionality of shared areas.</p>

<p>For buyers, it's a reminder that the best apartment features aren't always the most obvious.</p>

<p>A generous floorplan or quality finishes might help narrow the shortlist, but the conveniences that simplify everyday life, whether that's EV charging, secure bike storage or reliable parcel delivery, often become the features residents appreciate most once they're living there.</p>


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

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


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

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


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

Sydney Market

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<p>The flood of Sydney private treaty listings remains high, as spring sales come to a conclusion.</p>
<p>But fresh listings in late spring are down, suggesting there is an end in sight, according to the CoreLogic data. </p>
<p>The total of 26,559 offerings represents a 19.2% rise from the same time last year.</p>
<p>Nationally overall stock is up 1.9%.</p>
<p>Three of the capitals, especially Hobart, have far less stock than this time in 2016.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/29/Capital%20city%20listings.jpg" alt=""></p>
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Glut of Sydney private treaty listings remains but end may be nigh: CoreLogic

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<p>CoreLogic's head of research Tim Lawless talks the Sydney housing market.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sSS3G6dq1u0" frameborder="0" width="450" height="315"></iframe></p>
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Sydney's market update for November: CoreLogic

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<p>This year has seen continued upwards pressure on Sydney house prices, but standby for a shift.</p>
<p>Yes there's still near-record low interest rates, reduced stock levels, strong population growth, as well as a renewed rush from investors to use negative gearing to set up for retirement.</p>
<p>But the slightly higher interest rates announced by lenders recently - or more likely the obvious prospect of continued out of cycle rate rises - ought act as a break on the exuberance <span>on display on Saturday's across Sydney this year.</span></p>
<p>The double digit price growth cycle - which has just hit 18.9 percent according to CoreLogic - needs to come to an end.</p>
<p>It doesn't mean prices will head backwards or crash, rather the rate of growth ought slow. </p>
<p class="gmail-selectionShareable">This week there was analysis that mortgage rates would need to rise to around six per cent before house prices nationally start sliding.</p>
<p><span>That's highly unlikely, but a slow down in price growth is around the corner - and what almost everyone wants.</span></p>
<p>Just when it all takes place is the big question as certainly the 80 per cent plus weekend clearance rates haven't faltered this autumn.</p>
<p>Perhaps higher stock levels heading into Easter will provide a trigger mid-next month. Then the actual holiday pause could lay the platform for wiser heads at auction.</p>
<p>Earlier this month it was suggested that just three rate hikes of 25 basis points by the RBA would deliver a bigger increase in debt-servicing costs for households than 10-11 rate hikes did in the mid-1990s</p>
<p>According to Macquarie Bank’s head of economic research, James McIntyre current households' debt levels are at a record 187 percent of income and a one percentage point increase in the RBA's cash rate would, excluding further increases in lenders' borrowing rates, push the household debt servicing ratio beyond 10 per cent.</p>
<p>While household debt serviceability is currently manageable given the record low rates, the risk is ripe for when when they increase g<span>iven record high household debt.</span></p>
<p><span>McIntyre studied previous tightening cycles, some which involved 11 quarter-point hikes.</span></p>
<p><span>"We estimate that three to four 25 basis-point rate hikes would deliver a bigger increase in debt-servicing costs for households than 10 to 11 rate hikes did in the mid-1990s," he told clients. </span></p>
<p><span>"The RBA's reticence about further increases in household debt-to-income ratios is clear when you begin to consider how potent interest-rate rises might be from a debt-servicing perspective,'' McIntyre said.</span></p>
<p><span>He noted a big difference between the periods is a wider spread between the cash rate and lenders' mortgage rates: from 180 basis points to about 375 basis points, expanding since the GFC supposedly due to rising bank funding costs.</span></p>
<p>McIntyre, however, doesn't expect a formal RBA rate increase until early 2019.</p>
<p><em>This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.</em></p>
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Sydney's rate of house price growth ought to slow

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<p>House and land option in outer western Sydney should be on the radar for first home buyers as off the plan units, in a wide variety of locations, are unable to achieve their purchase price upon settlement, according to HTW’s <em>Month in Review: March 2017</em>. </p>
<p>The valuation firm says many of these units were originally purchased in stronger market conditions, particularly in 2015.</p>
<p>“This could be disastrous for a first home buyer after saving for a large deposit and having to come up with more money to settle,” the report says.</p>
<p>HTW says yields have tightened across the board with Sydney recording record low returns at 2.8% for houses and 3.8% for units, according to CoreLogic data.</p>
<p>It points to significant price growth and high investor participation that has resulted in a flooded rental market dropping rents.</p>
<p>“Over the last few years many tenants have exited the rental market and become owner-occupiers thanks to the low interest rates and not wanting to miss out on capital growth, this has resulted in additional rental vacancy’s hitting the market putting downward pressure on rents.</p>
<p>“A threat for investment are highly geared investors requiring a strong rental return to service their mortgage, an oversupply of rentals in some sectors of Sydney may result in a number of forced sales of investment properties due to serviceability issues.</p>
<p>“If too many sales occur at the one time this may result in a drop in values.”</p>
<p>The firm warns that this is a particular concern for large scale unit complexes with high investor participation rates.</p>
<p>“If you can’t access the property market the traditional way we have seen in the past other methods that may also work.”</p>
<p>The firm suggests joining forces with close friends or family to ‘group buy’ a home, buying an investment property interstate or sourcing support from their parents as alternative methods, albeit with their own pros and cons to consider.</p>
<p>A house and land package at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-nsw-gregory+hills-201753326" target="_blank">Lot 462 Yass Street</a>, Gregory Hills (above) has been listed for $600,000.</p>
<p>Similarly a house and land package for a three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-cobbitty-124837746" target="_blank">Lot 1335 Goodluck Circuit</a>, Cobbitty (below) has been listed for $644,400.</p>
<p><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/03/15/Lot%201335%20Goodluck%20Circuit.jpg" alt=""></p>
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House and land a safer bet than off the plan units for Sydney first home buyers: HTW

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<p>Sydney’s property market will have another year of steady growth, according to HTW's February 2017 update.</p>
<p>The valuation firm says 2016 was a year of contradictions: an unsteady start with much speculation about the future; low investor confidence; higher bank interest rates than the RBA alongside progressively strong clearance rates; short selling periods and continual record breaking of the median price.</p>
<p>The market in 2016 continued to produce high auction clearance rates regularly above 80% across the greater Sydney metropolitan suburbs. This has can be attributed to low stock levels and continued buyer demand, HTW said.</p>
<p>The report said this level of demand will continue in 2017 and possible interest rate cuts suggest that stable growth will continue throughout the first half of the year and a possible slower second half of 2017.</p>
<p>HTW predict to see on average double digit growth in Sydney throughout 2017, however there may be an oversupply of units due to their concentration in certain pockets.</p>
<p>New quality stock in blue chip areas appears to be in high demand as does detached dwellings in the $3 million and above price point, it noted. </p>
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Sydney to have another year of steady property growth: HTW

<html><body>
<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>
<br><div class="separator"><img src="/images/2016/10/28/pete1.jpg" alt=""></div>
<br><div>
<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">City by city</span></strong><br><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br></span></strong>
</div>
<div>Of course, the outlook is as always quite different for each capital city, region, and sub-region.<br><br>
</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.<br><br>"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>
<br>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.<br><br>Indeed, Sydney rents have increased at double the rate of inflation for nearly a decade now.<br><br>
</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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br><div><span>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. </span></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
<div><a href="/images/2016/10/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-28%20at%208.51.32%20AM.png" target="_blank"><span>Click to enlarge</span></a></div>
<div><span> </span></div>
</div>
<div><img src="/images/2016/10/28/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-28%20at%208.51.32%20AM.png" alt=""></div>
<br><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><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Supply response cavalry now arriving</span></strong></div>
<br><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.<br><br>---<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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>
<p><span><em>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>.</em><br></span></p>
<p><em>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>.</em></p>
</div>
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pwargent-M4siyDbqQY

Rental growth steadies, though not in Sydney

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<p>According to recent snapshot by realestateinvestar.com.au, the following Sydney suburbs have acute stock shortages.</p>
<p>The tally combined the number of houses and units that were on the market at the time of analysis.</p>
<p>Postcode      Suburb        Recent    12 months earlier  Change (%)</p>
<p>2095            Manly            23            69                   -66%</p>
<p>2207            Bexley           42            123                 -65%</p>
<p>2097            Collaroy         19            47                   -59%</p>
<p>2560            Bradbury        28            61                  -54%</p>
<p>2064            Artarmon        16            34                  -52%</p>
<p>2156            Glenhaven      12            24                  -50%</p>
<p>2011            Potts Point      30            57                  -47%</p>
<p>2011            Elizabeth Bay  18            34                  -47%</p>
<p>2076            Wahroonga     43            79                  -45%</p>
<p>2086            Frenchs Forest 21            37                 -43%</p>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Slim listings across Sydney: where the property offerings have disappeared

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<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">NewsLocal has launched a real estate portal geared towards Chinese-Australian audiences led by NewsCorp NSW real estate editor Tim McIntyre.</span></p>
<p><a href="https://sydneypropertyexperts.com" target="_blank"><em style="line-height: 1.3em;">SydneyPropertyExperts.com</em></a><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><a href="https://sydneypropertyexperts.com" target="_blank">,</a> written in both Chinese and English, covers </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">market trends, new developments, suburb hotspots and foreign investment issues and is written by real estate experts </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Shayne Collier, Brendan Wong, Erin Forster and Alison Cheung. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><img src="/images/2016/02/12/Screen%20Shot%202016-02-12%20at%202.02.08%20PM.png" alt=""></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">NewsLocal editor-in-chief Kathy Lipari said</span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"> there is a gap in the market for expert real estate content and analysis tailored specifically to our Chinese-Australian audiences. </span></p>
<p><em style="line-height: 1.3em;">"SydneyPropertyExperts.com </em><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">utilises the expertise and resources of the NewsLocal real estate team to provide comprehensive information in both English and Chinese to Chinese real estate buyers," she said. </span></p>
<p>NewsLocal general manager Michael Wilkins said <em>SydneyPropertyExperts.com </em>is a true cross-platform experience for our audiences.</p>
<p>"We have listened to the feedback from our readers and the real estate team and are excited to deliver this unique in-language product to the market,” he said. </p>
<p><em>SydneyPropertyExperts.com </em>will feature an investment section, featured properties, market reports, ask the experts, development and the latest news.</p>
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