South East Queensland’s apartment market is entering a new phase defined by rising prices, constrained affordability, and mounting pressure on the construction pipeline, according to RPM Group’s latest SEQ Apartments &amp; Townhomes Market Report.

The May 2026 report highlights a widening divide between what buyers can afford and what developers can viably deliver, with detached house prices continuing to push more buyers toward apartments across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

RPM says Brisbane’s median house price has reached around $1.5 million, accelerating the shift toward higher-density housing as buyers are increasingly priced out of the detached market.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135094 project_image_fid=356540]

Median unit prices rose across all three major SEQ markets in the March quarter. Brisbane City recorded the strongest annual growth, with median unit prices climbing 21 per cent to $862,000, while the Gold Coast reached the highest overall median at $950,000, up 17 per cent year-on-year. The Sunshine Coast followed at $870,000, representing annual growth of nine per cent.

RPM noted the affordability gap between houses and units remains significant, with detached homes commanding premiums of 67 per cent in Brisbane and 68 per cent on the Gold Coast relative to apartments.

The report suggests this price disparity is increasingly consolidating buyer demand within the apartment market, particularly among downsizers and owner-occupiers.

“Demand is real. Supply is moving. But they’re operating on different timelines and the gap between what’s being built and what buyers can afford is the defining tension in this market right now,” RPM Queensland and NSW Managing Directors Peter Neale and Clinton Trezise said in the report.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150787 project_image_fid=366230]

While approvals and commencements are strengthening, RPM argues the delivery pipeline remains constrained by construction costs, labour shortages, and extended build timelines.

Apartment approvals across Queensland increased 86 per cent over the year to February 2026, reaching 12,682 approvals, the highest level recorded since 2016. Brisbane overtook the Gold Coast as the state’s most active apartment approval market, with nearly 5,000 apartments approved over the past 12 months.

Unit commencements also strengthened considerably, rising 48 per cent year-on-year to 5,453 commencements in the December 2025 quarter, the highest level since 2018.

However, RPM’s research found apartment delivery timeframes have expanded sharply compared to the previous cycle. Projects are now averaging around 30 months from approval to completion, compared to roughly 20 months a decade ago.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143932 project_image_fid=367515]

The number of units under construction has climbed to approximately 31,530 dwellings, nearing the previous 2016 peak, though projects are remaining in the pipeline for considerably longer.

Construction costs continue to weigh heavily on feasibility. RPM found the average apartment construction cost in Greater Brisbane reached $630,000 per dwelling in 2025, exceeding both Sydney and Melbourne. Coastal Queensland markets, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, were even higher at an average of $817,418 per apartment due to the prevalence of larger premium product.

The report also points to increasing pressure from Olympic-related infrastructure spending ahead of Brisbane 2032, with labour competition expected to intensify over the next several years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370960]

ANZ Associate Director of Property Daniel Gradwell said the underlying demand drivers across South East Queensland remain strong, supported by interstate migration, downsizers, and population growth.

“The challenge is bringing enough supply to market to meet that demand, and nothing on the horizon makes that straightforward,” Gradwell said.

RPM’s analysis found the affordability challenge is becoming more pronounced in the new apartment market itself, with only three per cent of surveyed new apartments priced below $1 million.

Instead, the market is increasingly concentrated in higher price brackets, with the most common new apartment price band across SEQ sitting between $1.5 million and $1.75 million. Around half of all new apartment stock surveyed is priced below $2 million.

The report suggests developers are not necessarily avoiding lower price points by choice, but because current construction economics make delivering affordable apartments increasingly difficult at scale.

Rental conditions also remain tight across the region. Median rents for one-bedroom apartments rose 12 per cent in Brisbane over the past year to $580 per week, while Gold Coast one-bedroom rents increased nine per cent to $630.

Despite rising rents, RPM noted bond lodgements have generally trended downward over the past five years, indicating more apartments are being absorbed by owner-occupiers rather than retained as investor-held rental stock.

Looking ahead, RPM expects projects targeting the mid-market owner-occupier segment between $1.25 million and $2 million to remain the most viable part of the market, while premium projects in highly constrained coastal or riverfront locations continue to attract demand.

“Construction costs are rewriting the feasibility rulebook across Greater Brisbane, and with little relief in sight, only projects in the right price band, right location, and with presales secured early will make it through,” the report concludes.

Joel Robinson

SEQ apartment demand outpacing affordable supply as construction timelines stretch: RPM

Camberwell Junction has long been the epicentre of amenity in Melbourne’s Boroondara region.

For nearly a century, it has drawn both locals and visitors, anchored by the Camberwell Sunday Market, which first operated in 1929 and quickly became a fixture of the suburb’s identity. Over time, the Junction evolved into one of Melbourne’s most established retail and lifestyle precincts, now comprising more than 400 stores and over 300 commercial businesses.

Despite that depth of amenity, one thing has remained notably limited: the supply of new apartments.

In a suburb defined by its heritage streetscapes and tightly held residential stock, new development opportunities have been scarce, particularly within the core of the Junction itself. That lack of supply has left a gap in the market for larger, design-led apartments suited to downsizers and owner-occupiers wanting to remain in the area.

Boutique developer Above Zero identified that gap when it secured a prime site on Burke Road, in the heart of Camberwell Junction.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368543]

The site has a long planning history. Various proposals have been put forward over more than a decade, many of which were knocked back by the City of Boroondara, with initial applications dating back to 2015. Above Zero acquired the site in 2022 and returned with a revised scheme, refining both the building’s height and its ground-level interface to better align with Council expectations.

That process has culminated in approval for Camberwell House.

The Cera Stribley-designed development will deliver 57 residences on a 1,950 sqm site within the Camberwell Activity Centre, placing it directly within one of Melbourne’s most established retail and transport hubs.

It is expected to be one of the only new apartment developments to launch in the Junction in recent years, reinforcing the rarity of new supply in the precinct. Currently, there are just a handful of projects on the market in Camberwell, underscoring the significance of a development of this scale and positioning.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368544]

Camberwell House has been conceived with a clear focus on larger-format apartments. The project will offer a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, alongside a limited number of penthouses, targeting owner-occupiers seeking scale rather than volume-driven product.

The building’s vertical presence will also set it apart.

Positioned on Burke Road, the development is set to become one of the taller buildings in its immediate context, allowing for elevated outlooks across Melbourne’s CBD skyline and toward the Dandenong Ranges. In a precinct characterised by lower-scale built form, that height provides a point of differentiation, particularly for buyers seeking outlook and natural light.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368568]

Architecture has been led by Cera Stribley, with interiors by GOLDEN and landscape design by Florian Wild. The design approach centres on material consistency and restraint, with residences oriented to maximise light, ventilation and connection to outdoor spaces.

Full-height glazing and generous terraces form a key part of that strategy, allowing apartments to extend beyond their internal footprint and engage with the surrounding environment.

Beyond the private residences, a significant component of the project is its amenity offering.

Above Zero has positioned Camberwell House as a “complete living environment”, incorporating a full floor dedicated to resident facilities. At the centre of that is a wellness zone, including a 12.5-metre lap pool, spa, sauna and treatment spaces, alongside a gym and recovery-focused amenities.

This level of amenity is more commonly associated with inner-city developments, rather than established middle-ring suburbs like Camberwell.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4896 project_image_fid=368588]

Additional shared spaces include a private library lounge, dining and entertaining areas, and an indoor golf simulator. A self-contained guest suite has also been incorporated, allowing residents to accommodate visiting family or friends without impacting their primary living space.

The inclusion of these facilities reflects a broader shift in buyer expectations.

As more downsizers look to transition from larger family homes into apartments, there is increasing demand for developments that offer not just a residence, but a lifestyle. That includes access to wellness, social and entertaining spaces within the building itself, reducing the reliance on external amenity while still maintaining proximity to established precincts.

Camberwell House is positioned to benefit from both.

Its location places it within immediate walking distance of Camberwell Junction’s retail and dining offering, as well as public transport connections, including tram and train services. That combination of internal amenity and external convenience is central to its appeal.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-150" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:55d7c6ac-8e6d-4881-ad49-0ed9bf66d1cc-74" dir="auto">
Jellis Craig Projects Director Stephen Bowtell is handling sales for the project and says Camberwell House offers a rare entry point into one of Melbourne’s most tightly held markets.

“Buyers are recognising that Camberwell House offers something they simply haven’t seen before in Boroondara,”&nbsp;Bowtell&nbsp;says.

“It combines a level of resident amenity and service typically associated with Melbourne’s premium inner-city developments, while being positioned right in the heart of Camberwell Junction.

“The response to the concierge offering has been particularly strong. Buyers appreciate not only the convenience, but also the sense of security and peace of mind that comes from having a dedicated presence in the building every day.

“When you combine that with the wellness facilities, the exceptional arrival experience, and panoramic views across both the CBD skyline and the Dandenong Ranges, it creates a lifestyle proposition that is genuinely unique within the local market.”
</section>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4896]

Above Zero launches Camberwell House in undersupplied Camberwell Junction precinct

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

Townsville

<html><body>
A development site fronting the Willows Golf Course in Townsville has hit the market.
The 17,900 square metre holding located on 18 Nineteenth Avenue is a "rare find", according to Knight Frank Head of Projects, Andrew Forster, who is marketing the property.
He estimates that based on the size of the site and the golf course frontage, 28 to 30 residential lots can be created overlooking the course and the Bohle River.
“It is large enough though for a mix of uses including residential units, with its three-level height capacity. Interest from aged care developers has also been received,” said Forster.
"The site is one of the very few large sites zoned for medium density in the Townsville region.”
“This parcel will have appeal to all ages, with major shopping and entertainment facilities within one kilometre and the hospital and university within five minutes’ drive.
 “We are experiencing a very strong recovery in employment in North Queensland, and Townsville is now benefitting from this.”
Australian Bureau of Statistics data indicating over 14,000 people were employed in the region since the closure of the QNI Refinery in 2016.
Knight Frank Townsville has several development sites available for sale in the region, Forster said.
“Properties in regional cities with points of difference in particular attract interest from the national development industry, and this golf course frontage is exactly the kind of point of difference that sets a property apart,” he said.
“There are very few development sites with the zoning and size for a mix of residential uses in this region.”
Residential occupancy numbers have recovered strongly in some housing forms such as three-bedroom units and four-bedroom houses, according to Knight Frank research.
Their research also found rents for three-bedroom units in Townsville improved in early 2018 and the median weekly rent for four-bedroom dwellings in suburbs along the Ross River improved by more than 10% in the March and June quarters this year.
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Development site fronting golf course up for sale in Townsville

<html><body>
A Townsville educational facility on a 26.17 hectare holding is being offered for sale with "significant development potential".
The property located at 190 Hervey Range Road in Townsville is being presented to buyers by Robert Dunne and Gregory Woods of Savills via an Expression of Interest campaign.
The property’s current major use is an educational campus, comprising of prep, primary and secondary schools, with additional accommodation facilities for male and female students.
“We predict the opportunity will be seized by either an educational provider wanting to continue the operation of an educational facility, or by a property developer wanting to improve the current use," said director of commercial sales for Savills, Robert Dunne.
The property is zoned “Community Facilities” with development opportunities including but not limited to health care services, retirement facility and residential aged care facility comprising a maximum building height of three storeys, subject to code assessment.
Director of Capital Transactions Gregory Woods said this scale of opportunity with all its improvements is rarely available.
The property is located 12km from the city centre of Townsville, with access to the major roads connecting Western Townsville with the Townsville CBD.
The opportunity is being presented to market at an "ideal time", with thousands of homes in the pipeline for Townsville’s booming Western Corridor.
</body></html>

Savills presents 26 hectare opportunity in Townsville market

<html><body>
An abandoned Townsville heritage building, long known as Stanton House is available for lease as its renovation nears completion.
The premises at <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/townsville-city/754925/?lang=en" target="_blank">197 Flinders Street</a>, Townsville City, was built in the 1880s.
It will shortly have multiple tenancies for office, retail and hospitality use. 
The three-storey colonial-style building overlooks the Ross Creek.
The historic building was built for Townsville’s first butcheries in 1884.
It was then occupied by an insurance company before being sold in 1932 and extended into the headquarters of the Anglican Church.
Stanton House in honour of George Stanton, who was the first Anglican bishop of North Queensland.
Ray White Commercial agent Troy Townsend is marketing the property.
There will be two ground floor retail tenancies and four professional office suites on levels one and two, he said.
The premises have views across the Ross Creek and Townsville Yacht Club Marina.
Lease rates for office space will start $220 per square metre.
The retail tenancies will start at $400 per square metre. 
</body></html>

Stanton House, Townsville on the hunt for commercial tenants

<html><body>
The Townsville market hasn’t recovered since peaking in 2008, with the median house price falling by 13 per cent to June 2017.
Vacancy rates in Townsville remain relatively high, at 3.8 per cent in March quarter 2018, although are well down from a peak of 7.1 per cent eighteen months earlier, according to a report released this week by BIS Oxford Economics.
Reflecting this improvement, it appears that the downturn has stabilised, with the median house price on track to rise by two per cent in 2017/18.
The Cairns market has shown more upside, having not experienced the mining boom/bust of Townsville.
Vacancy rates have remained in the 2–3 per cent range since 2012, with a total 21 per cent growth in the median house price coming through over 2012 to 2017 the report stated.
The economists temper this by noting that, "price growth has slowed in 2017/18 and is on track to be flat according."
"In real terms, Townsville’s estimated median house price at June 2018 is 30 per cent below its December 2017 peak in real terms, suggesting there would be little more downside."
The local unemployment rate has improved, although this appears to be on the back of lower participation rates, rather than higher, meaning that "hidden unemployment" could become problematic.
Population growth is weak and as such, minimal price growth is expected over 2018/19 and 2019/20, before some signs of an upturn emerge by 2020/21 with vacancy rates tightening, and some economic recovery coming through as rising tourist arrivals underpin the upgrade of existing tourism infrastructure the economists suggested.
Cumulative growth of nine per cent is forecast in the three years to June 2021 for Townsville.
Whereas the BIS Oxford economists forecast that the Cairns market will begin running out of steam after steady, albeit moderate, price growth to 2017.
Population growth remains slow and, apart from growth in tourism, there remain few other drivers in the local economy that can help employment growth and push through price rises.
As a result, only modest growth is forecast for Cairns, totaling four per cent over the three years to June 2021.
For a look at our take on the BIS Oxford Economics report for the national market check out, "Melbourne house prices forecast to tread water through to 2020/21".
</body></html>

Townsville housing market's downturn stabilises: BIS Oxford Economics

<html><body>
Townsville commercial property market continues consistent upward trend.
The remainder of 2018 is likely to remain status quo in the Townsville commercial property market with overall confidence and market sentiment positive, according to the latest report from Heron Todd White.
The inner city remain buoyant with inner-city projects including the Townsville Stadium and proposed waterfront precinct being "positive factors".
The valuers at HTW stated that "the present market is highly suburb selective, with reasonable turnover levels in the sought after mid to inner suburbs, but patchy sales in other areas and suburbs with perceived social issues."
During 2018, the trending rental vacancy rate has remained in a "balanced market range" with the overall trend vacancy rate at just over 3%.
This is significantly lower than the prevailing trend in vacancy rate for the similar period of 2017 at 5.52%.
The unit market is currently steady, albeit at low volumes, with some resistance still being experienced due to the holding costs associated with unit ownership including body corporate fees and high insurance costs.
The report forecasts that the remainder of 2018 will remain similar to what we has been seen to date, with any changes to demand or sentiment heavily reliant on factors such as unemployment, job security and population growth.
</body></html>

Townsville commercial property market continues consistent upward trend: HTW 

<html><body>
Townsville's residential market has confidence with a positive market sentiment.
The inner city 4810 postcodes remain buoyant with inner-city projects including the Townsville Stadium and proposed waterfront precinct being positive factors.
The present market is highly suburb selective, with reasonable turnover levels in the sought after mid to inner suburbs.
But there are patchy sales in other areas and suburbs with perceived social issues, according to the June report from valuation firm Herron Todd White.
During 2018, the trending rental vacancy rate has remained in a balanced market range with the overall trend vacancy rate at just over 3%.
The report noted that, this is significantly lower than the prevailing trend in vacancy rate for the similar period of 2017 at 5.52%.
The unit market is currently steady, albeit at low volumes, with some resistance still being experienced due to the holding costs associated with unit ownership including body corporate fees and high insurance costs.
The valuers at HTW forecast that the remainder of 2018 will remain similar to what has been seen to date so far, with any changes to demand or sentiment heavily reliant on factors such as unemployment, job security and population growth.
</body></html>

Patchy sometimes, but Townsville's residential market has a positive market sentiment: HTW 

<html><body>
Townsville’s industrial market remains flat, according to Herron Todd White’s (HTW) recent report.
The property data firm says that industrial rents are declining.
“The industrial market remains flat with current market activity being largely confined to affordable properties that tick all the right boxes in the sub $1 million range and largely catering to intending owner-occupiers," says the report.
“There are occasional high-end syndication or trust purchases, but only for properties with strong lease profiles. Industrial rents have been on a declining trend and appear to have reached a level that is being accepted by the market," it added.
As a result of softening rents, incentives also appear to have settled to reflect rent-free periods of around three months, according to HTW.
“Broadly speaking, a large portion of mainstream industrial property falls within the $90 to $110 per square metre rental range.
“Within the lower end of this range is typically smaller older light industrial properties in Garbutt with small office components.
“Larger better quality mainstream industrial properties in Garbutt and Bohle generally fall within the mid to higher end range depending on the office size component and hardstand areas.
“Industrial property exhibiting large office components and extensive hardstand areas can reflect rents up to above $140 per square metre.
“Overall rents are flat with the market continuing to exhibit a balanced to oversupply of property available relative to current demand.
“This is likely to see downward pressure remain on rental rates until such time as the rental vacancy situation improves,” the report stated.
An industrial building at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-industrial+warehouse-qld-aitkenvale-501076371" target="_blank">5-7 Madden Street</a>, Aitkenvale (above) has been listed for $950,000. The listing agents are Dan Place and Mark Fitzgerald of Knight Frank.
An industrial property at <a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-offices-qld-kirwan-502465026" target="_blank">719 Ross River Road</a>, Kirwan (below) has been listed for $990,000. The listing agents are John Gribbin and Paul Kotze of John Gribbin Realty.
<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/2017/08/28/719%20Ross%20River%20Road.jpg" alt="">
</body></html>

Industrial market in Townsville remains flat: HTW

<html><body>
Activity in Townsville’s residential property market is currently dominated by owner-occupiers with a number of these buyers being first time participants, the valuation firm Herron Todd White (htw) has signalled in a recent report.
"Sentiment is building in Townsville’s residential property market which is consolidating at the start of recovery phase, although the market is showing a dichotomy with the recovery in the housing sector advancing, whilst the market for land and units continues to teeter," it advised.
First time buyer participants in the local market are buying houses across most suburbs of Townsville and include a mixture of new, semi modern and older style homes.
"This sector of the market would appear to be mostly active in the $300,000 to $400,000 range," it noted.
"It would appear that first time participants in the market have realised that now is the time to buy with record low interest rates, good affordability and a buyer’s market creating favourable conditions for these buyers." 
A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-qld-townsville+city-125624582" target="_blank">251 Wills Street</a> in Townsville City (picture above) recently traded for $400,000. The house is perched on the foothills of Castle Hill.
Another house in Townsville City, this one a two-bedroom dwelling, changed hands earlier this year for $329,000. 
<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/2017/11/22/Townsville2.jpg" alt="">
Other owner-occupiers include upgraders moving from units to houses, renovators, those moving to superior locations and downsizers.
"This market encompasses a wide range of values and suburbs."
The valuation firm noted Townsville’s median house price remained soft.
</body></html>

First home buyers think it's time to buy in Townsville: HTW

<html><body>
The leading growth markets in Australia are now popping up in unexpected places.
Regional centres like Launceston and Townsville (above), as well as the affordable outer-ring precincts of our capital cities, dominate Hotspotting’s new National Top 10 list for municipalities with the highest number of growth suburbs.
This partly reflects the decrease in the number of rising markets in Sydney and Melbourne, with both the big cities still performing solidly but well past their peaks in terms of sales volumes. The attention is now shifting to other cities.
In the new Spring edition of The Price Predictor Index, the Moreton Bay Region in Brisbane’s north is the No.1 LGA in Australia for growth markets, having overtaken the Sunshine Coast. 
Moreton Bay LGA has 14 suburbs with upwardly-mobile markets, with buyers attracted by affordable prices, infrastructure and jobs nodes. Growth areas include Caboolture, Burpengary, Arana Hills, Bongaree, Deception Bay, Bray Park, Woorim and Warner. 
Morayfield is a key market, with sales around 170 per quarter, compared to 120-130 two years ago.
The Sunshine Coast LGA continues to feature strongly. It has 12 growth suburbs, while the neighbouring Noosa LGA has four. Growth stars include Coolum Beach where quarterly sales are up from around 70 to above 100. Caloundra and nearby Golden Beach are also thriving.
The Adelaide market gets very little national attention but it’s showing considerable resilience and there is growth potential in specific precincts. The Marion LGA in Adelaide’s south-west is the leading market in the South Australia capital, having lifted the number of growth suburbs in each of the past three quarterly surveys.
The Marion LGA, a middle-market area of Adelaide, now has nine rising suburbs, including Oaklands Park (median house price $470,000) which has lifted sales from 18 to 24 to 29 to 30 to 37 to 41 in the past six quarters. Other growth suburbs include Sheidow Park, Clovelly Park, Dover Gardens, Edwardstown and Glengowrie.
The Hobart market has captured national attention as homes sell quickly, rents rise at rates above the national average and price growth challenges the major cities. Within the Hobart metro area, the Clarence LGA is the market leader, although growth suburbs are spread across the city. 
Clarence, on the opposite side of the Derwent from the CBD, includes growth suburbs such as Geilston Bay, Bellerive, Lindisfarne, Rokeby, Risdon Vale and Warrane.
Launceston markets continue to grow in strength, but tend to be overlooked because of growing national focus on results in Hobart. Tasmania’s No.2 city has eight suburbs with growth markets, while the nearby West Tamar LGA has three. Affordable Invermay (median house price $230,000) typifies the growth in this region. Its sales levels have grown from 19 to 22 to 24 to 29 to 34 to 37 in the past six quarters, while sales in South Launceston have risen from 20 to 29 to 34 to 47 to 51.
Townsville in North Queensland is one of the nation’s comeback markets. It is showing increasing signs of recovery from years in which the usually-strong local economy struggled, thanks to the downturn in the resources sector and the closure of the city’s nickel refinery. 
The growing evidence of a revival is likely to gather pace as major events (such as the location of the headquarters for the $20 billion Adani mining project) start to take shape. On the back of improving economic prospects, Townsville now has six suburbs with rising markets. 
Perth too is mounting a comeback after four years in a slump and regions in the north of the metro area are leading the fightback. The Wanneroo LGA is  featuring strongly; it has six suburbs with growing sales activity - remarkable when you consider that the entire Perth metro area had zero growth suburbs only nine months ago. 
The growth markets include Alkimos, Carramar, Clarkson and Hocking. The Wanneroo LGA is the fast-growing municipality in WA and includes several new growth suburbs. As is often the case in such areas, vacancies are high in some postcodes but this will change as demand continues to grow. 
Terry Ryder is the founder of hotspotting.com.au
<a href="https://mailto:ryder@hotspotting.com.au" target="_blank">ryder@hotspotting.com.au</a>
twitter.com/hotspotting
</body></html>

terryryder-YECXbqmri2

Leading growth markets popping up in unexpected places: Terry Ryder

<html><body>
A home in Douglas near Townsville has been listed by the mortgagee in possession.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-douglas-126600350" target="_blank">Lord Howe Promenade home</a> on 1910 sqm, has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a swimming pool.
<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/2017/10/13/Mort1.jpg" alt="" style="font-size: 12.16px;">
The master suite looks out to a nature setting and features an ensuite.
On the ground level there's a home office and an open plan living area with built-in bar.
Explore Property agent Annette Rowlings has set a $1.49 million asking price.
 
</body></html>

Townsville

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Townsville

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News