ANZ believes the Reserve Bank is in no rush to move again.

Following the release of the May Monetary Policy Board Minutes, ANZ has taken the view that the RBA is now firmly in a holding pattern, with the cumulative impact of previous rate hikes giving the Board scope to assess how the economy evolves from here.

That positioning, in ANZ’s view, makes a June rate hike unlikely.

The bank continues to expect the cash rate to remain unchanged at 4.35 per cent for an extended period, with the RBA adopting what is effectively a wait-and-see approach.

The Minutes point to a Board that sees financial conditions as already restrictive, but without a clear read on just how restrictive they are. That uncertainty has shifted the focus away from immediate policy action and toward monitoring both domestic conditions and global developments, particularly the conflict in the Middle East.

As ANZ interprets it, the Board is deliberately avoiding strong forward guidance.

Instead, it is allowing itself flexibility, acknowledging that monetary policy has limited ability to influence the near-term trajectory of inflation, while also recognising that economic growth is likely to remain below potential for some time.

Despite that pause in momentum, ANZ notes that the Board still carries a tightening bias.

The Minutes reveal that, in weighing up its decision, the Board seriously considered another 25 basis point increase. The key debate centred on the trade-off between inflation and activity, particularly in the context of global uncertainty.

Ultimately, most members leaned toward the inflation side of that equation.

Underlying inflation is still expected to remain above target for an extended period, regardless of how external risks evolve. That has led to a view within the Board that the risks to its inflation objective have increased, and that the current cash rate may not be sufficiently restrictive to fully contain those pressures.

That’s important.

While the decision, for now, is to hold, the underlying tone of the Minutes suggests the door to further tightening has not been closed.

ANZ also points to commentary from Assistant Governor (Economic) Sarah Hunter, who highlighted the risk that inflation could pass through the economy more quickly and broadly than in previous cycles. Both Hunter and a majority of the Board expressed concern that inflation expectations could become less anchored after such a prolonged period above target.

That combination, persistent inflation and the risk of expectations shifting, is what continues to underpin the RBA’s cautious stance.

However, where ANZ diverges from the RBA is on the outlook for activity.

The Board appears relatively comfortable with current spending patterns, effectively downplaying recent declines in business and consumer sentiment. It notes that sentiment has historically been only weakly correlated with actual spending, and that feedback from its liaison program has not yet pointed to a meaningful slowdown in consumption.

ANZ is less convinced.

The bank believes the link between household disposable income, sentiment and spending is more direct than the RBA is currently acknowledging. With inflation continuing to erode real incomes, ANZ expects household spending to soften more materially than the central bank is forecasting.

That divergence matters because it shifts the balance of risk.

If activity weakens more than expected, the trade-off between inflation and growth changes. In ANZ’s view, that would reduce the need for further tightening and reinforce the case for the RBA to remain on hold.

It also suggests that the current policy setting may already be doing more work than the Board fully appreciates.

The broader takeaway from ANZ’s interpretation is that the RBA is walking a narrow path.

On one side sits the risk of inflation remaining elevated for longer than expected. On the other is the growing pressure on households and the potential for a sharper slowdown in activity.

For now, the Board is choosing to wait.

But it is a pause that still carries an underlying tightening bias, rather than a clear pivot toward easing.

In practical terms, that leaves the cash rate anchored at 4.35 per cent for the foreseeable future, with the next move still uncertain.

For borrowers, it reinforces the reality that relief is not imminent.

And for the broader economy, it highlights the delicate balance the RBA is trying to strike, between bringing inflation back to target and avoiding an unnecessarily sharp slowdown in growth.

According to ANZ, it is a balance that is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.

Joel Robinson

RBA to hold rates for "prolonged period" rather than hikes: ANZ

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/venturecrowd-property-projects">VentureCrowd</a> is down to the final Canopy Villa release at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara, as construction continues on the 59-residence gated community positioned above 100 hectares of natural savanna on the Gold Coast.

The remaining Canopy Villa forms part of one of four collections within the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>-designed community and has attracted interest from buyers seeking larger-format homes that combine privacy, security and low-maintenance living. Positioned within a private cul-de-sac and facing a protected black she oak forest, the four-bedroom villa includes a large private outdoor area suited to pet owners and families wanting more flexible space.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/cumulus-grand-villas-carrara-17-baltimore-court-carrara-qld-4211">Cumulus Grand Villas</a>, located at 17 Baltimore Court, comprises a mix of three and four-bedroom villas across the Skyline, Canopy, Savanna and Broadview collections. Prices currently range from $1.455 million to $1.895 million, with the final Canopy Villa priced from $1.825 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360477]

The Canopy Collection villas offer four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and approximately 245 sqm of internal space, alongside double garages and landscaped private areas. Expansive glazing, open-plan living spaces and private balconies have been designed to maximise natural light and outlooks toward the surrounding savanna landscape.

Construction is now underway across the fully funded development, which VentureCrowd says has become an increasingly important consideration for buyers assessing off-the-plan opportunities on the Gold Coast. The project is being delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/devcon">Devcon Property Group</a>, which has operated in South East Queensland since 1993 and delivered more than 1,000 homes across the region.

VentureCrowd Director of Property David Whitting previously said the project responds to changing buyer priorities in the prestige Gold Coast market.

“Flexible floorplans have proven particularly relevant for purchasers aged between 40 and 65, including next home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Whitting said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360505]

The buyer profile at Cumulus has reflected that shift toward owner-occupier-driven demand. Stuart Towns and Tracey Loynes recently purchased a Canopy Villa, drawn to both the lifestyle offering and the flexibility the home provided for their next stage of living together.

The couple, who met three years ago, sold their Robina home earlier this year after identifying what they saw as strong long-term investment potential at Cumulus while remaining within the same Gold Coast market. The villa’s private backyard was a major drawcard for their dog Luna, while proximity to golf courses including Emerald Lakes also aligned with their lifestyle interests.

Beyond the residences themselves, the community has been planned around shared lifestyle and recreation amenities. The Infinity Terrace will include a 20-metre heated pool, barbecue facilities, alfresco dining spaces and elevated retreat areas overlooking the surrounding landscape. Walking trails, a private nature reserve, orchard and herb garden are also integrated into the masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135663 project_image_fid=360473]

BDA Architecture Director Darren Greenaway said the design approach was heavily influenced by the site’s outlook and secluded setting.

The practice sought to create what Greenaway described as a “little piece of paradise,” drawing inspiration from the elevated views, surrounding greenery and quiet location.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/carrara-qld-4211">Carrara</a> continues to attract buyers seeking larger homes within proximity to the coast but without direct beachfront pricing. Cumulus sits within easy reach of Broadbeach, Pacific Fair, Robina Town Centre and the M1, providing connections north to Brisbane and south toward the Gold Coast Airport and northern New South Wales.

The first stage of Cumulus Grand Villas is targeting completion in 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135663]

VentureCrowd nears sell-out of Canopy Collection at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara

Waverley Council has made a call that many councils have been reluctant to make publicly. Growth is coming, regardless of who controls it.

The release of the Bondi Junction Vision and Master Plan is less about whether the Eastern Suburbs’ primary centre will change, and more about how that change is shaped, funded, and ultimately experienced on the ground. Waverley Council has released a 100-page plan which is effectively the first comprehensive blueprint for Bondi Junction in over two decades, and in doing so, signals a clear shift in how councils are positioning themselves in the current planning environment.

For the past 18 months, the conversation across New South Wales has been dominated by the State Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms and the emergence of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway. Both have created faster, more centralised avenues for development approvals, particularly in well-located, infrastructure-rich areas like Bondi Junction.

Waverley Council’s response has been to move early, and decisively.

Rather than react to individual proposals as they come through the HDA or broader State-led reforms, Council has sought to establish a clear, place-based framework that sets the terms for how Bondi Junction evolves. The underlying position is relatively straightforward: if densification is inevitable, it should be tied to infrastructure, public domain improvements, and a cohesive vision for the centre, not delivered piecemeal through ad hoc applications.

<img alt="bondi junction" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7f1f729c-ed99-4c6c-bf87-ffbce6991941" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-19%20at%209.58.16%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ULX4OlXKjeJ5BvNCNGL86evgXCjCfMih" />

At its core, the document is attempting to reposition Bondi Junction from what it largely functions as today, a transport interchange anchored by a major retail centre, into something far more layered. The ambition is to transform it into what the plan describes as the “civic and cultural heart of Sydney’s East,” a place that is active beyond commuting hours and capable of supporting a broader mix of uses, experiences and communities.

That repositioning is built around four key ambitions.

The first is to create a true destination. Bondi Junction already attracts significant foot traffic, with more than 86,000 daily transport users and millions of annual retail visits, but much of that activity is transient. People pass through, rather than stay.

The Master Plan seeks to change that dynamic. It leans heavily into the idea of an “18-hour economy,” extending activity well beyond traditional retail hours through dining, cultural programming, events, and a more active night-time offering. This is not just about adding more hospitality venues, but about fundamentally shifting how the centre operates, from a daytime shopping destination to a place that functions across the full span of the day and into the evening.

Oxford Street Mall sits at the centre of that shift.

Long seen as underperforming relative to its potential, the Mall is identified as one of the key catalyst projects in the plan. It is to be reimagined as a day-to-night spine, combining retail, dining, wellness and cultural uses in a way that creates a continuous flow of activity. Outdoor dining, rooftop venues, laneway activation and a curated events program are all part of the strategy, alongside significant public domain upgrades that aim to improve comfort, safety and usability.

&nbsp;

The second ambition is to transform Bondi Junction into a world-class interchange.

Despite being one of the most heavily used transport nodes in Sydney, the current experience is fragmented. Connections between the station, Westfield, Oxford Street Mall and surrounding streets are often unclear, and major roads create physical barriers that disrupt pedestrian movement.

The Master Plan proposes a more seamless, people-focused network. That includes clearer pedestrian links, improved wayfinding, better integration between transport modes, and a rethinking of how arrival into the centre is experienced. The aim is to shift the perception of Bondi Junction from a place people move through, to a place they arrive in.

The third ambition focuses on greening and open space.

One of the more consistent pieces of community feedback throughout the Vision phase was the need for more greenery, better public spaces, and a more comfortable urban environment. Despite being surrounded by major parks, Bondi Junction itself has relatively limited accessible open space, with much of the public realm dominated by hard surfaces and traffic infrastructure.

The plan responds with a network of new and upgraded public spaces, increased tree canopy, and what it terms the “Parkline,” a green link connecting Waverley Park through to Centennial Park. This is not just about aesthetics. It is about addressing heat, improving liveability, and ensuring that increased density is matched by access to high-quality outdoor space.

The fourth ambition is perhaps the most important from a development perspective: growth that gives back.

Bondi Junction is already the primary location for new housing supply in the Waverley LGA, and that is expected to continue. The area carries a target of 2,400 new dwellings by 2029, with further growth projected beyond that as demand for well-located housing continues to rise. The Master Plan does not seek to limit that growth. Instead, it attempts to shape it.

New housing is to be concentrated around transport, with stepped building heights designed to protect the character of surrounding neighbourhoods. At the same time, the plan introduces a more explicit link between development uplift and public benefit. This is where value capture becomes central.

The document outlines a framework where increased development potential is tied to contributions that fund public domain improvements, community infrastructure, open space, and affordable housing. It is an approach that recognises that much of the transformation of Bondi Junction will be delivered by the private sector, but seeks to ensure that the benefits of that growth are shared more broadly. The Civic Precinct is a key part of that equation.

Leveraging Council-owned land, the plan proposes a consolidated civic and cultural hub centred around Ebley Street. This would include new community facilities, cultural spaces, and potentially a new Council Chambers, creating a focal point for civic life that currently does not exist in Bondi Junction at scale.

It is one of several catalyst projects identified in the Master Plan, alongside the Oxford Street Mall transformation. These projects are intended to anchor change, acting as early interventions that unlock broader investment across the precinct.

Importantly, the Master Plan is not just a design document. It includes a delivery framework that sets out how these ambitions are intended to be realised.

Council is explicit in acknowledging that it cannot deliver the transformation alone. Implementation will require coordination between State agencies, private developers, landowners and the community, with a mix of planning agreements, infrastructure contributions and direct delivery mechanisms used to fund and stage improvements over time.

The plan outlines a mix of short-term, medium-term and long-term actions, from immediate public domain upgrades and planning controls, through to larger-scale projects that will unfold over the next decade or more. In practical terms, the next 12 to 24 months will be the most important.

This is when the Master Plan will move through exhibition, refinement and eventual adoption. It is also the period in which Council will seek to embed the framework into its planning controls, giving it weight in the assessment of future development applications.

Council officers have indicated that once the Master Plan is in place, it could be used as a benchmark when assessing Housing Delivery Authority proposals, and potentially reduce the need for further HDA declarations within Bondi Junction. In effect, it is an attempt to bring planning control back to the local level, while still aligning with State housing targets.

That tension between State-led reform and local planning control is not unique to Waverley. It is playing out across Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If delivered as intended, Bondi Junction will become denser, more active, and more complex. It will support more residents, more workers, and a wider range of uses, extending beyond its current retail core into a more layered urban environment.

“The civic and cultural heart of Sydney’s East”: Bondi Junction masterplan revealed

Toorak's dress circle St Georges Road, home to some of the city's priciest homes, is set for a rare new apartment development.

Blood Diamond Group, an entity tied to Tina Brandi, wife of David Brandi who has been a prolific bidder on The Block over the years, has filed plans for an ultra-exclusive development across an amalgamated 3,662 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/104-106-st-georges-road-toorak-vic-3142">104 and 106 St Georges Road</a>.

The proposal would replace two existing homes on the riverfront site with a five-level apartment building cascading down the steeply sloping land toward the Yarra River. Designed by Charles Wright Architects, the development has been carefully shaped around the site’s topography and river environs, with the upper levels stepping back to reduce visual bulk from both St Georges Road and the Yarra corridor.

Planning documents describe the proposal as “a site layout and building typology that is consistent with the emerging character of the area and which provides exceptional amenity for future residents without compromising that of neighbouring properties.”&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Blood Diamond Group unveils riverfront apartment plans for Toorak Pavilion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea19a17e-7528-4fa8-b727-05f2f7c025e5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Toorak%20pavilion%20a_0.png?VersionId=rZ2IjdoUL_UrRl1sZ4wZHnQXbYUaEmUQ" />

The scheme comprises 12 apartments, including 10 three-bedroom residences, one one-bedroom apartment, and a substantial split-level five-bedroom penthouse. A 624 sqm communal rooftop terrace will crown the building, while three undercroft levels embedded into the hillside will accommodate apartments and basement parking.

The design leverages the site’s dramatic northern outlook across the Yarra River, with living areas and balconies oriented toward the water. A central atrium running the full height of the building is intended to draw natural light deep into the residences and improve internal amenity.

Landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/jack-merlo">Jack Merlo Design &amp; Landscape</a> will play a major role in softening the built form, particularly along the river edge where significant setbacks have been introduced. The proposal includes a minimum 30-metre setback from the Yarra River boundary, preserving a substantial landscaped buffer between the development and the waterway.

While a mature English Oak near the front of the site is proposed for removal, the plans retain a large English Elm closer to the riverfront, alongside other established vegetation in the lower section of the property.

<img alt="First look: Blood Diamond Group unveils riverfront apartment plans for Toorak Pavilion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ed3bf19b-5bc7-482f-bde7-41f709a13c3a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Toorak%20pavilion%20b.png?VersionId=SG_kBGu4rOaSPY8FtVcmPJfSCrstuOfg" />

Architecturally, the building adopts strong horizontal forms with expansive glazing and curved balcony edges facing the river. Planning documents note the upper levels “adopt a receding form” to ensure the building responds appropriately to the Yarra River environs overlay controls.&nbsp;

The surrounding streetscape is characterised by large contemporary homes embedded into the hillside, many presenting as modest one or two-storey forms to the street before expanding toward the river frontage below. The planning report notes this established pattern heavily influenced the massing strategy for Toorak Pavilion.&nbsp;

Until the recent sale of the landmark Clendon Road mansion Coonac for around $130 million, St Georges Road held the state's most expensive home, the $80,000,088 derelict "Ghost House" mansion that was bought by crypto king Ed Craven.&nbsp;

Blair House, also on St Georges Road, sold for $74.5 million in 2022.

First look: Toorak Pavilions slated for dress circle St Georges Road

Six months after a development site on Kangaroo Point’s Shafston Avenue sold for $6.55 million, plans have been lodged for a 23-storey apartment tower.

A company named JMT Mega Capital, understood to be interstate investors when the 1,222 sqm double block traded late last year through Patona Property, is proposing an 84-apartment development in place of the existing low-rise buildings.

The slender tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/212-220-shafston-avenue-east-brisbane-qld-4169">212–220 Shafston Avenue</a>, overlooking the Brisbane River, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/aplus-design-group">Aplus Design Group</a>. It will comprise a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments above six basement levels, topped by rooftop resident amenities.

<img alt="First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e17ba9e-553e-42ef-92b6-22081671521a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/podium_3.png?VersionId=hlVUf99vrOjUs.vhQs0qV0DhOncUy9T8" />

The development has been designed as a vertically articulated tower with recessed balconies, curved façades and planted edges intended to soften its scale within the evolving Shafston Avenue skyline. In the submitted Urban Design Report, Aplus Design Group said the tower had been “shaped with a slender vertical expression, articulated façades, recessed balcony zones, integrated planting and a clearly defined podium relationship, helping to reduce perceived bulk and create a more elegant contribution to the Shafston Avenue streetscape and broader Kangaroo Point skyline.”

The scheme comprises 84 apartments, including 25 one-bedroom units, 34 two-bedroom apartments and 25 three-bedroom residences. A total of 104 car spaces are proposed across six basement levels, including resident, visitor and accessible parking.

Residents will have access to rooftop communal open space and shared amenities, while the development also incorporates deep planting zones and subtropical landscaping throughout the podium and tower levels. The project includes 35 per cent communal space coverage across the site and a 17.5 per cent deep soil zone allocation to support urban greening outcomes.

The application exceeds the mapped building height under the Kangaroo Point Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan and is being assessed under Brisbane City Council’s impact assessment pathway. The design team argues the additional height is supported by the site’s strategic inner-city location, existing high-density zoning, and proximity to transport and employment hubs.

“The design has been developed to make better use of a well-serviced urban site within an established high-density residential setting, while improving the street presentation and overall quality of the public realm interface,” the report states.

<img alt="First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1ab44b1e-ff45-4bf3-8da8-8aa0cd79db33" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_10.png?VersionId=tSxeGekZOqj1e9g3PEn_yFoC3taKDp3U" />

The proposal adds to a growing pipeline of apartment developments reshaping Kangaroo Point ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, with demand continuing to strengthen for new housing supply in well-connected inner-city precincts.

Mosaic has nearly sold out its under-construction <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-bedford-by-mosaic-16-30-prospect-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Bedford by Mosaic</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carter-by-mosaic-77-linton-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Carter</a>,&nbsp;while Pikos recently completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/skye-residences-by-pikos-kangaroo-point-8-river-terrace-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Skye Residences</a> nearby. Pikos is also delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gaia-kangaroo-point-108-lambert-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Gaia</a>, over 230 three- and four-bedroom apartments on Lambert Street.

First look: 23-storey Kangaroo Point apartment tower planned for Shafston Avenue riverfront precinct

Units

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Historically Sydney embraced apartment living relatively early, in many inner suburbs there are examples of apartment buildings dating back to the 1930’s. Sydney’s appetite for apartment living has increased steadily ever since and this has resulted in a diverse stock of medium and high-density apartments to a greater extent than Melbourne.
Sydney has also alone successfully grown an urban landscape to become a ‘city of cities’ while the City of Sydney has long promoted the idea of a ‘city of villages’.
The evolution in high-density living and the continued growth of our varied urban centres has combined to help produced a rich and increasingly diverse apartment market. With each area offering interesting, diverse and appealing communities and neighbourhoods, as a result new apartment projects have also evolved in design and size to fit these different ‘cities’ and ‘villages’.
It’s a pattern of development that in Australia is unique to Sydney, much more so than Melbourne and with apartment living only going to increase, this extent of diversity appeals to many developers and buyers. It enables varied cultural outcomes to evolve and so makes each area more engaging and exciting.
One result is that we see architectural variety clearly responding to the different geographic and cultural markets that have developed. This also adds character to the city and creates different neighbourhoods that appeal to buyers.
City of Cities
Unlike Sydney, no other Australian city has developed the number of major high-density satellite centres such as Parramatta, Auburn, Bankstown, Bondi Junction, North Sydney and Chatswood.
This pattern of development is not surprising given the growing proportion of people living in high density housing. In 2001 one in seven (15.7%) of Sydney dwellings were classified as high density, by 2011 that had increased to 20.7%, today the figure is close to 30% and growing.
The highest proportions are located in the City of Sydney (70.2%) with the CBD (94.3%), and then followed by North Sydney (60.8%), Waverley (49%) and Woollahra (46.4%).
The appeal of these ‘satellite centres’ locations is somewhat surprising, as Parramatta, Bankstown and Auburn are all located some 20kms from the CBD, while Chatswood and Bondi Junction are within 10kms, which is often seen as the limits of the definition of inner-city.
However Parramatta is a great example so much so that recently a $2 billion proposal to rejuvenate its commercial hub was announced. And like Chatswood a strong high density residential market will be a key part of future plans.
City of Villages
In the 1950’s the idea of a CBD, as a district devoted to business did result in some areas becoming somewhat isolated from the wider community, and this historically residential development. Now that thinking has been reversed. Today the City of Sydney (along with most other cities) is one of the most dynamic high-density residential markets.
Taking on the idea of a series of villages, in part reflects international trends, but it’s a very positive way to help encourage and sustain residential areas and individual developments with wide appeal.
The City of Sydney has identified 10 villages, and these include the CBD and Harbour, Chinatown/CBD South, Green Square/City South, King &amp; Harris Streets, Oxford Street and Redfern Street.
With the village plan actively promoted, when we think of marketing and development goals we can see from various consultations how residents would like to see the area’s villages evolve.
What is interesting and perhaps not that surprising is that many of the key points residents look to encourage would be an exact check list for any successful development to address, including;
<ul>
<li>developing a sense of community</li>
<li>improving public transport (plus encouraging bike riding and walking)</li>
<li>supporting local services and businesses</li>
<li>solving parking problems</li>
<li>‘greening’ streets and neighbourhoods</li>
<li>promoting safe and clean public places.</li>
</ul>
For residents the idea of a City of Villages is appealing, however to meet the needs of a modern economy the long-term planning for any city needs to accommodate commercial growth and all of the associated services. Today we also see that a mix of development, including a range of residential projects clearly helps to enhance and create a more vibrant city.
As Sydney continues to grow as a ‘City of Cities’ we will continue to see further urban consolidation, much of which is based around transport connections. People and planners are attracted to existing suburbs and so the idea of a ‘City of Villages’ also makes sense, the idea allows for sensitive development while retaining local character.
Sydney’s supply of land, in particular land with reasonable access to services and employment is very limited and so both these trends are set to continue, and I think make a positive contribution to our urban environment.
Peter Chittenden is managing director for residential of Colliers International. He can be contacted <a href="https://www.projectagenda.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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pchittenden-eLqUUC8TWW

City of cities, city of villages: Peter Chittenden

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Unit rents in Sydney and Melbourne continue to fall reflecting continued high vacancy rates notably in inner city and CBD markets that are under pressure from sharply reduced demand and surging supply particularly from previous holiday accommodation now converting to the permanent market. Conversely house rents are on the rise Indicating perhaps Increased demand for larger, outer suburban homes.

Sydney average asking rents for units fell by 2.3% over November but rents for houses Increased sharply by 2.5%. Perth rents continue to rise for both houses and units. Capital city rental markets continue to report diverging results with significantly lower and falling vacancy rates for houses offset by higher rates for units. This reflects sharply falling demand and increased supply of units - particularly in inner-city Sydney and CBD Melbourne.

HOUSE AND UNIT RENTAL VACANCY RATES 

Reflecting rent declines In the unit market, vacancy rates continue to Increase In Melbourne and Sydney - remaining at record levels. Vacancy rates for houses are significantly lower in all capitals by comparison with units and likely to continue to place upward pressure on rents.

HOME LOANS 

ABS home lending data reported another Increase over October with owner-occupier loans continuing at unprecedented levels. Total residential lending increased by 1.1% over October and has risen by 16.8% over the first 10 months of this year compared to the same period In 2019. All buyer types reported increases over October however, remarkably, lending for first home buyers now exceeds that reported for Investors. All states, with the exception of Victoria reported Increases In the total value of housing loans approved over October. Similarly, only Victoria failed to record an Increases In first home buyer lending over October, falling by 5.9%.

Although lending for first home buyers has surged this year driven by numerous state and federal government Incentive policies, levels remain well below those recorded during the post GFC revival period In 2009-10. Lending for new home building continues to be a significant contributor to the recent surge In home lending reflecting In particular the Impact of the recently extended federal government HomeBuilder policy.  Victoria continues to clearly record the highest number of loans for home building followed by QLD and WA.

HOME BUILDING 

The surge In lending for home building Is also been reflected In rising house building activity over recent months. Latest ABS building approvals for October were however lower in Sydney and Melbourne over the month but significantly higher In Brisbane and sharply higher In Perth.  Despite recent rises In home building approvals, underling levels, particularly for units, remain well below previous peak levels.
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Unit rents in Sydney and Melbourne continue to fall reflecting continued high vacancy rates notably in inner city and CBD markets, according to Archistar's Chief Economist Andrew Wilson.

urban.com.au

Unit rents continue to fall across Melbourne and Sydney

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The housing markets in Melbourne and Sydney are on a downward trend, according to the valuation firm Herron Todd White.
The last few months Herron Todd White suggested Sydney and Melbourne have been declining due to the impacts of COVID-19, but now they have deemed houses and units in Sydney are now classified as a declining market rather than one just starting to decline, suggesting they have been hit harder than Melbourne.
To enlarge the national property clock for houses, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/8/11/HTW%20August%20Clock%20RESI.JPG" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/8/11/HTW%20August%20Clock%20RESI.JPG" alt="">
There has been no movement across the housing and unit markets at the peak of market position this month, HTW found.
However there has been some minor shuffling in markets nearing the bottom or starting to recover.
They noted, "many regional property markets remain resilient due to low/nil infection numbers, with CBD accessible lifestyle regions gaining appeal."
"Multi-residential investments (e.g. flats) hold excellent promise across many markets," they added.
To enlarge the national property clock for units, <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2020/8/11/HTW%20August%20Clock%20UNIT.JPG" target="_blank">click here</a>.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/8/11/HTW%20August%20Clock%20UNIT.JPG" alt="">
"Affordable housing and granny-flat construction in Western Sydney looks promising."
"Town planning changes in Kyogle and surrounds are opening up small development opportunities"
"Queensland property positions itself as an appealing post-pandemic alternative for southern investor."
"New construction is gaining momentum in some centres on the back of government stimulus, plus in Perth, transaction numbers rose, and vacancy rates fell due to low infections," HTW concluded.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sydney residential market hit harder than Melbourne: HTW Residential Clock

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Unit markets across Australia saw no significant movement over the past month, according to property valuation firm Herron Todd White (HTW).
The valuation firm's national property clock for December found that five locations remained at the peak of the market cycle for units.
Unit markets in Albury, Sunshine Coast, Wodonga, Tamworth and Bathurst remained at the peak. Bathurst has sat at the peak the longest.
No other markets are approaching the peak while a number of markets including Hobart, Launceston and Mildura have continued rising.
Lismore, Mackay, Melbourne, Newcastle, Illawarra, Townsville, Cairns and Geelong, among others are still just in the beginnings of a recovery.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/12/9/HTW%20Unit%20Clock%20DEC%202019.JPG" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge: 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/12/9/HTW%20Unit%20Clock%20DEC%202019.JPG" alt="">
Canberra, Perth, Kalgoorlie and the Southern Tablelands continued declining while the Central Coast remains at the start of a decline.
Broome, Geraldton and South West WA have still yet to hit rock bottom, unlike Darwin, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney, which according to HTW are all at the bottom of the unit market
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Unit markets held steady over the month with no movement: HTW Clock

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Three locations have climbed to the peak of the market cycle for units, according to property valuation firm Herron Todd White (HTW).
The valuation firm's national property clock for August finds unit markets in Albury, Sunshine Coast, and Wodonga are now at the peak of the market, joining Bathurst which has sat at the peak for the last two months.
It's been a quick rise for Albury and the Sunshine Coast.
In back to back months they've climbed quickly through the cycle, from rising market in June to approaching the peak of the market in July.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/8/5/unit%20clock.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/2019/8/5/unit%20clock.jpg" alt="">
Tamworth joined Hobart at the approaching peak of the unit market. 
Apartments in the South West of Western Australia were not as far through their declining cycle as HTW had previously suggested.
They moved from approaching the bottom of the market to in a declining market, suggesting there is still some way to go in the decline.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/16/Tamworth%201.JPG" alt="">
One example of a unit listed in Tamworth is 1/33 Murray Street (pictured above).
The two bedroom one bathroom unit is listed for $225,000 more than 10% higher than the median price for a unit in Tamworth, $194,811.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2019/8/16/Tamworth%202.JPG" alt="">
Another example of a unit exceeding the median sale price in Tamworth is Lot 41/337 Armidale Road (pictured above).
The three bedroom, two bathroom apartment sold for $273,000 in March 2019.
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Tamworth unit market starts to approach the peak: HTW Clock 

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A block of units in the heart of Mosman is on the market with the price of $550,000. 
It has been offered by David Cotton from Fidelity International.
Sitting on a 730 square metre block of land, the four separate two bedroom units at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unitblock-qld-mossman-117151079" target="_blank"> 6 William Street </a>features solid construction, high ceilings and retro style architecture.
There are two apartments located on the first floor and two top floor apartments that are accessible via an internal stair case.
<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/2018/10/15/mossman%202.jpg" alt="">
The units are all currently rented out between $190 to $200 per week.
It is located directly across the road from the school and only 100 metres to the main street. 
<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/2018/10/15/mossman%203.jpg" alt="">
With the growing demand for rental properties in the area, these prices have the potential to increase on the next rent review.
There is a lot of potential in renovating and increasing the value of the property.
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Mosman block of apartments hits the market

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Sydney Olympic Park has experienced the biggest stock increase in Australia over the past year.
Investar suggests its sales stock has grown by 189%, from 37 units this time last year to its current 107 offerings. 
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/4/5/sydney%20olympic%20park.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<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/2018/4/5/sydney%20olympic%20park.jpg" alt="">
A two bedroom apartment has been listed for sale with a price guide of $768,000 to $784,000 (pictured below).
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-sydney+olympic+park-127730742" target="_blank">The 612/1 Australia Avenue apartment</a> features two spacious bedrooms, gourmet kitchen with stone bench top and two appointed bathrooms.
Extra features include split system air conditioning, building video security intercom, and secure parking.
<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/2018/4/5/6121%20australia%20avenue.jpg" alt="">
Another Australia Avenue two bedroom apartment was sold for $709,000 last year (pictured below).
Located on the fifth floor of the near new Australia Towers building, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-sydney+olympic+park-126172790" target="_blank">501/7 Australia Avenue</a> apartment comes with 99 square metre living space, stone top kitchen with European appliances, and secure car park.
Positioned in the heart of Sydney Olympic Park, it is mere footsteps from the park’s world-class sporting venues, train station and restaurant precinct.
<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/2018/4/5/5017%20australia%20avenue.jpg" alt="">
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Sydney Olympic Park experiences big stock increase

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A three bedroom villa in Armadale, a suburb of Perth, has been listed by Ian Rankin from Ray White.
It will be auctioned on April 28.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-wa-armadale-127948078" target="_blank">Situated at 6/34 Friar Road</a>, the unit features three bedrooms, good sized kitchen which overlooks the family area, and L-shaped living/lounge area.
It also comes with the private enclosed patio and large double garage.
It's on the right side at the back of the complex.
It last sold at $305,000 in 2009.
It was a $340 a week rental in 2015 and at $340 in 2009.
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median unit price sits on $230,000.
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Armadale, Perth three bedroom villa listed by mortgagee

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The peak of the market cycle for units remained unchanged in October, with Melbourne still at the top along with Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Newcastle and NSW Central Coast, according to property valuation firm Herron Todd White.
Sydney remains at the starting to decline position for unit prices. 
There were few changes from September, with Bathurst and Orange moving a notch up to a rising market from their start of recovery in the previous month. 
Whitsundays has gone from being at the bottom of the market cycle to start of recovery in the clock, according to HTW.
The biggest change, however, was Bendigo which dramatically slipped to approaching the bottom of the market from its rising market position in September.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/10/06/HTWUnitsOct.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/10/06/HTWUnitsOct.png" alt=""> 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Melbourne stays at top of market for units, Sydney in decline while Bendigo slips dramatically: HTW clock 

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With the backdrop of housing affordability set to be a key issue for Tuesday's federal budget, a compact Chelsea townhouse in Melbourne's seaside suburb was in the spotlight as the nation's most affordable weekend sale.
The vacant <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-vic-chelsea-125169970" target="_blank">one bedder</a> fetched $273,000, having last sold at $147,000 in 2005, so falling short of doubling in price over the intervening dozen years.
The property was offered through Thomson Real Estate agent Mark Pearman and Jeff Cowan.
Its 2005 price had surged from its prior $55,000 sale eight years earlier in 1997, highlighting recent CoreLogic research suggesting despite the recent boom in capital city dwelling values growth was actually subdued compared to past decades.
Sydney ranks as the only capital city that has recorded a greater increase in values so far this decade compared to the previous decade, the research advised. The latest commentary on Sydney's affordability came via a weekend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/senator.sam.dastyari/videos/vb.269334213215074/784450785036745/?type=2&amp;theater" target="_blank">Facebook posting</a> by Senator Sam Daystari with some 345,000 plus views by Sunday evening. 
Sydney's cheapest weekend sale was $502,500 for a three bedroom house at Windsor, in the Hawkesbury district.
Almost doubling in price over its nine year ownership, it had last traded at $255,000 in 2008, and previously at $257,000 in 2005, showing that prices can fall too.
It had doubled in price from $110,000 to $220,000 between 2000 and boom time 2003.
The nation's top reported result was Sydney's dearest sale when an restored 1890s Newtown terrace house sold pre-auction for $3.8 million.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-08%20at%209.50.35%20AM.png" alt="">
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-terrace-nsw-newtown-125174618" target="_blank">66 Watkin Street</a> terrace (above), that now overlooks the glamorous backyard swimming pool, traded unrenovated at $1,883,000 in 2009.
The property was offered through Ray White agents Ercan Ersan and Shaun Stoker who had initial $3 million price guidance.
"No expense has been spared on the meticulous craftsmanship behind its prestigious 12 metre facade," the marketing advised.
Adelaide, often ranked as the cheapest mainland capital city, saw prices range from $290,000 to $991,000.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-08%20at%209.51.42%20AM.png" alt="">
The $991,000 sale was <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-sa-eden+hills-125265266" target="_blank">a four bedroom home on a hillside 2413 sqm block at Eden Hills</a> (above). 
The home marketed as "elegant and huge" had been tipped by Harris Real Estate to fetch $850,000 plus.
The $290,000 Aldinga Beach sale was a 1970s townhouse that had been a $250 a week rental when last offered vacant three years ago.
The national clearance rate held firm around 74 percent on lower auction activity in the first week of May, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
Rapidly falling volumes appear to have underpinned the national auction clearance rate as buyer hesitancy begins to emerge given rising interest rates and overheated markets.
The property data firm says that this week, 1,662 capital city auctions were held and preliminary results show that 1,365 auctions have been reported so far, with a preliminary clearance rate of 74.6 percent, rising from a final clearance rate of 74 percent last week across 2,350 auctions.
Clearance rates remain above the long term average across the largest capital cities, but the rolling four week average reveals a softening trend in Sydney’s final clearance rate.
Both Sydney and Melbourne maintain their place as the strongest auction markets.
This week’s combined capital city preliminary clearance rate is stronger than one year ago, when 67.7 per cent of capital city properties cleared, however auction volumes are lower than this time last year when 2,230 homes were taken to auction across the combined capitals.
Across Melbourne, 782 homes were taken to auction and preliminary results show a clearance rate of 78.4 percent, up slightly from last week’s final clearance rate of 78.1 percent across 1,226 auctions.
At the same time last year, Melbourne’s clearance rate was 73.2 percent, with 1,150 auctions held across the city.
The North East region was the best performer in terms of clearance rates, with a 89.4 per ent success rate. 
Melbourne's top sale was $3.7 million in Balwyn for a home with 500 sqm of living space through MICM Real Estate.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-08%20at%209.56.17%20AM.png" alt="">
 
It was a five bedroom home with study and six bathrooms, built in the French provincial style on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-balwyn-125159990" target="_blank">its 740 sqm Metung Street block</a> (above).
The vendors had unsuccessfully sought $3.9 million at its June 2016 auction.
It first sold as a new-build in 2011 at $2.82 million.
Sydney was host to 585 auctions this week, down from 811 last week and 676 at the same time last year.
A preliminary clearance rate of 77.8 percent was recorded this week, representing an increase from last week’s 74.3 percent and higher than one year ago (71.8 percent).
"The performance across Sydney’s individual sub regions was varied," Kevin Brogan, the CoreLogic auction analyst said.
Across Blacktown, where 11 results have been reported so far, the preliminary clearance rate was 36.4 per cent, while across the Central Coast secured 89.5 percent and City and Inner South secured 88.5 percent.
There were 105 auctions held across Brisbane this week, down from 124 last week, and significantly lower than one year ago (195).
Preliminary results for the city show that 60.8 percent of auctions were successful this week, up from 52.9 percent last week, while one year ago 41.2 percent of auctions were sold.
Brisbane's cheapest weekend result was $355,000 in Zillmere, for a home on a 610 sqm block of land not too far from Nudgee College. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-08%20at%209.57.48%20AM.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-zillmere-125140418" target="_blank">The 1970-build three bedroom home</a> (above) with 95 sqm of living space had been last traded in 1977 at $27,450, so reflected 6.6 percent annual growth over the four decades.
A total of 95 auctions were held in Adelaide this week, up from 83 last week, and similar to last year (94).
Preliminary results for the weekend show 66.7 percent sold across Adelaide, up from 63.5 percent last week.
There were 56 auctions held in Canberra this week and the preliminary clearance rate was 65.3 percent, down from 68.3 percent last week and higher than one year ago (54.3 per cent).
Like several other capitals, Canberra's cheapest offering was a townhouse.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/08/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-08%20at%209.58.48%20AM.png" alt="">
 
It was a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi+detached-act-amaroo-125273026" target="_blank">three bedroom Amaroo duplex townhouse</a> (above) that fetched $430,000, having come with $399,000 plus price guidance from LJ Hooker. It had last sold at $382,000 in 2010.
 
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