Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=373834]

Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150713 project_image_fid=373827]

Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Joel Robinson

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357458]

Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357463]

Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151449 project_image_fid=357469]

Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151449]

Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=368645]

Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=358802]

La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134951 project_image_fid=364551]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134951]

La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=367096]

The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363511]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363509]

Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135546 project_image_fid=363515]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135546]

Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Ceerose Founder Edward Doueihi told Apartments.com.au the developer’s long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West had given it a strong understanding of how the area has evolved and where its future opportunities lie.

“Ceerose has had a long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West, giving us a unique understanding of the area’s evolution and future potential,” Doueihi said.

“Having delivered projects throughout the region, we have witnessed the suburb’s transformation first-hand and understand the opportunities for its continued growth.”

Doueihi said that understanding also informed the planning process, with a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes Report prepared before the application was lodged.

The report identified the key issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents and other stakeholders, allowing those matters to be considered and incorporated into the design where appropriate.

He said the delivery of additional housing would also play an important role in supporting the revitalisation of Norton Street and the Italian Forum.

“By increasing the local residential population, the development is expected to strengthen demand for local businesses, encourage further investment, and help restore the vibrancy that made the precinct a thriving destination in the early 2000s.”

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Doueihi founded Ceerose in 1998 and has grown the business to become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers in recent years, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

First look: Ceerose doubles down in Leichhardt with adaptive reuse of former warehouse site

Western Australia

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The lower end of Western Australia's south west property market has experienced reduced sales volume and a weakening of values, according to the valuation firm, Herron Todd White (HTW).
First home buyers and investors generally make up the buyer profile for the lower end of the market.
"The market is driven relatively equally by both (of these buyer demographics)," the HTW report stated.
"First home buyers have been stimulated by government rebates, low interest rates and property values in general being the lowest they have been for numerous years.
"These positive indicators have resulted in first home buyers returning to the market."
Competition for the lower market segment is brought by investors who are looking to capitalise on historically stronger rental market that has seen an increase in yields.
Higher yields and low interest rates create a good market for investors and this has strengthened property values.
The report said entry points into the lower end of the market range from $250,000 to $400,000 and for this amount you can purchase either a basic established residence or build a project home in one of the outlying new developments.
These established homes are in general located within closer proximity to the beach than the new developments. Established homes generally offer better capital growth potential, while the new housing market offers better yields, HTW suggested.
The middle segment of the market is also weakening as there are fewer vendors from the lower market looking to trade up. There is still good demand for well presented and well located properties within this $500,000 to $1 million price range.
"As the market is currently soft in the south west it presents opportunity to upgrade the residence as value for money is very good," said HTW.
The buyer profile usually consists of second and third time home owners or investors from Perth looking for a holiday home.
"Unfortunately, the upper end of the market is considerably slower than the lower and middle market segments," the report suggested. 
"Properties in and above $1 million are selling if they are priced correctly, however extended selling periods of six to 12 months are still common.
"This is a reflection of the limited number of prospective purchasers in this price bracket."
Sale numbers in the prestige market over recent months have reduced, especially with job losses in the mining sector. This has put pressure on the prestige property market as high income earners are taking considerable reductions in wages as they relocate.
HTW noted the south west is considered to be a premium holiday destination given its pristine beaches, surf and world renowned wine region.
Prestigious properties scattered throughout the south west, such as Naturaliste, Eagle Bay, Metricup and Yallingup are still recording sale prices regularly in excess of $1 million.
"There is still demand from the wealthy to invest and holiday in the region," stated the report.
"Overall, it is likely the property market in the south west for the remainder of 2016 will be slow.
"The swings of the Perth market during the last several years have been missed in the regions but we would recommend caution as the slow down in the state resource sector, continued weakness in Perth and general economic uncertainty could promote more of a widespread downturn throughout the market."
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Bottom end of south west WA market on the move: HTW

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The REIWA has released the top 10 most searched suburbs for sale on reiwa.com in 2016 with Canning Vale, Baldivis and Scarborough rounding out the top three.
Of those 10 suburbs, seven were ranked in the top 10 suburbs for sales activity in the three months to June 2016. Nine featured in the top 20.  All 10 suburbs are ranked in Perth’s top 25 suburbs for sales activity in the June quarter.
Most searched top 10
<ol>
<li>Canning Vale</li>
<li>Baldivis</li>
<li>Scarborough</li>
<li>Perth</li>
<li>Morley</li>
<li>Rockingham</li>
<li>Ellenbrook</li>
<li>Dianella</li>
<li>Byford</li>
<li>Thornlie</li>
</ol>
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Perth's 10 most searched suburbs for sale

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After CoreLogic recently reported a median house price of $500,000 in Perth, Property Observer went searching for what that got.
In Redcliffe the median price will secure a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house on <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-redcliffe-123149214" target="_blank">Victoria Street</a> (above). The five-year-old house features a double-storey garage and built in wardrobes in all bedrooms. 
In <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-two+rocks-123133718" target="_blank">Two Rocks</a> the median price will secure a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house on Madeline Court (below). The house sits on a 814 square metre block and features an in-ground swimming pool. 
<img src="/images/2016/08/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-08-31%20at%205.30.23%20PM.png" alt=""> 
In <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-madeley-121913942" target="_blank">Madeley</a> home-buyers can secure a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home on Bryanston Pass built in 2010 (below). The house sits on a 375 square metre block. 
 <img src="/images/2016/08/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-08-31%20at%205.31.41%20PM.png" alt="">
In <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-baldivis-123376682" target="_blank">Baldivis</a> the median price will purchase a five-bedroom, two-bathroom home on Lagoon Pass (below). The new house sits on 564 square metres of land. 
<img src="/images/2016/08/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-08-31%20at%205.33.32%20PM.png" alt="">
In <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-waikiki-120886205" target="_blank">Waikiki</a> a six-bedroom, two-bathroom house on Auld Court will set buyers back $500,000 (below). The large property has parking for five cars and 680 square metres of land. 
<img src="/images/2016/08/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-08-31%20at%205.35.50%20PM.png" alt="">
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What the $500,000 median house price gets in Perth

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A $5 billion infrastructure fund and an asset sale strategy announced in the WA Budget has been lauded by the top industry body though it expressed unhappiness with the failure to address the issue of tax reforms. 
”The announcement of a $5 billion infrastructure fund and an expansion of the state asset sale program is essential for the property industry to participate in WA’s economic transition and growth outlook,” Property Council WA executive director Lino Iacomella said. 
“The promised infrastructure fund should also be backed up with a state infrastructure strategy to enable the property investment and development sectors to plan ahead with confidence."
Iacomella added that the council was keen to see the initiatives the infrastructure fund would support, including projects like the Max Light Rail and the federal Smart Cities Plan. 
But the Budget once again missed an opportunity to start tax reform in WA, said Iacomella.
“After three successive years of property tax hikes it is disappointing that the budget has no plan to phase out land tax aggregation, which discriminates against investors that own more than one property. Similarly, this budget does not address the issue of seniors being stung by a hefty stamp duty bill when downsizing or stamp duty equity for off-the-plan property purchases.”
These would help improve housing affordability, promote high quality infill development and boost the economy, said Iacomella.
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WA Budget Infrastructure fund key for property-led growth: Industry body

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The renowned winery and vineyard Salitage estate in WA's Pemberton has been sold for $2.85 million.
The award winning winery was bought by a Western Australia investor.
Located three and a half hour's south of Perth, the 51 hectare landholding comprises a 22 hectare vineyard, predominantly featuring Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Also on the land is a four bedroom manager's residence, staff accommodation and four two bedroom luxurious self-contained suites.
The property includes a custom-built, state of the art winery over three levels and a cellar door featuring natural timber throughout.
The sale was negotiated by CBRE's Phil Melville and David Kennedy, in conjunction with VNW on behalf of receivers Ferrier Hodgson.
Phil said the sales campaign attracted strong buyer interest from both local and offshore parties.
 
 
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Award winning winery Salitage estate sells in WA's Pemberton

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The marketing of Yougawalla Station in Western Australia's Kimberley is set to kick off after a decision by its owners' syndicate headed by media buyer Harold Mitchell and former Seven West Media director Doug Flynn.
The partners have appointed ANZ Banking Group and KPMG Corporate Finance to sell the 1.4 million hectare farm with 44,000 head of cattle with around $70 million tipped. It come with <a href="https://modscape.com.au/projects/kimberley/" target="_blank">Modscape’s sustainable residential designed home</a>.
ANZ's global head of advisory Martin Hanrahan alongside KPMG Corporate Finance partner Sam McClure have the sales task, according to The Australian Financial Review. The Australian suggest $80 million. Harold Mitchell bought Yougawalla in 2008 along with Doug Flynn and the Sale family who expect the Yougawalla sales process will not suffer the same fate at the S.Kidman sale given it does not own land critical to Australia's defence interests. 
Harold Mitchell has criticised Treasurer Scott Morrison's decision to block the sale of Australia's largest cattle property portfolio to foreign buyers calling on local investors to take a greater interest in the country's agricultural sector.
"There are real problems. It shouldn't be handled in this way," he told The Australian Financial Review. 
"We are short on capital and have been for a century and we rely on international co-operation." 
"I am confident that the government would allow us to proceed if the acquirer was a Chinese company or individual," he said.
"[However] they would be concerned if it was a state-owned enterprise but I think that's wrong. The Chinese economy is driven by state-owned enterprises and China is looking out to the world."
Chinese investment firm Genius Link Asset Management is believed to have been the highest bidder for Kidman after rival company Shanghai Pengxin made a $350 million bid for the company. 
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$70 million tipped for Yougawalla Station

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Fossil Downs Station, the jewel of WA's pastoral industry, has been sold by the Henwood family to cattle queen in the making, Gina Rinehart.
Covering almost 400,000 hectares where the Fitzroy and Margaret Rivers meet, the heritage-listed homestead has been dubbed the "<a href="/news/fossil-downs-the-taj-mahal-of-the-kimberleys-listed">Taj Mahal of the Kimberley</a>".
It is located 430 kms to the live cattle export port of Broome and 30 kms to Fitzroy Crossing township. 
Offers closed July 2 for the property with real estate agent Malcolm French telling the West Australian newspaper he had seen nothing that compared to Fossil Downs in 50 years with Elders.
The $30 million sale to miner Gina Rinehart is reported by the paper today, saying interest came from some of the biggest names in the West Australian business world, including Kerry Stokes and Andrew Forrest.
Rinehart's vision for cattle production in the Kimberley through joint venture company Liveringa Station Beef was crucial in winning over Fossil Downs’ owners John and Annette Henwood, who made the gut wrenching decision to sell, ending a family association dating back to 1882.
"I feel an absolute traitor," said <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bushtelegraph/annette-mcdonald/5895778" target="_blank">Annette Henwood</a>, who was featured on the farm in a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/4389335?zoomLevel=1" target="_blank">1952 Australian Women's Weekly article</a>.
"I never wanted to be the MacDonald who quit," she said.
Last year, Gina Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting paid around $40 million for a 50 per cent stake in the Liveringa and Nerrima Stations in the Kimberley, hoping to capitalise on Asia's increasing demand for food.
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Gina Rinehart buys Fossil Downs, the WA's pastoral jewel

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Some 6.7% of resold homes across Perth in the March 2015 quarter were sold for less than the previous purchased price.
The compared to 5.5% the previous quarter and 4.4% a year earlier, according the CoreLogic RP Data pain gain report. 
The 6.7% of resales at a loss is the highest for the city since February 2013. 
The East Fremantle and Peppermint Grove council areas recorded no resales at a loss over the quarter while Belmont (1.7%) and Gosnells recorded less than 2% at a loss. 
But the highest proportion of loss-making resales occurred in the Perth (23.8%), Cottesloe (22.2%) and Mandurah (18.6%) council areas. 
<a href="/images/2015/06/23/700_pain7.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Perth, Cottesloe and Mandurah top WA's biggest property sale losers: CoreLogic RP Data

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The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has awarded the first 6 Star Green Star – Communities rating to a residential masterplanned development at Alkimos Beach, north of Perth.
The first stage of the development, to be delivered by Lend Lease and LandCorp, will comprise 2,000 homes over 240 hectares. Upon completion, the master-planned development will cover 710 hectares.
LandCorp chief executive Frank Marra said the company intends to develop Western Australian residences sustainably.
"We encourage innovation and are delighted that our Alkimos Beach project has been recognised by the nation's authority on sustainable buildings and communities and acknowledged as a world leading development with global significance," said Marra.
The <a href="https://www.alkimosbeach.com.au/" target="_blank">Alkimos Beach development</a> was assessed by GBCA according to innovation, design, environmental sustainability, economic and liveability criteria. The result was announced at the Green Cities conference 2015.
Upon completion, the project will have six hectares of conservation reserves and 41 hectares of dune and foreshore reserves. According to LendLease, houses will be at most 800 metres from the local centre and transport links and 200 metres from a park space.
The masterplanned development will also include WiFi in public spaces.
While Lend Lease has been recognised for sustainability measures in its developments previously, these have largely been in single buildings and fitouts, said GBCA chief executive Romilly Madew.
"This 6 Star Green Star rating for a community project sets the bar for world leadership community development and demonstrates a long-term commitment to sustainability at scale," Madew said.
"We applaud the range of initiatives – from education campaigns to financial incentives to technology – that will help the residents of Alkimos Beach embrace more sustainable living."
"The importance of this rating cannot be understated. Lend Lease, LandCorp and the people of Alkimos Beach now have independent proof that this community will deliver economic, social and environmental sustainability. And the industry has proof that 'world leadership' benchmarks in community development are achievable."
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Alkimos Beach gets tick from Green Building Council

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The property woes of the Pilbara region in the wake of a moving mining economy are well known.
As the iron ore industry moves from the construction phase to the operations phase and commodity prices drop, so too have rents and home prices.
The Pilbara's property boom, a few years ago, saw investors chase after the stream of fly-in, fly-out workers that flooded its major mining towns. The promise of a population spike and an undersupply of properties lured in investors after sky-high rental yields.
There's no doubt that there was once money to be made by investors who purchased in the Pilbara's mining towns, but those who bought in at the height of the boom have lost, and lost big.
According to the Western Australian government's latest Pilbara Residential Housing &amp; Land Snapshot, all three major towns ­– Port and South Hedland, Karratha and Newman ­– have recorded rental declines in the December quarter of 2014, for the fifth consecutive quarter in a row.
Click charts to open in a new window:
<a href="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2052.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2052.png" alt=""></a>
Home prices aren't faring much better, for those who are hoping to sell and recover some of the declining rental income with capital growth:
<a href="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2053.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2053.png" alt=""></a>
In Port Hedland, rental prices have been declining for even longer ­– the last three months of 2014 marked the ninth consecutive quarter of declines. The average advertised rental price peaked in the September quarter of 2014 at $2,544 per week. In the latest quarter, the average was less than half that: $1,153 per week, a seven year-low.
The graph below shows just how volatile rents have been in Port Hedland, compared with the low steady growth of rents in Perth.
<a href="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2054.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2054.png" alt=""></a>
Last week, Port and South Hedland real estate agent Barry Walsh of Jan Ford Real Estate told <a href="/expert-insights/buying/port-hedlands-price-plummet-can-it-recover">Property Observer</a> the mining boom peak prices were unsustainable.
"It was totally unsustainable where it was, and now that it's stabilising, it will bottom out, and is in the throes of doing that," said Walsh.
"It was unfortunate that the market went where it did, to unsustainable and disproportionate price levels."
When workers began to exit the region in mid-2012, leaving a surplus of rental properties and driving down rents, investors followed.
The graph below shows the spike in homes on the market, beginning in the first quarter of 2013.
<a href="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2055.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2055.png" alt=""></a>
One of the characteristic features of a single-industry town, particularly ones with a large proportion of investor properties in the market and transient workforces, is volatility. Karratha displays a similar pattern to that seen in Port Hedland, with the number of rental properties advertised rising dramatically in mid-2011, mirrored by a steep decline in advertised rents.
<a href="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2056.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2056.png" alt=""></a>
That volatility is largely due to the region's transient workforce, which made up a large segment of Karratha's population and housing demand. According to the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features10April+2013#p4" target="_blank">Australian Bureau of Statistics</a>, Karratha's census night population (the people staying in Karratha on census night) increased from 13,257 in August 2006 to 20,061 in 2011. The "usual residence population", however, was only 16,475 in 2011, up from 11,727 in 2006.
Back-of-the-envelope calculations imply that in 2011, around 18% of the people in Karratha were not usual residents – presumably, many of them were fly-in, fly-out workers.
Karratha's home prices show the same pattern as that seen in Port Hedland, implying a stream of exiting investors – around six months after rents started declining, in early 2011, the number of homes on the market began to climb:
<a href="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2057.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2057.png" alt=""></a>
Further inland is Newman, where the amount of rental stock advertised began to increase in late 2012 (see graph below).
<a href="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2058.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2058.png" alt=""></a>
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-newman-409944187" target="_blank">four bedroom Newman home in a planned estate</a> pictured below is currently available to rent. Its asking rent has more than halved in the past year: In March 2014, it was advertised at $2,000 per week. That number gradually eroded over the months, and landlords are now asking for $900 per week.
<img src="/images/2015/02/19/newman.jpg" alt="">
2 Hibiscus Way, Newman
They paid $408,146 for the property in 2012. If it's rented at its current asking price, it will yield 11.5%
Newman's property market displays the volatility characteristic of the region.
<a href="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2061.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2015/02/19/Picture%2061.png" alt=""></a>
Whether the Pilbara's property market has stabilized and bottomed out, or will continue to see declines, remains to be seen.
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