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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A Baynton four bedroom house has been sold by mortgagees for $590,000.
The<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-baynton-126048282" target="_blank"> Western Australia</a> home was sold by agent Coral Howe from Ray White. 
It had last sold at $205,000 in 2009 before its 2012 construction.
The modern Brushtail Street house came with four bedrooms, open living area and a games room. 
Baynton West Primary School, parks and the Pam Buchanan centre are within walking distance. 
According to CoreLogic, the suburb's median house price sits on $405,000. 
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Baynton, WA house sold by mortgagees

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Regional WA’s median house price increased 2.9% during the December 2017 quarter, outperforming the Perth metro region.
REIWA President Hayden Groves said eight regional centres experienced positive median house price growth, with Karratha the top performer with a 13.5% improvement.
Busselton, Albany and Esperance also recorded strong price growth, lifting 9.8%, 7.2% and 6.3% respectively.
“Pleasingly, house prices improved across the board, with centres both north and south of Perth showing positive growth,” Groves said.
Kalgoorlie/Boulder, Northam and Port Hedland were the only regions to record declines.
“After recording a significant 19.5% increase in median house price in the September quarter, Port Hedland’s median house price had a minor adjustment in the December quarter,” Groves said. 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/2/13/REIWA.jpg" alt="">
There were 1,191 house sales across regional WA in the December 2017 quarter with overall house sales declining in the December quarter.
REIWA data shows sales activity in Northam, Karratha and Esperance increased, while volumes in Busselton and Bunbury were stable.
“With the exception of Northam, these regional centres all saw their median house price improve as well,” Groves said.
"After a challenging couple of years, Karratha, Esperance, Busselton and Bunbury are exhibiting strong signs they are starting to recover.”
It was 10 days quicker to sell a property in regional WA during the December 2017 quarter than it was in the September 2017 quarter, an overall improvement in selling times experienced in six regional centres.
The average time to sell in Kalgoorlie/Boulder reduced by 36 days in the December quarter, while Busselton decreased by 24 days and Mandurah/Murray by 15 days.
Port Hedland, Bunbury, and Karratha also experienced reductions in average selling days.
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Regional WA outperforms Perth for price growth in latest quarter

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The CBA home loan arrears jumped in WA in the last six months of 2017, triggering the lender's overall bad loan book to the highest level in four years. 
Australia's largest mortgage lender reported home loans 90 or more days in arrears accounted for about 0.6% of its loan book.
The proportion of bad loans in WA rose to about 1.3%, well above Queensland, the next closest mining region in terms of arrears.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/8/arrears%20wa.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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"Loan impairment expense was $356 million, an increase of 1% on the prior comparative period," CBA said.
"The result was mainly driven by increased home loan and personal loan collective provisions, which include the impact of slightly higher home loan arrears, predominantly in WA."
The figures show the continuing fallout of the WA housing market with the proportion of bad home loans having more than doubled over the past three years.
CBA reduced its exposure to the WA market over the six-month period.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/2/8/arrears.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
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The balance of home loans in the state fell 0.3% to account for 16% of the bank's total home loan book. 
Last August, Western Australia was noted as having the most problem home loans in Australia.
The Perth property market ended 2017 on a positive note, with December quarter data showing improvements in median prices, sales activity, listing levels and average selling days, according to REIWA President Hayden Groves. 
“The Perth market found its floor and stabilised in the back half of 2017,” Mr Groves said. 
Perth’s preliminary median house price increased 1.2 per cent to $516,000 in the December quarter 2017. 
“Once all sales have settled, we expect the final December quarter median to lift to $520,000, which is a notable improvement on the September quarter median of $510,000. 
“On an annual basis, the Perth market is very stable. We’ve observed consistent price levels between the December 2016 and 2017 quarters which is a strong signifier the market has turned a corner,” Mr Groves said. 
Perth’s median unit price is $405,000 for the December 2017 quarter which is a 1.3 per cent increase on the September quarter. 
“It’s encouraging to see Perth’s house and unit medians increase over the quarter because it suggests one sector hasn’t recovered at the expense of the other,” Mr Groves said. 
There were 4,946 dwelling sales in Perth in the December quarter. 
Mr Groves said this figure was expected to lift to 6,700 once all sales had settled, putting it significantly above the September quarter sales figure.
“Traditionally, the September quarter outperforms the December quarter, but that wasn’t the case in 2017. The December quarter is on track to record 14 per cent more sales than the September quarter,” Mr Groves said. 
REIWA analysis shows the composition of sales shifted in the December quarter in Perth, with more transactions occurring above $700,000. 
“We’ve observed a surge of activity in Perth’s aspirational suburbs, with buyers recognising there is good opportunity to secure a home in these areas which might have previously been considered unattainable by many,” Mr Groves said. 
“This spike in sales above $700,000 has also contributed to Perth’s median house price increasing over the quarter.” 
There were 13,088 properties for sale in Perth at the end of the December quarter. 
Mr Groves said this was on par with the September quarter figure and six per cent less than the December 2016 quarter figure. 
“There were 800 fewer listings in Perth at the end of 2017 than there was in 2016 and some 1,300 less than there were at the same time 2015. We have consistently seen stock levels decline over the last two years as the market trends towards parity,” Mr Groves said. 
“Declining listing levels combined with notable improvements in sales activity has helped restore net-demand. With buyer activity increasing, stock levels are being absorbed faster,” Mr Groves said. 
It was 10 days faster to sell in the December quarter than it was in the September quarter, with it taking on average 60 days to secure a sale. 
“It’s been two years since it was this quick to sell in Perth. The combination of sellers’ preparedness to meet the market and buyer appetite for well-priced property has significantly shortened days-on-market,” Mr Groves said.
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CBA home loan mortgage delinquencies rise in WA

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Perth's iconic 1970s Iwan Iwanoff-designed home, the Madaschi Residence, has been sold for $1.3 million, just three weeks after it was listed.
It is one of five Iwanoffs in Dianella.
"Enjoy the life of a Mid-Century Modern Socialite to hold the best events in town, or simply luxuriate in your beautiful surrounds," was the marketing pitch.
<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/2018/1/18/iwanoff2.jpg" alt="">
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-dianella-126973730" target="_blank">Madaschi Residence</a> was designed by Iwanoff in 1968 and completed in 1970 for Gino and Lina Madaschi, a 50-something Italian couple who wanted to build their ‘forever’ house.
<div>The house bucked tradition being a large entertaining home with only two bedrooms.</div>
The house blended raw, rough elements from Iwanoff’s signature Brutalist style with a classic 60s Californian feel with open-plan indoor atrium garden, a sunken lounge and a strong connection with the outdoors.
<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/2018/1/18/iwanoff3.jpg" alt="">
The house at 53 Shannon Road was then owned by Gino and Lina’s grandson Anthony Torre.
It was last sold when bought by the real estate agent Donna Curnow and her renovator husband Paul Hampton for $765,000 in 2005. It was briefly listed two years ago with $1.5 million hopes.
It was sold through Mark and Debra Passmore at Passmore Real Estate.
 
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Iwan Iwanoff home sells for $1.3 million

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In 2005, when I was chair of the <a href="http://www.soilscienceaustralia.org/ncst" target="_blank">National Committee on Soil and Terrain</a>, I started a debate: where is Australia’s whitest beach? This was a diversion from the committee’s normal business of looking at the sustainable management of Australia’s soils, but it led down a path I hadn’t expected.
What began as a bit of after-hours banter became a serious look across Australia in search of our whitest beaches. New South Wales had already laid claim to the title, arguing that Hyams Beach at Jervis Bay has the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://open.abc.net.au/explore/28273" target="_blank">whitest sand in the world</a>, purportedly backed up by Guinness World Records.
As it turned out, both claims were false. Guinness World Records has no such category, and the whitest beach (as we found) is actually elsewhere.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198664/original/file-20171211-9383-1x292qs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198664/original/file-20171211-9383-1x292qs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Hyams beach in Jervis Bay, NSW, has been rumoured to have the whitest sand in Australia. Kristina Kl./Flickr, Author provided
So we drafted terms of reference, and the search for <a href="http://www.whitestbeach.com" target="_blank">Australia’s Whitest Beach</a> began. Over the next year samples were collected across the nation. The criteria were simple: samples had to be taken from the swash zone (the gently sloping area between the water and the dunes) and the samples could not be treated in any way apart from air-drying. No bleaching. No sieving out of impurities. Marine environment only.
The results of the first judging in 2006 were startling. Of all the states and territories, the much promoted Hyams Beach in New South Wales came in fourth. Third was Victoria, second Queensland, and first Western Australia.
The other states and territories came in at Tasmania fifth, Northern Territory sixth, and South Australia seventh. The ACT didn’t have a beach to sample, although technically some of the Commonwealth lands around our coasts could possibly come in under their banner (but that’s another debate altogether).
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198662/original/file-20171211-9383-1y7qak8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198662/original/file-20171211-9383-1y7qak8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
A sample of the main contenders for the whitest beach in Australia. Unfortunately, samples submitted from South Australia didn’t make the final cut. Photo: Noel Schoknecht, Author provided
The winning beach was Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park on WA’s south coast, but in reality any of the beaches in this area could have been winners – Hellfire Bay, Thistle Cove and Wharton’s beach (just to name a few) are all magnificently white.
A quick qualification here: the southwestern end of Lucky Bay, where many people enter the beach, is covered with seaweed – not the whitest bit! I should also note that all of the finalists in the whitest beach challenge were in their own right fabulously white. But when compared side-by-side, some beaches are clearly whiter than others.
The Queensland team felt aggrieved, so in 2007 I carried out a repechage with new samples from Queensland at Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays, and Lake McKenzie on Fraser Island. Lake McKenzie was ultimately disallowed as it is a freshwater lake and the rules stipulated a marine environment. Meanwhile, Whitehaven didn’t quite cut the mustard in the judging and Lucky Bay in WA was again the winner.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198665/original/file-20171211-9416-v5kr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198665/original/file-20171211-9416-v5kr92.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
Whitehaven beach in Queensland just missed out on the top spot in the recount. Jared Yeh/Flickr, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-NC-SA</a>
<h2>So what makes a beach white, and is it important anyway?</h2>
The assessments were based on a visual comparison, so to remove any possible visual bias after the 2007 challenge all the samples were scanned for their reflectance – how much light bounced off the sand, essentially – in the visible and infrared wavelengths. Our assumption was that higher reflectance throughout the visual spectrum correlates with greater whiteness.
As it turned out, the results from the scanning exactly correlated with the visual assessments. The eye is quite good at discerning small differences in colour and reflectance. (More background and the results from the competition are available <a href="http://www.whitestbeach.com" target="_blank">here</a>.)
So what makes a beach white? Obviously, a pristine environment helps. Another factor is the distance from rivers, which deliver coloured organic and clay contaminants to the coast.
The geology of the area and the source of the sand are also critical, with quartz seemingly a major requirement for fine sands. Most white sandy beaches are derived from granitic, or less commonly sandstone, geologies that weather to produce fine, frosted quartz sand grains. Interestingly, sands made from shell or coral fragments just aren’t as white.
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198671/original/file-20171212-9392-1b85svb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/198671/original/file-20171212-9392-1b85svb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt=""></a>
The source of the sand is very important; sand made from shells or coral aren’t as white as quartz. Tracey Croke/Flickr, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">CC BY</a>
<h2>Is it important?</h2>
While this competition began in fun, I do believe it’s important. Beaches are places of refuge in this crazy world, and a pristine white beach indicates a cleanliness that is worth striving for. The reflectance of light off these sands through shallow waters near the beach creates a surreal, magical turquoise colour. White beaches are like the canary in the coalmine – once they’re spoiled, we know we’re in trouble.
Even though this study was a first look at some of Australia’s whitest beaches, and sampling was limited, it did highlight the sheer number of wonderful sandy beaches that Australia has.
The story’s not finished though. There are many white beaches out there yet to be sampled, and if you’d like to alert me to your potentially award-winning beach please <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/whitestbeachinaustralia@gmail.com" target="_blank">email me</a> or leave a comment on the <a href="https://whitestbeach.com/feedback/" target="_blank">whitest beach website</a>.
It’s our responsibility, and I believe honour, to protect these amazing places. I’m sure there are more wonderful beaches out there that we haven’t sampled which may defeat Lucky Bay.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/88393/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Shelburne Bay in northern Queensland, for example, is a contender yet to be sampled, and there are some magnificent beaches on the east coast of Tasmania. Whatever the outcome, let’s celebrate the natural wonders that surround our country.
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/noel-schoknecht-429567" target="_blank">Noel Schoknecht</a>, Senior research associate, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746" target="_blank">Murdoch University</a>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/lucky-winner-why-this-beach-in-wa-claims-the-crown-of-australias-whitest-sand-88393" target="_blank">original article</a>.
{mijopolls 148}
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Our whitest sandy beach: Why this beach in WA claims

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Rick Fenny, the Perth businessman, is still seeking to sell his holiday retreat for $25 million.
The <a href="https://uniqueestates.com.au/listings/residential_sale-276324-nanarup/" target="_blank">south WA coast property</a>, Maitraya is set on the picturesque coastline of Nanarup, near Albany.
It  is on 263 hectares fronting three ocean beaches.
The farmland property comfortably sleeps 30 people across an eight-bedroom sandstone manor, five-bedroom fisherman’s lodge and two-bedroom pilot cottage.
<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/2018/1/8/nand2.jpg" alt="">
Fenny purchased the property from Joan Terry in 2007, the widow of wealthy entrepreneur Paul Terry who died in a helicopter crash in Hawaii in 1993.
There is a 900m airstrip and helicopter landing pad,
Fenny, one of Australia’s most successful career veterinarians operating one of the largest networks of vet practices, is best known for his role in trying to save the life of WA’s legendary Red Dog and took him on his last ride to Cossack in 1976 where he was buried.
It has been listed since May 2015 with agent Nicolette van Wijngaarden, from Unique Estates.
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firstname1-iYD4UYzvBa

Rick Fenny lists Maitraya for $25 million

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Set on a 797 square metre corner block, Cooby Cottage, the vacated Coolbellup house has been sold by mortgagees for $465,000.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-wa-coolbellup-126687534" target="_blank">The 36 Hartley Street house</a> last sold at $395,000 in 2009.
The 1960s cottage came with three bedrooms, open plan kitchen, meals and living area, separated renovated bathroom with bathtub, separate laundry and WC, additional lounge or games room running onto the large entertaining patio and back garden.
Murdoch University, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch Train Station and Fremantle are all a short car trip away.
 
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Cooby Cottage, Coolbellup, WA sold by mortgagee

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The end of the mining boom has impacted Western Australia’s economy, but the resulting affordability has brought in more first time buyers who are injecting life into the state’s property market.
There are more first time buyers (FTBs) as a proportion of total buyers in WA than anywhere else in the country, reveals a new report from Bankwest.
It has been fuelled by a drop in house prices and the attraction of buying rather than renting. 
The 2017 Bankwest First Time Buyers Report shows WA FTBs made 21.7% of all purchases in the year to June 2017 – the highest proportion in the country. 
More recent ABS data (which falls out of the report’s catchment period) shows further growth of 5.1% in the three months to August 2017 – making a total of 15,849 first time purchases in the year to August 2017. 
First time buyers also need less time to get their foot on the housing ladder – the only mainland state to experience such a decrease. 
The average WA FTB has dropped to 3.6 years to save the necessary $94,651 for a 20% deposit, down from 3.8 years last year, says the report.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/12/1/WAFHBMostTime.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/1/WAFHBMostTime.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/12/1/WAFHBLeastTime.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/12/1/WAFHBLeastTime.png" alt="">
Bankwest general manager personal and small business banking, Donna Dalby said WA’s first time buyers are taking advantage of a number of factors at play. 
“The main reason for this shorter savings time is the fact that house prices declined by 4.5% in the state, the largest decline nationwide. Even though wages only grew by 1.4% during the same period the effect is tangible,” she added. 
The drop in prices has also had a knock-on effect on how much people in WA are having to borrow to buy their first home. Western Australia was the only state in mainland Australia to see the average loan size for FTB couples decline (by 4.2%) in the year to June 2017. 
Perth remains one of Australia’s most accessible capital cities for FTBs, taking the average WA FTB couple just 3.9 years to save the $103,046 deposit required on their first house (three months less than in 2016 (4.2 years) and one whole year below the capital city average of 4.9 years). 
“Perth and Darwin as cities buck the national trend, being the two places where the saving times for first time buyers has dropped year on year. Perth’s house prices have dropped by 4.3% which means the saving time to get the 20% deposit of $103,046 (down $4,627 from 2016) has dropped by three months to 3.9 years,” said Dalby. 
The report also shows that Perth FTB couples could do well to consider opting for a unit rather than a house as a first home. The average saving time for a unit across Australia is 4.2 years, five months less than the saving time for a house.
In Perth the saving time for a unit is 3.2 years, down from 3.5 years in 2016, the biggest drop of any city in the country.
On a state level it now takes just 3.1 years for a WA FTB couple to save a $80,283 deposit on their first unit, three months less than in 2016, a reduction driven by unit prices declining by 7.4% in WA in the year to June 2017. 
“Everyone dreams of having their own house but medium and high density housing is on the increase across the country and can offer a noticeably quicker route to home ownership than aiming at a house purchase,” said Donna.
And while units can offer a quicker route to a first home, those in no hurry could look to try to buy in Perth’s Peppermint Grove, the local government area (LGA) with the longest savings time in the whole nation.
The salubrious suburb takes this unenviable title with a saving time of 21.2 years to save the $672,944 deposit need to put down a deposit (down from 21.7 years a year ago).
At the other end of the scale the LGA of Dundas in south eastern WA is the area with the shortest saving time – just 0.7 years are needed to save the necessary 20 per cent deposit of $16,346.
A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-coolgardie-126665970" target="_blank">64 King Street, Coolgardie</a> (picture above) is on the market for $119,000, indicating the affordability of the region.
A three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-wa-coolgardie-126395130" target="_blank">4/37 Sylvester Street, Coolgardie</a> (pictured below) sold recently for $62,500.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/12/1/Coolgardie2.jpg" alt=""> 
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Lower property prices help WA first time buyers to housing ladder: Bankwest 

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Former Brisbane Lion triple premiership captain Michael Voss has listed an investment property set south of Perth.
The four bedroom, two bathroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-baldivis-126966450" target="_blank">Baldivis home</a> has been a consistent $340 a week rental since he paid $181,000 in 2012 while coaching the Lions.
Willow Tree Realty Baldivis agent Janette Abbott has issued price guidance of between $329,000 to $349,000 on the now vacant home.
Voss and wife Helen sold Nu Haven, their five bedroom Coorparoo home, for $2,578,000 earlier this year given their relocation to Adelaide.
Voss is coaching at Port Adelaide as their midfield manager.
This article was first published in The Weekend Australian property section.
 
 
 
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Former Brisbane Lion Michael Voss lists another investment

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Shoalwater and North Coogee in Perth and Halls Head in Mandurah are the three top suburbs in Western Australia where the prices of units showed the most growth in the last five years.
The data from CoreLogic data tracks the percentage growth over a five-year period.
North Coogee (postcode 6163) grew 34% and was far ahead of the rest of the pack. Unit prices in Shoalwater grew 23.1%, while they were up 23.4% in Halls Head.
Of the 13 suburbs, 11 are in Perth.
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td> Suburb</td>
<td> 5-year growth</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 1. Applecross</td>
<td> 17.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 2. Balga</td>
<td> 16.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 3.Busselton</td>
<td> 16.9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 4. Coolbellup</td>
<td> 16.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 5. Halls Head</td>
<td> 23.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 6. Melville</td>
<td> 21.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 7. Mount Pleasant</td>
<td> 17.3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 8. Nedlands</td>
<td> 22.7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 9. North Coogee</td>
<td> 34</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 10. Shoalwater</td>
<td> 23.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 11. Tuart Hill</td>
<td> 18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 12. Westminster</td>
<td> 17.9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> 13. Woodlands</td>
<td> 19.2</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
In North Coogee, the median unit price is $670,000 as at September end, according to CoreLogic.
In the outer southern Perth suburb of Shoalwater (6169), the median price for units is $245,000.
A three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/vlla-5-16-arcadia-dr-shoalwater-wa-6169?pid=p4ep-pdp%7Csold-pdp:property-history-cta#history" target="_blank">5/16 Arcadia Drive, Shoalwater</a>, sold in February 2017 for $412,500. The unit last changed hands in 2002 for $200,000, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/11/30/Shoalwater1.jpg" alt="">
Another three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-wa-shoalwater-120085101" target="_blank">1/154-156 Arcadia Drive, Shoalwater</a> (picture above) sold in October 2015 for $355,000.
Previously, it sold in July 2014 at the same price but in June 2011, the unit changed hands for $300,000, CoreLogic RP Data shows.
Halls Head (postcode 6210) has a median price of $390,000.
 
 
 
 
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