February
Lendlease counts on Baby Boomer demand for luxury apartments
CEO Tony Lombardo says the builder, developer and investor is looking firmly at downsizers, because interest rates don’t bother them.
The buyers who saved money with a 5-day purchase
A downsizing couple was desperate to secure a new home and get simultaneous settlement. Then they found this apartment.
January
GreenFort Capital buys two Queensland land lease sites
The fund manager wants to balance its housing offering for downsizing over-50s with other sectors such as retirement and build-to-rent.
December 2024
‘Shoebox’ apartment sells for $850,000 in less than a day
With supply crunched, this 41-square-metre unit sold at a rate similar to those on nearby Millionaires’ Row.
So, you want to retire to Tuscany?
The idea of moving to Italy is alluring for retirees – la dolce vita, the food, the wine, the beauty, the prices. Just check these practicalities first.
October 2024
Couple makes $2m selling the same home twice in a decade
It seemed like a good idea to go back to their old family property, but this empty-nester couple discovered it wasn’t what they had hoped it would be.
Sydney doesn’t have enough three-bedroom apartments for Boomers
Many empty-nesters are staying put in their large houses or competing with young families and professionals for modern three-bedders with lifts.
Four tips for upsizing super with downsizer contributions
If you’re 55 or over, you may be able to make a downsizer superannuation contribution to boost your retirement savings by up to $300,000.
September 2024
The $1.5m sale that shows Gold Coast buildings and people are ageing
Housing stock is being recycled on a key part of Australia’s coastline. But sales that make sense on paper aren’t always easy to achieve.
Assembly goes into land lease with $350m fund
The fund manager tapping funds from high net worth investors and family offices is aiming for a 10-plus community portfolio with up to 2000 homes.
August 2024
Ingenia reveals five-year plan for settlements growth
The developer of affordable accommodation for downsizing Baby Boomers wants to focus its own capital on the core land lease business.
The $1m apartment downsizers wouldn’t touch
It had stairs – lots of stairs – faced south and needed a ton of work. But first home buyers fought hard for it.
Investor borrowing picks up to a two-year high
Vacancy rates have risen and rent growth is slowing, but Australia’s tight housing market is attracting investors, especially as confidence about interest rates grows.
July 2024
Actuaries call to include family homes above $2.1m in pension test
The Actuaries Institute suggests it’s time to slay the sacred cow that is the family home.
Fight over Baby Boomer housing takes toll on developer
The Melbourne-based developer and landlord faces the twin battles of a slowing market and criticism of a fee structure that other companies do not use.
Why this is the ideal age to downsize
Move into a smaller home too early, and you miss out on the opportunity to put additional money into super. Leave it too late, and you might not be up to the task.
New home approvals rise to six-month high
As two project approvals in Brisbane and Melbourne show, soaring materials and financing costs have made new projects unviable for all but the priciest homes.
The unusual move that made this seller $4.8m
Most people with a large block to offload would do just that, but this vendor developed it – and made a much bigger profit in the process.
June 2024
The four biggest mistakes downsizers make, according to this expert
Many people overestimate how much they will have left over after downsizing, but smaller doesn’t necessarily mean cheaper.
Apartment sales boom – in the $1 million-plus price range
Soaring materials and financing costs are making most apartment projects unviable. But there’s a niche of the development market that is booming.