Insights
Property Perspectives
Ideas, market movements and opportunities shaping property across VIC, NSW and QLD.
regulation_policy
Victoria's New Home Warranty Rules: What Changed for New Home Building Contracts on 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, Victoria replaced its previous "last resort" home warranty insurance with a new First Resort Home Warranty Scheme, changing what protection buyers get if something goes wrong with a new home build. This article explains what the scheme covers, how it differs from the old system, and what remains uncertain or still being finalised.
2026-08-02
ownership_costs
The Cost of Owning a New Home in Sydney: Rates, Strata, Utilities and Build-Stage Payments Explained
This article explains the recurring and build-stage costs associated with owning a new property in Sydney — council rates, strata or owners corporation levies where relevant, utility service charges, land tax for non-principal-residence owners, and the progress payment structure required during construction. It explains what drives variation in each category rather than estimating what any individual buyer should expect to pay.
2026-08-01
livability
Life in Melbourne's New Growth Corridors: What the Planning Data Actually Shows
Melbourne's outer growth corridors continue to be some of the fastest-growing parts of the country, with new communities delivered through a formal state government planning process. This article looks at how these areas are actually planned — covering transport infrastructure, parks and open space standards, and population growth — using publicly available government data rather than marketing claims.
2026-08-01
regulation_policy
NSW's New "One Front Door": What the Development Coordination Authority Means for Build Timelines
This article explains the Development Coordination Authority (DCA), a new NSW Government body that centralises state agency input on development applications, and what its 1 July 2026 start of full operations means for anyone building or buying a new home in NSW. It sets out what changed, when, and what the change does and does not do.
2026-07-31
livability
Central Coast vs Sydney: Comparing House Prices and Everyday Livability
This article looks at how house prices on the NSW Central Coast compare with Sydney, and sets out what everyday life looks like in the region — transport links to Sydney, parks and reserves, shopping and health services, and the presence of schools — without ranking or rating the area against anywhere else.
2026-07-31