The COVID-enduced boom changed the face of the off the plan apartment market in the Gold Coast.

Since the start of 2020 when various lockdowns were in place on both a state and federal level blocking those coming and going form Australia, the Gold Coast market has been one of the strongest property markets in the country.

As the country got back to normal and borders reopened, demand didn't wane. However, one of the biggest changes in the new development market is the type of apartments being developed in the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/gold-coast-qld">Gold Coast</a>.

All but gone are the large skyscrapers, barring a few from Harry Triguboff's <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/meriton">Meriton</a>. Now in vogue is half and full-floor apartments, catering to the local downsizer and affluent southern state dweller either looking for a tree change or a future retirement apartment on or near the beach.

The change in dwelling make-up has pushed first home buyers out of the market. The median price of a unit in the Gold Coast has also soared over the past few years. Now over $800,000, the median unit price is only just behind that of Sydney ($859,000).

The increase in prices, dwelling change, and quickfire increase in the interest rates, pushed first home buyers out of the market. Or so it seemed.

Data from MatterFact, the new data product from Urban.com.au, shows a huge willing from first home buyers in 2024. A third of enquiry&nbsp;on Urban across the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/gold-coast-qld">Gold Coast</a> in 2024 has been from first home buyers. They've even out-enquired investors.

Across 2023 first home buyers made up 30 per cent of enquiry, and 2022 and 2021 it was less than 15 per cent.

While there's been a significant shift in apartment configurations on offer, there are still some opportunities for first home buyers, however&nbsp;they need to act fast in most circumstances.

With the cost of construction, and the low returns for one-bedroom apartments compared to three and four-bedroom apartments, developers just aren't creating a meaningful number of one bedrooms within their developments.

We've had a look at what Gold Coast apartment developments have options for first home buyers.

<h2>What: Flourish Palm Beach</h2>

<h3>Where:&nbsp;6-12 Sixth Avenue, Palm Beach QLD 4221</h3>

<h3>Who:&nbsp;Sherpa Property Group</h3>

Prominent Gold Coast developer, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a>, is one of few developers championing affordability with their new collection of apartments.

They've created a new brand, Flourish, which will cater to a wide range of buyers, including first home buyers.

Their first installment of apartments under Flourish is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-palm-beach-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach">Flourish Palm Beach</a>, 94 apartments across a 13-level building with some of the entry-level unit prices in the $600,000's.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=296026]

Located at 6-12 Sixth Avenue, Flourish Palm Beach will still have all the bells and whistles of a modern development, with a resident pool, barbecue areas, and garden retreats as part of the building.

With just 10 one-bedroom apartments on offer, first home buyers will have to act fast to secure one.

<h2>What: Ombre Robina</h2>

<h3>Where:&nbsp;46 Scottsdale Drive, Robina QLD 4226</h3>

<h3>Who:&nbsp;Immerse Projects</h3>

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/immerse-projects">Immerse Projects</a> is also catering to a wide demographic at its <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/ombre-robina-46-scottsdale-drive-robina">Ombré Robina</a> development, with a mix of 95 one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

The one-bed units, which have two living areas, are priced from $749,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143341 project_image_fid=251418]

Ombre's amenities include a pool, residents' lounge, and landscaped outdoor areas.

Construction at Ombre Robina started in June. Builder <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/builders/greyburn">Greyburn</a> is forecasting a late 2025 completion.

Over 50 per cent of the apartments have been snapped up. More than 70 per cent of purchasers so far have been local.

<h2>What: LAANI Mermaid Beach</h2>

<h3>Where:&nbsp;26-28 Alexandra Avenue, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218</h3>

<h3>Who:&nbsp;Dankav Developments</h3>

A handful of the one-bedroom apartments at Dankav's under-construction <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/laani-26-28-alexandra-avenue-mermaid-beach">LAANI</a> at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/mermaid-beach-qld-4218">Mermaid Beach</a> are priced at $780,000.

Rarely is there an opportunity to buy a new one-bedroom apartment in Mermaid Beach, with the suburb dominated by luxury beachfront homes and high-end, boutique new developments that are more likely to be priced from upwards of $2 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6997 project_image_fid=185191]

LAANI, on Alexandra Avenue bordering <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a>, comprises just 46 apartments across an 18-level building designed by BDA.

LAANI features a string of hotel-style amenities including a&nbsp;heated pool, gym, sauna, cinema room, and communal workspaces.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2>What: 180 one &amp; two-bedroom apartments</h2>

<h2>Where:&nbsp;20 Queen Street, Southport</h2>

<h3>Who:&nbsp;MRCB</h3>

While not yet in market, Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/mrcb">MRCB</a> is set to bring an injection of affordable stock to the Gold Coast.

They recently settled on a well-connected site at 20 Queen Street, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/southport-qld-4215">Southport</a>, currently home of the Sundale Motel, and quickly submitted plans for a 20-level building with 180 apartments.

The 92 one-bedroom and 88 two-bedroom apartments will all likely come in under $1 million.

<img alt="MRCB targets untapped affordable Gold Coast apartment sector with new Southport tower" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-08-27%20at%208.56.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=kn.iESyw36jJvXjT5T7_KCX65c_aiD14" />

The development falls in line&nbsp;with the Queensland Government’s Homes for Queenslanders and the Australian Government’s National Housing Accord, aiming to contribute to addressing the national housing crisis by adding much-needed housing stock in a rapidly growing region.&nbsp;

The building will feature amenities such as a pool, gym, and barbecue areas.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/mrcb" target="">MRCB</a>&nbsp;International Sales and Marketing Director, Kevin Zhang, said the&nbsp;Southport development is aimed at capitalising on the prime location.

“The north-facing apartments will have unobstructed views of Broadwater, while residents will also enjoy easy access to all the popular dining, entertainment and shopping precincts of the central Gold Coast right at their doorstep, with access to the light rail.”

The increase in prices, dwelling change, and quickfire increase in the interest rates, pushed first home buyers out of the market. Or so it seemed.

Joel Robinson

How first home buyers can still get into the off the plan apartment market in the Gold Coast

Melbourne-based private developer, Hamton Property Group, has achieved a major milestone at its former University of Melbourne site in Hawthorn, receiving a planning permit to deliver a new&nbsp;nature-based neighbourhood.

The six-building, low-rise precinct will add 365 residences, a mix of apartments and townhouses, as well as 5,500 sqm of new publicly-accessible green space and a new retail village to <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/hawthorn-vic-3122">Hawthorn</a>.

The major residential development <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/442-auburn-road-hawthorn">on Auburn Road</a> is one of the largest to be approved under the Allan government’s accelerated Development Facilitation Program, which seeks to reduce the application timeframe for eligible projects.

After a joint application from <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/hamton">Hamton</a> and the University of Melbourne in March 2022, the Planning Minister oversaw the rezoning of the site from public use to enable residential development and approved a detailed development plan to govern planning outcomes for the 1.6ha site.

Hamton settled on the purchase from the University in March 2024.

Following significant pre-application engagement, Hamton <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/vic/hamtons-500-million-redevelopment-of-former-university-of-melbourne-site-in-hawthorn-approved">lodged its permit application</a> with the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) on 20 June and the permit was issued on 12 September, an approval timeframe of just 2 months and 23 days.

<img alt="Hamton" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="790c68ea-c84a-4321-93b6-12dcf996527b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-09-17%20at%2012.08.00%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=caZm6__2kGgiguoLl_TYPNLY07g1MaGQ" /> 
Hamton’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Hameister OAM. Image supplied

Hamton’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Hameister OAM, said the approval by the Minister is a great example that the Development Facilitation Program works.

"It has enabled this new significant housing supply in a high-demand area of Melbourne where there are no other large development sites. The Program has brought forward this project by around 12 months,"&nbsp;Hameister said.

“The team at DTP has been incredibly responsive throughout the review and approval process and this approval timeframe is a direct reflection of their work ethic.

“High construction costs have eroded development project viability across the country and is currently the primary barrier to delivering new housing supply. Accelerating timeframes for planning approvals is one mechanism to partially address current challenges."

Hamton engaged with the local community extensively as to their plans as&nbsp;part of the rezoning process, with the views of Council and surrounding residents considered as part of the public Standing Advisory Committee process in March 2023.

“Victoria is currently facing a significant undersupply of housing, which is acute across inner-city markets,"&nbsp;Hameister added.

"This project will create a rare opportunity for buyers in a premium suburb that is highly sought-after."

Hamton has commenced construction of a sales display gallery onsite and will commence an expression of interest campaign in late October, with a public launch planned for February next year.

Hamton’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Paul Hameister OAM, said the approval by the Minister is a great example that the Development Facilitation Program works

Hamton given green light for $550 million masterplan on former University of Melbourne site in Hawthorn

The continued bullrun of unit growth in the Gold Coast has pushed the median value over $800,000.

So far in 2024, the unit market, which incorporates both apartments and townhouses, has jumped nearly 10 per cent, data from property analytics data firm CoreLogic shows. The median started 2024 at $724,000.

August showed another strong month for units, according to CoreLogic, recording 0.6 per cent growth.

The housing market tells a similar story, which is why downsizers are driving demand for new apartments and townhouses up and down the Gold Coast.

The median house value in the Gold Coast is $1,218,000, which in capital city terms, would be the second most expensive capital only behind Sydney.

CoreLogic’s Head of Research, Eliza Owen, noted that markets like the Gold Coast, along with Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane, are outpacing other regions, thanks in part to a surge in demand for more affordable property options. This is reflected in the fact that unit values in most capital cities are now growing faster than house values.

<h2>What happened in Gold Coast’s off the plan apartment market in August</h2>

The Gold Coast's largest development for decades kicked off its construction in August.

Lewis Land, one of the pioneers of Gold Coast development founded by the late Bernard Lewis back in the 1950, broke ground on their landmark Biggera Waters masterplan, Harbour Shores.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a>&nbsp;Chief Executive Officer Brett Draffen said the vacant 16-hectare site, which has been held by the group for more than 40 years, would be transformed into a vibrant ‘village of villages’ that will ultimately be home to more than 4,000 people.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=290031]

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters" target="">Harbour Shores</a>&nbsp;has received a 6 Star Green Star Communities rating from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/a-greener-future-green-building-council-australia-discusses-climate-change" target="">Green Building Council</a>&nbsp;of &nbsp;Australia, a world leadership standard, making it the most sustainable development in the history of the Gold Coast.&nbsp;

Greyburn will deliver the first collection of residences. Around 40 per cent of the first stage has been reserved, with Colliers handling the sales.

Designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA architects</a>,&nbsp;Harbour Shores&nbsp;will evolve over the next decade to deliver a mix of boutique apartments and villas, communal open spaces and parklands, a 1.2-kilometre waterfront boardwalk, private marina berths, and a range of resort-style resident amenities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=290028]

Another city-shaping development is also set to get underway with the approval of the redevelopment of the Gold Coast Turf Club.

The joint venture with the Gold Coast Turf Club and Tony Fung's Aquis Australia will see a new $370 million delivered. Known so far as the Sunlight Lifestyle Precinct, the new community will home eight new buildings, including three high-rises which will house most of the 582 apartments and 63 short-term accommodation suites.

<img alt="Gold" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="14bac870-daf3-4e36-93ae-0013ed40065f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-09-17%20at%209.31.01%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=r3Y3kL4596MNGylyQnSoslv9mXJK5pEJ" />

Tower A and Tower B will also house the rooftop amenities like a swimming pool, outdoor dining area, sauna, spa, and an indoor function room, while Tower C, the tallest at 19 levels, will feature a two-level day club with a central pool, cabanas, day beds, pavilions, restaurant dining, bar space and a VIP lounge.

The remaining residential buildings will be low-rise, located away from the track, featuring ground-floor amenities along a sub-tropical boulevard.&nbsp;

The Sunlight Lifestyle Precinct project will span over seven years and aims to transform the area into a dynamic precinct that complements the Turf Club and nearby Home of the Arts (HOTA).

<img alt="Gold Coast Turf" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc4457f-3797-49c6-b6f0-cc234e5a21cf" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-09-17%20at%209.31.07%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=YfH4px2IPGAq.ItcOTrt2fKlcSuSLYUp" />

There was plenty activity on the beach in August.

The only apartment project to launch to the market was <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/malo-broadbeach-8-jubilee-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Malo</a>&nbsp;in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a>, the latest instalment from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/morris-property-group">Morris Property Group</a>.

The 16 half-floor apartments, designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/guida-moseley-brown-architects">Guida Moseley Brown Architects</a>, feature three bedrooms and expansive views across the Gold Coast skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112549 project_image_fid=293545]

Morris, with its own building arm, has been quietly building the boutique development, launching to the market just months before it completes. They're expecting to welcome buyers before the end of 2024.

Malo’s location offers residents easy access to Surf Parade, known for its dining options, as well as Pacific Fair, the largest shopping centre on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112549 project_image_fid=293546]

Several developers bolstered their apartment pipeline last month, with a handful of notable applications submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

The largest pipeline of apartments by one developer is no doubt Harry Triguboff's <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/meriton" target="">Meriton</a>. They have once again filed for a new high-rise in Surfers Paradise.

The new development,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/shore-meriton-126-the-esplanade-surfers-paradise">Meriton&nbsp;Shore</a>, at 126 Esplanade Surfers Paradise, takes its name from the 52-year-old high-rise, The Shore, which currently sits on the vast 3,460 sqm site along with The Dolphins boutique apartment block and several high-street retail spaces.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/meriton" target="">Meriton</a>&nbsp;Shore will have 519 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments across a 73-level tower designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects" target="">Cottee Parker</a>&nbsp;with landscaping by DBI.

<img alt="First look exclusive: Meriton continue Surfers Paradise domination with another apartment tower proposed" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202024-08-21%20at%201.59.56%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=2q3qLBmTZYwTfFnALgW5ruqEntr74c_Q" />

The 3,460 sqm site is less than 300&nbsp;metres from the under construction Iconica, 260 metres from Ocean that was completed in 2022, and 700 metres from the recently launched Cypress Palms, set back from the beach on Cypress Avenue.

The four developments total well over 2,000 apartments.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-meriton-continue-surfers-paradise-domination-with-another-apartment-tower-proposed">First look exclusive: Meriton continue Surfers Paradise domination with another apartment tower proposed</a>

Down the coastline,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/mosaic-property-group" target="">Mosaic Property Group</a>&nbsp;finalized&nbsp;plans for their newly acquired beachfront development site in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld" target="">Palm Beach</a>.

&nbsp;

The nine-level building, designed by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/bureauproberts">bureau^proberts</a>, will replace a 1980s apartment block and will feature 32 luxury apartments.&nbsp;

<img alt="First look: Mosaic finalizes plans for next Gold Coast apartment development" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202024-08-15%20at%2011.28.54%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=8Jgl0lJVWSQKPXVXowSkj9kLO33paNsM" />

The new development will have a mix of seven two-bedroom and 25 three-bedroom apartments. The apartments will sit above two levels of basement parking for 67 cars. It will form part of Mosaic's Masterpiece Series of luxury new apartment developments.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/qld/first-look-mosaic-finalizes-plans-for-next-gold-coast-apartment-development">First look: Mosaic finalizes plans for next Gold Coast apartment development</a>

Another interesting development application in August came from Malaysian developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/mrcb" target="">MRCB</a>, who is currently delivering Vista at Surfers Paradise.

They filed for a 20-level tower at 20 Queen Street, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/southport-qld-4215">Southport</a>, offering 180 one and two-bedroom apartments, configurations left behind in current market conditions.

<img alt="MRCB targets untapped affordable Gold Coast apartment sector with new Southport tower" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_auto/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Southport%20Plus%20Architecture.png?VersionId=clOZ.5Uh7Z2t.GooSyklGLtDcSdZGjnQ" />

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/mrcb" target="">MRCB</a>&nbsp;International Sales and Marketing Director, Kevin Zhang, said the&nbsp;Southport development is aimed at capitalising on the prime location.

“The north-facing apartments will have unobstructed views of Broadwater, while residents will also enjoy easy access to all the popular dining, entertainment and shopping precincts of the central Gold Coast right at their doorstep, with access to the light rail.”

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/qld/mrcb-targets-untapped-affordable-gold-coast-apartment-sector-with-new-southport-tower">MRCB targets untapped affordable Gold Coast apartment sector with new Southport tower</a>

CoreLogic’s Head of Research, Eliza Owen, noted that markets like the Gold Coast, along with Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane, are outpacing other regions, thanks in part to a surge in demand for more affordable property options

City Beat September 2024: Gold Coast unit median tips over $800,000

For the first time since the Reserve Bank of Australia began hiking rates in May 2022, markets are pricing in four interest rate cuts within the next 12 months. 
 
At the end of each trading day, the ASX publishes its&nbsp;RBA Target Rate Tracker&nbsp;which calculates the probability of changes in the overnight cash rate based upon the implied yields of very short-term (30-day) interest rate futures.&nbsp; 
 
The ASX’s Tracker as at yesterday’s close shows that markets are predicting the RBA will first cut interest rates by 25 basis points in February 2025, with three more in the run-up to August. The RBA meets eight times in 2025 (February, April, May, July, August, September, November, and December). 
 
The RBA’s official cash rate sits at 4.35 per cent.

Any movement in the official cash rate, and most importantly banks passing on those interest rate changes, will help address several challenges in the off the plan apartment space.&nbsp;

The first one is demand. A lower interest rate environment means buyers will have more money to spend due to increased serviceability. Buyers haven't had an opportunity to extend their serviceability in over two years.

For a prospective buyer wanting to take out a $641,000 mortgage, the average mortgage size across Australia according to the ABS, four rate cuts would translate to over $5,000 in savings per year on average, Finder analysis suggests.

On top of lower repayments, there's increased serviceability, meaning a buyer can spend more than they could if the interest rate is higher.&nbsp;

Average Aussie mortgage repayments

<table>
	<thead>
		<tr>
			<th>&nbsp;</th>
			<th>Cash rate</th>
			<th>Average home loan rate*</th>
			<th>Average monthly repayment</th>
			<th>Average monthly decrease</th>
			<th>Average annual repayment</th>
			<th>Average annual decrease</th>
		</tr>
	</thead>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>September 2024</td>
			<td>4.35%</td>
			<td>7.07%</td>
			<td>$4,296</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>$51,552</td>
			<td>-</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 rate cut</td>
			<td>4.10%</td>
			<td>6.82%</td>
			<td>$4,189</td>
			<td>$107</td>
			<td>$1,284</td>
			<td>$1,284</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2 rate cuts</td>
			<td>3.85%</td>
			<td>6.57%</td>
			<td>$4,083</td>
			<td>$213</td>
			<td>$2,556</td>
			<td>$2,556</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3 rate cuts</td>
			<td>3.60%</td>
			<td>6.32%</td>
			<td>$3,977</td>
			<td>$319</td>
			<td>$3,828</td>
			<td>$3,828</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4 rate cuts</td>
			<td>3.35%</td>
			<td>6.07%</td>
			<td>$3,873</td>
			<td>$423</td>
			<td>$5,076</td>
			<td>$5,076</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="5">Source: Finder, RBA, ABS. *Owner-occupier variable discounted rate. Repayments based on the average loan of $641,143 (ABS data analysed by Finder).</td>
			<td colspan="2"><img alt="" data-bit="iit" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="31" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXco5HuNAjqBICpVCvo3HzWGg4p7cL4LNNgRMBhoA67KYJfOqqJQa7ZSRA71Ju988qgvPsCeSbWhwDfAV4E8iSpKXp6wBkUPMclLxe1_IMfwemjiI4eU8l9Q_QrMukqJYMAzm_jSHgst3qtOzFkqULeIMf8?key=iigATMhksU1ODdPeSGzwIA" width="170" /></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Not only will buyers have more money to spend due to increased serviceability, but the supply of new apartments is likely to increase if borrowing costs for the developers are reduced.

Many developers across the country have new apartment projects ready to launch but are waiting for more favorable news on interest rates. It seemed at the start of the year that rates would be going down by mid-2024; however, inflationary pressure has led the RBA to maintain a hold on rates in each of the five meetings this year.

The Board will meet again next week, expecting to hold the official cash rate again at 4.35 per cent.

For a prospective buyer wanting to take out a $641,000 mortgage, the average mortgage size across Australia according to the ABS, four rate cuts would translate to over $5,000 in savings per year on average, Finder analysis suggests

Markets price in four RBA rate cuts in next 12 months: What it means for the off the plan apartment market

It was only earlier this year that DCF Property launched its first inner-city Melbourne apartment development.

Now <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/dcf-property">DCF</a>, led by Calvin Huang, has rolled out the big guns. They've revealed <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/first-light-28-albert-road-south-melbourne">First Light</a>, just 30 apartments in the heart of South Melbourne's forever popular Domain Precinct.

The new tower at 28 Albert Road will be a mixed-use building with luxury apartments sharing the building with an 88-room Nu by YOO Hotel, the brainchild of property entrepreneur John Hitchcox and&nbsp;French industrial architect and designer Philippe Starck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2556 project_image_fid=299339]

The collaboration continues in the two ground-floor restaurants. One will be ran by acclaimed chef Scott Pickett, from Chancery Lane and Estelle, and the other by restaurateur Jason Lau of Flower Drum fame.

First Light has been designed by Yoo &amp; Stark with an immersive entry experience design created by MILINSKI. Paul Milinski is well known for&nbsp;his ability to merge art and technology.

Milinski has introduced fluid, kinetic design elements that give the building a sense of movement with the angle components of the southern façade creating a "flutter" effect.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2556 project_image_fid=299356]

The apartments have been designed by&nbsp;French architect Léo Terrando, whose approach was to blend global design principles with Melbourne's charm, using materials like brushed nickel, charcoal oak and travertine flooring.

Each residence in First Light will include Boffi kitchens with Miele Matte Black appliances, only available exclusively in Australia.

The apartments will also feature high ceilings, double-glazed windows, and stone by Artedomus.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2556 project_image_fid=299337]

In addition to all the design and restaurant collaborations, First Light boasts another relationship, with Harrolds, offering residents exclusive fashion previews,&nbsp;personalised styling, and custom-tailoring services.&nbsp;Space Furniture, another key partner, has curated the interior furnishings, selecting award-winning pieces.

The Nu by YOO Hotel will bring a string of hotel facilities that residents will have access to. Temple Spa at Nu by YOO is part of the state-of-the-art wellness facilities that also include a hotel-style swimming pool set in tropical landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2556 project_image_fid=299353]

The Albert Road, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/south-melbourne-vic-3205">South Melbourne</a> location of First Light puts it 600m from the new ANZAC Station, set to open in 2025.

Marshall White Projects is marketing First Light.

DCF Property announced themselves on the Melbourne development scene earlier this year when they launched <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/new-johnston-abbotsford-400-johnston-street-abbotsford">New Johnston</a> in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/abbotsford-vic-3067">Abbotsford</a>. The 46-apartment development is now under construction by Valeo.

DCF has also just launched a 42-townhouse development, Thompsons Place, in Templestowe.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=2556]

The apartments have been designed by French architect Léo Terrando, whose approach was to blend global design principles with Melbourne's charm

Cranbourne, Victoria mortgagee unit sold for $321,000

Staff reporter

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News