Nothing happening is rarely if ever the definition of interesting news – unless you count wars and interest rates.

And several stories in this week’s feed from LeftField Communications focus on the fact that interest rates are unlikely to be cut next year – with one even pointing to some lenders that are actually raising them.

Be afraid … be very afraid

ABC Online

What Australia can learn from the great Kiwi interest rate hike experiment
The rate-cutting cycle is over. That’s the considered view of the bulk of the nation’s economists and most certainly from the desk jockeys that bet on where interest rates may be heading. Ian Verrender

Is Sydney’s high-rise future equipped to withstand a Hong Kong-like fire?
Population growth and the acceleration of high-rise living has raised questions about the preparedness to fight fires in Western Sydney. The firefighters’ union said that while their aerial trucks were “great”, they needed more boots on the ground. Danuta KozakiDomain

A liveable community: Why the Sage in Woden is not your average apartment building
If there was any doubt about the Woden Valley lifestyle appeal, then it would be dispelled by the district’s current level of residential apartment development. A snapshot of the skyline shows much current activity, while further game changers in the works include the Hellenic Club’s plans for two sites, and a potential Westfield Woden redevelopment. Ray Sparvell

One-bedder apartments are selling for over $1 million in this city
Low supply and strong demand are pushing up prices across all segments of the Brisbane property market to the point where one-bedroom apartments are now fetching more than $1 million. Shae Wiedermann

Is this Brunswick’s cheapest apartment? At $200,000, it might just be
A studio apartment in one of Brunswick’s most sought-after pockets is on the market for just $200,000 — more than $300,000 below the suburb’s median unit price. Shae Wiedermann

Owner-occupier pays $1.06m for Enmore reno project, beating 13 others
A renovation-ready apartment in the hip inner west has changed hands for $1,061,000. Emily Power

What it’s like to live in a $37m apartment at Sydney’s Crown Residences
Dressed in a fluffy robe and mismatched socks, I was leaving the room service tray outside the $37 million apartment when I heard the door slam and realised I was locked out. Kristy Johnson

Realestate.com.au

How your first investment property could make or break your home ownership dream
If you can’t afford to buy a home in the suburb you want to live in, rentvesting can be a clever way to get your foot on the property ladder. But if you’re hoping to eventually turn rentvesting into home ownership, the type of property you invest in now could either help or hinder your chances. Kate McIntyre

Kochie’s warning: next rate move could shock Aussies
As Aussies splash cash this summer, Compare the Market economic director David Koch warns the cost-of-living crisis isn’t over — and 2026 could hit household budgets like a sledgehammer. Sophie Foster

Sydney residents ramp up their festive displays
Bigger, brighter residential home Christmas installations are drawing crowds, with the best locations in Sydney this year revealed. Kaylee Cranley – Sydney

Property experts reveal $3000 a week passive income strategy
Real estate investment experts have laid out a roadmap showing how ordinary households can build $3000 a week in passive income through property. And that’s without flipping homes, chasing hotspots or gambling on get-rich-quick schemes. Aidan Devine

Developer unveils $3.2bn Rhodes waterfront vision
A $3.2 billion vision for Rhodes waterfront is set to deliver more than 1,800 new homes to Sydney’s inner west. Award-winning Australian developer Billbergia has submitted the plans to DPHI for a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) Rhodes Bay Masterplan. Kaylee Cranley – Sydney

Eastern suburbs record smashed with penthouse sale
This eastern suburbs penthouse overlooking the ocean has just sold for a record-breaking price, but the price may surprise you. Stephen Nicholls – Sydney

Beachside bliss: The Gold Coast’s 8 new ultra-luxe apartment pools
With summer in full swing and more Australians trading backyards for lower-footprint, high-amenity apartment living, the pool has become one of the most coveted features in new developments. Alexandra Williams — Gold Coast

Big bank hikes twice in a month as 12 lenders lift interest rates
Mortgage shock is set to smash Aussies heading into Xmas, with a big bank raising rates for the second time in a month, bringing to a dozen those that have hiked in the past week alone. Sophie Foster

NSW suburbs claim quarter of national ‘Hot 100’ list
NSW has secured a quarter of the nation’s Hot 100 suburbs — realestate.com.au’s expert-curated list of areas where home values are tipped to outperform in 2026, giving buyers and investors a clear head start for the new year. Kaylee Cranley — New South Wales

1000s of Victorian landlords flee top suburbs over rental reforms
Thousands of Melbourne landlords are walking away from some of the city’s most sought-after locations in response to government policies. Residential tenancy bond data shows that in the past year there are 10,274 fewer rental bonds active across the state. Nathan Mawby – Melbourne

Developer unveils eight-residence riverfront project at Highgate Hill
Registrations of interest are open for the Lucia Riverfront boutique development at Highgate Hill where residences start from $4.995m. Stephen Nadin – Brisbane

The Adelaide Advertiser

Campbelltown ratepayers ‘win big’ in outcome of controversial high-rise, civic centre development
Resident’s in Adelaide’s east may be about to cop a one-off rate hike, but they’re not sad if it means a controversial 12-storey high rise won’t be going ahead. Sam Lowe

Kudla to get 16,000 new homes, Northern Parklands in ambitions new housing plan
About 16,000 new homes would be built across nearly 2500 hectares — including a massive new parklands and home for sports clubs — north of Adelaide. Lynton Grace

Developer plans $10m ‘ultra-luxury’ apartments for iconic Melbourne St restaurant site
Spreading just four apartments over five storeys, the proposed high-luxury North Adelaide building would offer a cinema and two pools on its rooftop. Darren Chaitman

The West Australian

Queen Victoria Street: Funding announced for seven-storey Freo apartment block for over-55s social housing
Fifty over-55s and low-income apartments will be built in Fremantle next year, paid for by $60 million in State and Federal government funding. The seven-storey apartment block, on Queen Victoria Street, will offer 32 apartments dedicated to social housing. Oliver Lane

Urban Developer

Projects to Supercharge New $2bn Era for The Spit Unveiled
The transformation of The Spit on the Gold Coast has entered a new epoch. It is to be supercharged by two newly secured major projects that will inject more than half-a-billion dollars of private capital into the 5km-long strip of sand. Phil Bartsch

Vicwide Plots Height Doubling for Greensborough Plans
Vicwide Homes has filed an amendment application to expand its approved development at Greensborough, proposing a 14-storey mixed-use building with 63 apartments. Leon Della Bosca

Wave of Midrise Proposals Washes over North Shore
Midrise projects together worth more than $123 million and proposing 78 apartments have gone on exhibition on Sydney’s North Shore. Patrick Lau

Two NSW Developers Face Court Over Building Defects
The NSW Building Commission this week signalled its intention to come down hard on developers that do not comply with work rectification orders. Clare Burnett

First Look: Billbergia Reveals $3.2bn Rhodes Masterplan
Billbergia’s dominance of Rhodes in Sydney’s Inner West continues as the developer files plans for a multibillion-dollar masterplan of 1840 homes. Clare Burnett

Luxury $250m Main Beach Site with Royal Link For Sale
A major site in the Gold Coast’s Golden Triangle with a link to the British Royal family and earmarked for a $250-million high-end development is on the block after its developer entered receivership. Clare Burnett

Fortis, Otello Tower Greenlit for Adelaide’s Hutt Street
Developers Fortis and Otello have won approval to build a 10-storey apartment tower in the Adelaide CBD after a fiery debate over the future of the area. Renee McKeown

LEC Approves Orosi’s Rose Bay Wellness-Led Apartment Plan
A luxury shoptop development with a wellness centre focused on anti-ageing has been approved for Sydney’s blue-ribbon Rose Bay after a successful appeal to the NSW Land and Environment Court. Clare Burnett

Tower Plans Pitched for Brisbane’s Riverfront St Lucia
Plans for a 15-storey residential tower have been filed for a prime riverfront site near the University of Queensland as development activity ramps up in Brisbane’s inner-west. Phil Bartsch

ALAND Wins Cherrybrook Tender Amid Rezoning Push
Cherrybrook Metro Station is to be transformed into a bustling village centre after developer ALAND won the tender to produce a 410-home precinct. Patrick Lau

Early Plays Pay Off in Sydney’s Eastern Reform Shake-Up
Sydney’s eastern suburbs have rarely given emerging developers much room to move. Tight zoning, tight streets, tight politics—the kind of environment where ambition hit a ceiling long before it reached a height limit. Vanessa Croll

Graya Plots Three-Storey Bump for Hamilton Scheme
Three storeys would be added to Graya’s “village-like” precinct on Brisbane’s Racecourse Road under amendments now before the city. Clare Burnett

Apartments.com.au

Homecorp launches $210 million Florence Residences as demand soars for wellness-inspired living on the Gold Coast
Australian developer Homecorp has officially launched its $210 million Florence Residences to the market, as demand for coastal and wellness-inspired living across the Gold Coast continues to surge. Joel Robinson

White & Weston in Balwyn reflects Melbourne’s education-driven housing demand
While the median house price in Balwyn is touching $3 million, the two-bedroom apartments at White & Weston range from $1,275,000 to $1.5 million, and the three-bedroom apartments start from $1.7 million. Joel Robinson

Brisbane’s top 10 new apartment developments coming to market in 2026
All eyes are on the Brisbane apartment market in 2026, as the Queensland capital continues its bull run in the unit sector. Joel Robinson

First look: Marquee plots latest Palm Beach apartment development
With just a few units left in its luxury Palm Beach apartment development La Belle, Marquee Development Partners is planning its next. Joel Robinson

Raptis tracks towards completion of The Sterling Broadbeach, unveils three fully-furnished display apartments
Veteran Gold Coast developer Raptis is fast approaching completion of The Sterling, its new Broadbeach apartment tower a stone’s throw from the beach. Joel Robinson

Melbourne’s top 10 new apartment developments to launch in 2026
The Melbourne property market has turned a corner in 2025 after several years of stagnant growth. Cities including Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra overtook the Victorian capital in terms of median property prices, leaving Melbourne as the sixth most affordable capital city in Australia. Joel Robinson

Sherpa launches Flourish Oasis apartments in Palm Beach
Leading Gold Coast developer, Sherpa Group, has officially launched the $68 million Flourish Oasis, marking the group’s next chapter in the Flourish story, as they drive the transformation of Palm Beach. Joel Robinson

BPG Developments secures approval Palmiere in Palm Beach
Queensland-based builder-developer BPG Developments has secured its second approval in South East Queensland in the space of a week. Joel Robinson

Inside EVA: Pitard Group’s completed Elsternwick apartments
Pitard Group has officially opened the doors at EVA Elsternwick Village Apartments, delivering a collection of move-in ready residences in one of Melbourne’s most tightly held neighbourhoods. Urban Editorial

GWH commences construction at ERA Newcastle, the city’s tallest two buildings
Longstanding local builder-developer GWH has broken ground on its flagship Newcastle West development, ERA, signalling a significant step forward for what will become the city’s tallest residential address. Joel Robinson

Megara releases first completed residence at Serai, North Fremantle as project tracks toward early 2026 completion
Construction at Megara’s new North Fremantle apartment development, Serai, has reached a new milestone. Urban Editorial

The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader

Mortdale RSL Club redevelopment: Early planning and community engagement
The Mortdale RSL Community Club has commenced early planning for the 230 unit Mortdale Gardens project at its site on Macquarie and Pitt streets. The proposal will be assessed as a State Significant Development by the NSW Government after being reviewed by the Housing Delivery Authority. Jim Gainsford

Real Commercial

Edo Mapelli Mozzi’s ‘seven-star’ Gold Coast tower site for sale after project fails
A beachfront site earmarked for an ultra-luxury tower linked to the British Royal Family has hit the market after the ambitious $280 million project collapsed. Viva Hyde

The Australian Financial Review

The $460,000 sale that screams danger for listings portals
A one-bedroom apartment with study at 123/138 Camberwell Road, Hawthorn East, Victoria. Sold by private treaty for $460,000. Michael Bleby

The Brisbane Times

Final plans lodged for tower opposite markets in booming West End
Final development documents have been lodged for a new luxury apartment complex across the road from West End’s markets, as development in the once-industrial area booms. William Davis

‘Dramatic density’: Plan for apartment towers is dividing this Brisbane suburb
The high street in Mount Gravatt — a strip of op shops, real estate agencies, restaurants, cafes and fitness studios along Logan Road — hasn’t changed much in decades. William Davis

The Daily Telegraph

Ray Hadley accuses Premier of inaction as developer cancels $100m tower contracts
High-profile former radio host Ray Hadley, stung more than $1m by a Queensland property loophole, says Premier David Crisafulli promised to fix the problem but has abandoned buyers since gaining power. Kathleen Skene

Sydney Morning Herald

‘Wake-up call’: 30 developers face court in Building Commission crackdown
Building Commission NSW has begun prosecuting developers over defective Sydney apartment buildings, as it follows through on its promise to crack down on those ignoring rectification orders. Commissioner James Sherrard warned the first prosecutions should serve as a “wake-up call” for others, with about 30 in the crosshairs of the regulator. Max Maddison

The Courier Mail

Plan for 23 new apartment towers to transform major Mango Hill site
A former Queensland farming family has unveiled bold plans to triple the density of an approved development north of Brisbane, creating an “urban village” with towers up to 30 storeys high. Paul Brescia

The Gold Coast Bulletin

Councillors reject nine-level Gold Coast tower for the homeless and key workers
Gold Coast councillors have rejected a nine-storey tower designed to house homeless workers, despite warnings that many employees drive an hour to reach jobs they cannot afford to live near. Paul Weston

Major redevelopment of Royal Pines revealed with towers up to 25 storeys
Royal Pines faces a dramatic transformation with towers reaching 25 storeys set to replace parts of its golf courses in a major redevelopment plan. Andrew Potts

Six-storey redevelopment: BSKT Cafe to move from Lavarack Rd to The Oxley
A cafe which has anchored Nobby Beach for more than a decade is being turfed out of its beachfront home to make way for a six-storey redevelopment. Crystal Fox

Royal Pines to redevelop golf course for housing
One of the Gold Coast’s most famous resorts has revealed plans to sacrifice one of its championship golf courses to create housing amid a major redevelopment of its facilities. Andrew Potts

The Illawarra Mercury

No 14-storey buildings in Kiama CBD, says mayor
Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald wants the council to fight a proposed 14-storey development just behind the main street. The state’s Housing Delivery Authority has recommended developer Level 33’s plan for a 14-storey tower in Akuna Street be declared a State Significant Development by Planning Minister Paul Scully. Glen Humphries

Bulli residents warn development could lead to 270 more apartments in the suburb
Bulli residents are warning plans for a two- and three-storey public housing development could be just the start of up to 270 similar “big build” apartments in the beachside suburb. Ben Langford

View.com.au

Wollongong apartment block sells for multi-million dollar price at hard-fought auction
A small block of apartments in Wollongong, sold in one line, has been the subject of a hard-fought auction. Brendan Crabb

Your number 1 question answered. “What on earth is happening with the property market?”
While quirky homes and celebrity mansions topped many charts, there was another set of stories you clicked on relentlessly in 2025: the pieces that tried to answer the big question – what on earth is happening with the property market? Emily Rayner

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These are just the strata-related stories from this week. You can get links to all the latest property stories – houses as well as apartments – for free by registering on the LeftField website.