Surge in demand for new homes as construction cost pressures ease
Construction activity is strongest in the multi-residential sector in Victoria
2 min
Demand for new homes is surging after a lacklustre year – and one property type is proving particularly popular among would-be buyers.
The latest New Homes Report from research firm PropTrack shows a 16 per cent increase year-on-year in search enquiries for new developments on realestate.com.au in July.
Boutique luxury apartments are especially in-demand, data shows. Enquiries for unit projects in inner Melbourne are the highest in the country.
The Victorian capital accounts for 34 per cent of all current residential construction projects in the country, with most underway in the inner-city.
Enquiries are the second highest on the Gold Coast, home to nine per cent of all current apartment developments.
Adelaide’s central and Hills regions have the most enquiries per development, but the number of projects underway in the city are particularly low, meaning more would-be buyers for fewer listings.
Analysis of demand shows premium unit complexes with rooftop swimming pools, wine rooms and gums are popular.
In July, Elysian Residences in Sherwood in Brisbane’s inner-south saw the most enquiries, followed closely by Murcia in Wollongabba in the inner-city.
The Walmer project in Melbourne’s Abbotsford came in third for the most enquiries sent by property seekers on realestate.com.au.
The New Homes Report also reveals the pace of building cost increases has slowed over the past year, with prices stabilising as supply chain issues improve.
Input prices rose by 0.6 per cent in the June quarter, which is the lowest increase in 18 months, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows.
The cost of certain essential building materials, like concrete and plumbing products, has risen. However, the extent of those increases has been offset considerably by a slump in steel prices.
It marks good news for the construction sector, which has struggled through a tough period of time.
PropTrack senior data analyst Karen Dellow said the development of new dwellings slowed significantly over the past few years.
“The pandemic caused supply chain issues, increasing the price of essential building materials, which increased building costs, while labour shortages have also been a growing problem,” Ms Dellow said.
Frequent construction site shutdowns during Covid-19 stalled work and slowed down new home completions, she added.
“As a result, the higher cost of new properties led to decreased demand, compared to its peak in September 2021, when the government’s HomeBuilder Grant drove many property seekers to build houses to take advantage of the government subsidy.
“The combination of labour shortages and increasing prices has led to a backlog of work impacting the approval and commencement of future developments.”
However, ABS data shows easing construction costs might be helping to get work out of planning phases and into production.
There was a 14 per cent increase in new commencements in the March quarter, the latest figures reveal, totalling 46,546 dwellings. That has been driven by a whopping 57 per cent increase in apartment and townhouse commencements.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual
This collaboration will extend into the fourth phase of Azizi’s Riviera project in MBR City, with Cummins supplying top-tier power generators.
2 min
Azizi Developments, a prominent private developer in the UAE, and Cummins Inc., a global leader in power solutions design, manufacturing, distribution, and supply, are extending their partnership into the fourth phase of the large-scale Riviera project. Cummins, known for its diverse range of products including diesel, natural gas, electric, and hybrid powertrains, as well as powertrain-related components, like filtration, after-treatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, control systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, batteries, hydrogen generation, and fuel cell products. The manufacturer is globally renowned for its excellence in both innovation and sustainability.
Mr. Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments, said: “As we continue our collaboration with Cummins Inc. for the fourth phase of our flagship project, Riviera, we reaffirm our commitment to procuring and utilizing only the highest quality materials. This partnership highlights our dedication to providing exceptional lifestyles for our investors and end-users through the careful selection of premium components. We are confident that our now-broadened alliance with Cummins Inc. will help in maintaining the high standards established for Riviera and further elevate the benchmarks of quality and excellence.”
Riviera is part of Azizi Developments’ award-winning portfolio. It is a stylish waterfront lifestyle destination that comprises 75 mid- and high-rise buildings with approximately 16,000 residences.
Designed to introduce the French-Mediterranean lifestyle to Dubai, which is not merely about architectural art, but also about a certain ‘joie de vivre’ — a celebration of life, an exultation of spirit, Riviera represents a new landmark destination that is both residential and commercial, with an abundance of retail space. Riviera features three districts: an extensive retail boulevard, a lagoon walk on the shores of its 2.7 km-long swimmable crystal lagoon with artisan eateries and boutiques, and Les Jardins — a vast, lush-green social space.
With its strategic location near the upcoming Meydan One Mall and the Meydan Racecourse — home of the Dubai World Cup — as well as Dubai’s most noteworthy points of interest, Riviera represents one of Azizi Developments’ most coveted projects.
Azizi Developments’ Sales Gallery can be visited on the 13th floor of the Conrad Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual
