When I started this business years ago, I have always dreamt of being able to get hold of a development along Lygon Street. If you have been there(the southern part of Lygon Street), you will agree with me that it’s a street with some of the best italian restaurants and cafes around. The latest development we have here is on No. 1 Lygon Street. This location needs no introduction. It’s one of the ‘cannot go wrong’ address just outside the Melbourne CBD and near to Melbourne university.

This is not a big development; only 120 and of these at least 20 will be double-storey townhouses (these are more for owner occupiers).

Corner location of Brunswick Road and Lygon Street, tram at the front door, and linear park on one side, retail including cafes on ground floor. All the apartments on the city side will have full city views given across the park are all est homes.

Construction will start in Jan/Feb 2011 and will be completed by July 2012.

KMPG Australia’s Bernard Salt, a very well-known demographer in his latest analysis showed the municipalities of Wyndham and Melton in Victoria added 18,000 new residents over the 12 months to June 2009 to overtake Gold Coast as the fastest growing region in the whole of Australia.

With a host of corporates being located in the western region and affordability of residential properties, the area is now a popular amongst renters and owner-occupiers who want be accessible to city and their workplace.

For more information, you download the article here.

The latest changes in policies by the Singapore government where even private property owners in Singapore can only take up a maximum of 70% loan-to-value ratio for their subsequent acquisition in Singapore (only private properties are allowed) will effectively deter many serious investors from buying in their own country. The basis for property investment is to have minimum outlay, maximum leverage, and use rental income to defray interest costs and expenses for capital gains. Imagine having to cough out $300,000 plus stamp duties and other purchase costs to effectively acquire a property worth S$1,000,000(in prime areas), it’s a serious sum of money for most people.

Serious investors might be far better off investing in areas where rental income is very consistent (and rising every year) and there’s a huge pool of tenants locally(locals as well as PRs and foreigners) to minimize investors’ risk (holding costs).

Some investors asked me, ‘what can you do with S$300,000?’

You effectively buy three (yes, not just one) investment properties in Australia and you will have three tenants instead of just one if you invest in Singapore. The quantum for investment will be smaller and it will be spread among 3 properties with different capital growth rates and most importantly investors’ risks will be significantly lowered (Risk – holding cost).  One thing to note, Aussie banks do take into account rental income (a big part of rental income) to boost investors’ borrowing capacity. There’s indeed some truth to the saying ‘the world is an oyster’. Serious property investors should know property investment is not limited by geographical boundaries; the only question is who you should approach for the right expertise and advice.

2-bedroom apartments from A$455,250(99 sqm)
I am pleased to introduce a pre-release of a fantastic project in Maribyrnong, one of the fastest growing suburbs, 6km NW of the Melbourne CBD.

This is an excellent project with great views to the marina and the Melbourne CBD from the apartments. Prices start from $5,900/sqm and settlement is expected in 2013. You wouldn’t want to miss buying in one of the fastest growing inner-city suburb. Most locations that close to the CBD wouldn’t have spacious apartments like this one. We have a special pre-public release allocation of apartments. This project is priced to sell! We expect that once this project releases publicly it will sell extremely quickly.

Overview
Situated within 6km of the Melbourne CBD, Marina apartments offer investors a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of real estate (250m to the marina) next to one of Australia’s largest shopping centre and vibrant commercial facilities along the Rosamond road (thru highpoint shopping centre) and near to Docklands. The development is 1km to Victoria University (5 mins), 4km to RMIT University (CBD) (12mins), 3km to University of Melbourne (10mins) and Royal Melbourne Hospital, public transport, shops, restaurants and cafes in Highpoint Shopping Centre and not to mention recreational activities around the parklands and the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre just next to Highpoint Shopping Centre. Commuting to the city takes only 15 minutes by tram. The tram services are available along Gordon Street.

The project comprises two buildings merged together and it’s also located on a sloping site hence the units on the higher ground have fantastic views towards the marina and the city. All units come with car parks (3-bedders with 2 car parks) and some with storage spaces. There’s no swimming pool or gym hence body corporate fees are kept relatively low.

Location
Edgewater Boulevard, Maribyrnong, Victoria

* 100m from Gordon Street trams
* 200m from Les Ames Deli Cafe
* 300m from Edgewater Marina
* 700m from Essendon Municipal Golf Course
* 800m from Maribyrnong Secondary College
* 1.0km from Highpoint Shopping Centre
* 1.0km from Rosamond School
* 1.0km from Footscray North Primary School
* 1.0km from Progress Kindergarten
* 1.1km from Flemington Race Course
* 1.5km from Gilmore College for Girls
* 1.5km from Footscray Primary School
* 1.2km from Western Hospital
* 6km from Melbourne CBD

Estimated Completion Date: Late 2012 to early 2013

Please email me if you are interested to find out more about the project.