Category: Featured

News

2019 in review with Heath Thompson

December 16, 2019

2019 built steadily throughout the year – a positive sign of an even better future, as the Melbourne property market prices continue to climb, according to Projects by Buxton Real Estate Director, Heath Thompson. One noticeable rise in the sector is amongst the owner-occupier demographic, who have enjoyed a boost in confidence and have been rewarded with some quality choices in product options available. Low stock levels have had a good impact on achieving high clearance rates and created a strong sense of competition amongst buyers.

There are still, however, issues in some parts of the market, including the Melbourne CBD precinct which has suffered some bad press in recent years, thanks to a glut of apartment developments marred by a lack of construction integrity and quality by less scrupulous developers who have compromised on high-quality materials and cut architectural design corners. 

Luckily, other developments across other sought-after areas – both on the city fringe of some of Melbourne’s most convenient and cosmopolitan inner-suburbs, as well as some key outer-suburban addresses – have delivered stunning projects. Heath’s advice is that potential buyers do their research to connect with respected development teams who enjoy solid reputations, there are some fantastic homes and investment properties to be found. The strongest growth in 2019 has occurred in the last two months and with off-the-plan projects continuing to gain momentum, it’s a great time to plan the purchase of your new home.

With discerning buyers demanding the complete package in an apartment development – including car parking, outdoor space and premium interiors with quality fixtures and fittings, a desire to look at sustainable developments, with an eye on environmental-awareness, has made property developers lift their game even further to design and produce truly beautiful living spaces that are designed for the genuine needs of a contemporary home-owner or investor. With 2020 set to look even more dynamic, Heath’s advice is that it is a good time to ‘find your A-team within the real estate/property development industry’ and ask the right questions that ensure you find a home you’ll be proud to call your own.

Looking into the potential for capital growth is about tapping into the direction the property market is heading. A move away from traditional apartment developments, in favour of inner-suburban projects that still offer space and luxury, without compromising on quality, is a trend to watch, based on what has already been happening in 2019, says Heath. It all adds up to 2019 ending on a high note – a real celebration of a continued move towards higher quality standards within the property sector, which is a move that can only mean even more positive things to come for buyers in the next 12 months and beyond.

For more information on how you can be part of a positive property development project and choose a home or investment property you’ll love, talk to our team at Projects by Buxton Real Estate today.

News

Floorplan Characteristics that Today’s Buyers Expect

November 15, 2019

Why Floorplans Must be Unique, Creative and Practical
As the Melbourne property market continues to shift and evolve, developers are under increasing pressure to lift their game and hone in on offerings that are designed to add flexibility, style and quality to the experience of a new generation of owner-occupiers and investors. ‘Providing quality, beautiful and spacious living space is key,’ says Projects by Buxton Real Estate Director Heath Thompson. ‘Making sure you have genuinely livable space that is designed to meet the lifestyle needs of the appropriate demographic that the development is pitched to is important – and that means designing clever storage, quality fittings, fixtures and details that people want in their own home,’ Heath says. ‘It’s not about banging out low-value developments to suit investors only. Today’s quality developments need to be sustainable and offer a lifestyle for families who demand flexibility, comfort and style.’ That might mean creating a dining zone that’s spacious enough to house an 8-10-seat dining table that is ideal for hosting the family Christmas lunch, or a master bedroom room large enough to fit a king-size bed.

Creating Homes Starts With Smart Design
In the past, Heath says, these things have been overlooked by many developers who were more focused on a high turnover of smaller apartments. ‘Great development is about coming back to basics now.’ ‘Floorplans reflect and showcase an understanding of what it really takes to create a wonderful home.’ ‘Storage is critical – especially when you are creating developments that target buyers in the upper-end of the Melbourne apartment market. These are often people who are downsizing from a large family home and they want room for occasional guests to stay, plus the storage required that reflects the great lives they have lived,’ says Heath. ‘A quality project team, such as the teams we assemble at Projects By Buxton Real Estate, get that it’s not about trying to shoe-horn features into developments just for the sake of it. A great floorplan should display features that make sense and add value and enjoyment to the lives of the people the project is designed for. It starts by understanding the area and the type of people who will want to live there – then designing homes that cater to their needs.’

Architectural Design That Matters
The change in thinking means that, in a 15-apartment development, each apartment doesn’t have to have identical features. ‘Sometimes, each separate apartment needs its own unique resolution to utilise the available space, light and orientation in the best possible way,’ says Heath. ‘That means that a quality development team is thinking carefully about who will be living there and what their needs are – then creating spaces to meet those needs in a way that is comfortable, stylish, practical – and beautiful.’

News

Building the Development A-Team

November 7, 2019

Picking a Quality Team of Property Development Specialists

Putting together a quality team of trusted and experienced property professionals to deliver a project is, says Projects by Buxton Real Estate Director Heath Thompson, a two-sided issue. ‘From the developer’s point of view, assembling the perfect team is about helping you achieve what you want to achieve within the necessary budget, to create the desired profit,’ he says. Flexibility is critical and to make sure you get the right team matched to the right project, Heath’s advice includes being open to choose potential collaborators on their individual skills and strengths, rather than simply automatically choosing to work with someone you have worked with in the past.

‘More and more developers are using different architects and builders to suit the design and construction of different developments that cater to different markets,’ says Heath. ‘It’s a prudent approach that means you don’t have all your eggs in the one basket. Relationship-building matters but so does thinking outside the box and that might mean you work with someone different because they have unique insights that can enhance a specific development.’ In his own quest for companies to partner with on developments designed, constructed and sold under the Projects By Buxton Real Estate banner, Heath says a lot of research is done on exploring their track record and their proven abilities.

‘We put a few different hats on to help us choose the right people to work with on a development. The design might be stunning but if it is not geared towards the target demographic of potential buyers, it won’t be successful – and that’s no good for anyone involved. What buyers want more than anything is the confidence that comes from trusting a project they invest in actually comes to fruition,’ says Heath. ‘Because we work with architects, interior designers, marketing agencies, builders and landscape architects who understand that, we are proud to be part of developments that are genuinely sought-after.’

Financial Viability Turns Design Ideas Into Completed Projects

A proven track record and all-important financial viability are key, says Heath, when choosing to work with any development team. ‘There is a natural cleansing of the market that has seen some high-profile developers meet a tough end,’ says Heath of the current market conditions and increasing discernment of prospective buyers. ‘Developers have to make money to make projects happen but they also need to offer products that are well-priced for buyers. Having a commitment to meet the real needs of buyers is one of the most important things each and every member of any property development team should have.’

This is critical because the other side of creating a successful property development, is, of course, seeing a quality home completed – all the way through to settlement day. ‘With the right team behind each and every project we work on, we give buyers absolute confidence they are buying a property they will be able to live in and love,’ says Heath.

News

Caspian Hampton is Progressing

October 28, 2019

Construction is underway for an uncompromising collection of two and three-bedroom residences that are located in the heart of sought-after Bayside Hampton. Caspian Hampton is a project we’re all very excited about at – eighteen apartments that offer the perfect situation of being close enough to the action to be convenient and quiet enough to create a peaceful home, buyers will love,’ says Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson.

Choosing a Quality Property Development Team That Can Deliver

Samuel Property, the developer, has an impressive record of creating quality residences and with Figurehead Construction involved as the project’s builder, Heath is sure that the momentum already built will continue. ‘Eleven of the apartments have been sold prior to construction, so it’s already very successful and is gearing up to be very much an owner-occupier building, that will be completed by Spring next year,’ he says. With an increasing number of buyers in the market concerned about quality and capability to deliver on promises, having Figurehead on board, says Heath, is something that has provided peace of mind and by creating residences that have an emphasis on luxury and generous living spaces, with dimensions designed to suit the daily needs of modern families, the project represents a shift away from investor-grade apartments.

‘Now we are building homes,’ Heath says. ‘We are definitely seeing more of that and the result is big living space, quality fixtures and fittings, plenty of storage and the luxurious touches a discerning buyer demands.’ Every ensuite bathroom at Caspian Hampton features a double-basin vanity, as well as a freestanding bath and separate shower. On the ground floor, large courtyard gardens help create a friendly flow between indoors and outdoors, while apartments on upper levels also benefit from fresh air and light with spacious balcony areas that are built for entertaining.

Because every apartment is beautifully-designed and appointed – benefitting from the set-back position and surrounding streetscape – Heath says the fact that only seven apartments are left does not mean the best have already been snapped up. ‘Each one of the apartments is stunning in its own way and because we have made smart decisions about the calibre of people to work with – including Bayley Ward architect and landscape architect Jack Merlo – we are so proud of this development and know it will create happy homes for everyone on board.’

Award-Winning Design Offers Owner-Occupiers a Quality Home

When the display suite was open, the development attracted the accolade of receiving a kitchen design award and, from Heath’s perspective, it’s an achievement that proves this is a project that has been built with the needs of real people in mind. ‘It’s no longer a case of ‘build it and they will come’,’ says Heath of the evolving way developers and builders need to cater to the demands of a new generation of buyers. ‘The market is softer at the moment and it will continue like that for a while, so to attract the attention of the best possible buyers, you need to come to market with a truly impressive product that ticks all the boxes – and goes beyond to offer exceptional living in a great location.’

News

Spring Quarterly Update

October 22, 2019

Positive Growth in the Melbourne Property Market as Spring Heats Up
The spring season in Melbourne is traditionally an incredibly vibrant time in the property sector and, so far, the real estate market in Melbourne is showing positive signs that a slight rebound is underway. With an increase in listings to meet the stronger demand the change of season typically brings, a feeling of renewed optimism amongst industry specialists is emerging cautiously—although some financial specialists forecast that the reality of tightened credit offers and the subsequent inability of many lenders to handle loan applications in a timely manner will still have an impact. Results from the first month of Spring, thanks to data from CoreLogic, revealed an auction clearance rate average of just over 70% for Melbourne, up 25% from the same time in 2018.

New Property Developments Offer Buyers Better Choice
In a market where prospective buyers are outnumbering those wanting to sell established properties, it’s a good opportunity to buy off-the-plan. In what Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson acknowledges is still an uncertain market, the need to invest time into careful research to help choose the best possible project to purchase within is more important than ever. ‘End-buyers need security and peace of mind that comes from knowing their developer and builder have a proven track record and will complete a project that is viable for everyone involved,’ says Heath. With some developers continuing to struggle to achieve the funding required to see overly-ambitious projects through to completion, Heath warns that investors run the real risk of putting their heart and soul (and hard-earned savings) into plans that won’t ever come to fruition.

‘For buyers, knowing how to filter the good from the bad can be challenging,” says Heath. ‘One key question to ask any development team you are considering working with is ‘have they got funding in place?’ Checking their track record to see if they have a proven history of creating successful development projects is always prudent but is still no guarantee. According to Heath, though, one long-term advantage of some developers falling by the wayside is what he says is an overdue ‘cleansing of the market’. ‘Some developers have been spoiled by a great market and they didn’t need to be very professional because there was a steady demand for whatever they were selling. Now, though, they need to up their game and they need to stand by their product,’ Heath says.

‘Buyers are more discerning and the best developers are the ones who can deliver a quality end-product, with design touches that reflect a genuine understanding of the market and the needs of the target demographic.’ Floorplans designed to suit the needs of real families, couples and professionals keen to either downsize, upsize or enter the market for the first time, need to take real people and the way they want to live their lives into consideration, rather than offering a limiting opportunity to utilise a space.

Discerning Buyers Demand Quality Property Developments
‘Would-be buyers are being more discerning about looking at the ways they can enjoy living, with convenience and comfort, in a proposed development,’ says Heath. ‘Location is still important but so is space, storage and interior design that is as beautiful as it is functional.’ The developments Projects by Buxton chooses to work on reflect the significance of these issues and the outcomes, says Heath, are meticulously-planned developments that cater perfectly to the needs of discerning buyers. ‘Successful developers need to offer products that are genuine quality,’ says Heath. ‘Anything less than great is no longer accepted by the evolving market.’

News

Buxton and Beller Merger

June 21, 2019

A merger, in the business world, is the combination of two separate companies that come together to join forces – typically with a view to expand their reach. That sentiment certainly rings true in the case of the professional merger between Victorian real estate agencies Buxton and Beller, who have announced a partnership under the Buxton brand that will be in effect from July 1. Under this newly established merger, Beller Project Marketing will become Projects by Buxton.

Brand-building Evolution

For Beller Director, Heath Thompson, the benefits of the Projects by Buxton merger are, he says, “two-fold”. “We get to give our clients the access to a huge network we did not have previously but the strength of our business – which has always been great advice and comprehensive development knowledge – is enhanced even more,” Heath says. “The addition of an even greater local network adds a deeper level of safety and security and potential to expand – something that can benefit everyone we deal with.” The fundamentals of the way both Beller and Buxton have done business separately, Thompson says, won’t change.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on offering strategic advice to our clients – and now that will be supported by the strength of a vast network of potential buyers,” he adds. A good example of the way the Projects by Buxton merger will have positive outcomes for clients is evident in a recent project, ALIA McKinnon, which you can read more about here.

Broader Networks Mean Better Business

With a boost in numbers of potential investors and buyers and significant sales already, Heath says that results speak for themselves – even before the project has officially gone to market. “With our broad development advice and access to broader sales networks, for our companies, the merger means an obvious boost to success – and that means good things for our clients,” says Heath. It’s a reminder that sustainable brand growth requires fresh thinking – and taking the occasional strategic risk to deliver measurable results that ensure a brand is seen as responsive and relevant in an ever-changing market. For Buxton and Beller, the union seems sure to open doors to new possibilities and even greater potential for both developers, buyers and the team of people needed to put smart property development in the hands of a new generation of discerning buyers.

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