Property services group Oliver Hume wins $1.5 billion of new projects

The property services group Oliver Hume has added more than $1.5 billion worth of new project land and apartment sales to its pipeline since Christmas.

The company’s developer clients are planning to bring a host of new projects to the market over coming months. 

So far in 2019 the company has been appointed to advise on 10 new projects by eight different developers across Melbourne and South East Queensland. The projects have a total sales value in excess of $1.5 billion.  

Oliver Hume Chief Operating Officer Julian Coppini (pictured below) said the new appointments reflected the company’s proven ability to understand a range of markets and provide developers with research and insights that deliver clear competitive advantage.

“In tight markets, understanding consumer trends is absolutely critical,” Coppini said.

“With more than 40 projects across the country in our portfolio we can deliver unmatched insights into not just the sales and marketing strategy but underlying project planning.

“Developing the correct product mix for the local market based on the latest demographic research, having an effective display village strategy and access to a large network of builders are just some of the areas where we add value and why more developers are choosing Oliver Hume.”  

In Victoria, the new appointments include 72 apartments at the East Side Village project at Hawthorn East (pictured top), 220 homesites ($55 million) at Maddingley for developer Werribee Vale Developments and an infill project at Greenvale with projected total sales of $9 million.  

The company is also preparing to launch two major new masterplanned communities in 2019 for long term client Villawood at Lara (1,179 lots, $300 million) and Sunbury (2,000 lots, $800 million). 

In Queensland, the company this year has been appointed to sell the balance of Tribeca’s $25 million OTTO project at Coomera; the $135 million, 600-lot Carver’s Reach project at Park Ridge for Golden Gate Property; the Arcadia Park Ridge project for developer Goldengrove; and a soon-to-be-launched project at Ripley. 

The company is also preparing to launch a major marketing campaign for Oliver Hume Property Fund’s The Verge project at Logan Reserve.  

Coppini said that despite recent softer market conditions in Melbourne and Sydney, developers were still bringing new projects to market. 

“The Melbourne and Sydney markets have been under pressure for the last nine months but we are still seeing quality developers, with good product, bring new projects to market,” he said.

“Developers that are able to adapt to the market and compete strongly are still well positioned to attract financeable buyers.

“In Victoria, where prices and volumes have been under the most pressure, there has been a distinct pivot by buyers to focus on small blocks and townhouse product. These more affordable options present less finance and valuation risk and are selling as fast as they can be made available.”

He said townhouses were becoming the preferred option for many buyers across inner, middle and outer Melbourne areas as the provide an affordable alternative to established housing. 

In Queensland, where the market has remained relatively stable over the last 12 months, the company has secured a number of new local developers as clients and extended its relationship with Defence Housing Australia (DHA). 

“With strong interstate migration, a stable economy and plenty of new infrastructure on the way we are quite optimistic about the South East Queensland market and that is manifesting in the number of developers pushing ahead with new projects,” Coppini said.