Sydney apartments snapped up off the plan

Ten apartment projects comprising 1440 rooms are being marketed within the Sydney CBD zone, according to Colliers International Sydney Apartment Research & Forecast Report.

More than 60% have been sold off the plan, and only 568 remain available for purchase.

Demand drivers for apartments within the CBD and the surrounds include the view over Sydney Harbour and Botanical Gardens, proximity to employment and shopping centres and the tight residential vacancy rate of 1.2% in the inner ring of Sydney, according to the report.

 Two of the projects are nearly completely sold, including Stockland’s recently completed The Hyde, overlooking Hyde Park in the southern precinct, where only five of the 131 apartments remain for sale. The Hyde’s average sale price during the 2011 March quarter was just under $2.5 million.

 In the Northern Precinct the Stamford Residences and the Reynell Terraces development is yet to be completed, but only 12 apartments/terraces are available.

 The development in Gloucester Street in The Rocks will provide 122 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, plus five terraces. Since they went on the market in early 2008, 115 apartments have sold, and five terraces and seven apartments remain. The last sale was completed in the December 2010 quarter, when an apartment sold for more than $6 million.

 The Inmark Tower in Chinatown, which will comprise 218 apartments, is the next project due to be finished. More than half of these – 123 – have already been sold.

 Making up the bulk of the new apartments available for purchase is Central Park on the former Carlton United Brewery site in Chippendale. The development will comprise approximately 1,800 apartments upon completion. Currently Stage 1 “One Central Park” is under construction, and the two towers will feature 623 apartments. To date 321 have been sold.