Meriton has entered 2026 with strong momentum, with apartment sales in the first quarter (January to March) up 50 per cent compared to the same period last year. Both Sydney and the Gold Coast continue to demonstrate that, beyond their status as iconic global cities, they have deeply resilient property markets, particularly when quality apartments are well located and appropriately priced.
Harry Triguboff, founder and managing director of Meriton, has built and sold more apartments than anyone in the country and remains buoyed by the group’s recent performance. “What is particularly encouraging about the current cycle is the breadth of demand underpinning it. We are selling apartments to first home buyers for $625,000 and to downsizers for $3.8 million. Previous sales booms were often driven by a single buyer cohort, but today’s market is far more balanced and diverse,” Mr Triguboff said.
Downsizers continue to play a growing role, particularly in suburban locations, with larger three and four-bedroom apartments appealing to buyers seeking to trade traditional houses for the convenience, security and lifestyle benefits of apartment living. At the same time, first-home buyers have doubled their sales volumes of Meriton apartments. Meriton’s position as both developer and builder allows it to deliver a mix of apartment layouts, including more affordable options such as one-bedroom plus multi-purpose room units, which are significantly cheaper than larger unit types while offering similar functionality.
“It is no longer impossible to get into the first home buyer market. We have removed many of the barriers and it is now a very strong segment for us,” Mr Triguboff said.
Changes to the Federal Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme, introduced in October last year, have also been influential. The removal of income caps and the increase in the property price threshold to $1.5 million have opened the door for many purchasers, who can now borrow up to 95 per cent of a property’s value without paying lenders’ mortgage insurance. For a $1 million apartment, this can represent a saving of around $20,000, an outcome proving decisive for many first-time buyers.
First-home buyers have doubled their sales volumes of Meriton apartments. Meriton’s position as both developer and builder allows it to deliver a mix of apartment layouts
Looking ahead, the long-term fundamentals for Sydney and the Gold Coast remain strong. More than 650,000 new residents are expected to move into Sydney by 2034, while the Gold Coast population is projected to reach one million residents by around 2040 to 2046. Household formation trends continue to favour apartment living, and a tight rental market is pushing weekly rents higher and improving yields for investors. At the same time, the pipeline of new apartment supply remains limited. Together, these factors support confidence that momentum will continue and apartment prices will keep rising.
With 15 developments currently available and three more set to launch, including the OSCAR project in the Brisbane CBD, Meriton offers a broader range of choice than any other developer in Australia.
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