Earned good money this year? Your house might have earned you more

How much did you earn this year? Was it more than $295,000?

That’s the median profit Australian home sellers made in the past three months according to data from CoreLogic released today. The property data provider released its Pain & Gain Report for the September quarter analysing 95,000 dwelling resales. The gains revealed the highest results since records began in the 90s. Total nominal gains were also higher, at $33.98 billion up from $33.3 billion in the previous quarter.

Australians are also holding onto their homes for longer, with the median period of home ownership now 9 years. For those who sold this year, that means they bought in 2015. The report noted that national home values have increased 57.7 percent in that time

Houses continued to represent the best option for capital growth, with just 2.9 percent selling at a loss compared with 9.4 percent of units. Homeowners who held their properties for two years or less were most susceptible to losses.

CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen said units were historically more likely to sell at a loss but the likelihood had grown across all properties held for shorter periods in recent years.

The impact on mortgage holders would vary, however, depending on whether they were owner occupiers or investors.

“Investors are potentially in a better position to sell at a loss, because they may be able to offset that loss on future capital gains from property,” she said. “Three years on from mortgage rate lows, the incidence of loss is rising for those who have held between two and four years.”

Indeed, not every home seller walked away with a tidy profit this quarter. The report noted Melbourne was the only capital city to experience a further downturn in values, with 9.9 percent of properties selling at a loss.

The median nominal loss was -$40,000 and the total nominal loss was $270 million over the quarter.

Leading Australian development manager Fortis has secured a landmark off-the-plan sale at Richmond Square, with high-profile hospitality entrepreneurs Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh purchasing a 550sqm penthouse residence in Carmine House, establishing a new price benchmark for apartment living in Richmond.

The purchase underscores the continued demand for premium, amenity-rich residences in Melbourne’s inner east.

The transaction marks a significant milestone for the $330 million mixed-use precinct, reinforcing buyer appetite for integrated, lifestyle-led developments.

Richmond Square comprises two residential offerings – Carmine House and Wiltshire House – alongside a 57-room boutique hotel, strata office space and a curated mix of retail and lifestyle operators.

As part of Carmine House, residents have access to hotel-style amenities and services, including concierge, housekeeping, dry cleaning and in-residence food and beverage delivery.

Best known for building The Big Group into one of Australia’s leading luxury hospitality and events businesses, the Keebaughs were drawn to the precinct’s integrated lifestyle offering and its proximity to Melbourne’s hospitality, cultural and sporting precincts, while remaining well connected to the Mornington Peninsula, where they spend much of their time.

As well, Chyka is well known to Australian audiences as one of the original stars of The Real Housewives of Melbourne, appearing across three seasons of the hit reality series.

Alongside her business ventures with Bruce, she has built a public profile as a lifestyle authority, authoring two books on home and entertaining, Chyka Home and Chyka Celebrate.

“We weren’t simply looking for a luxury apartment,: the couple said. “We were looking for a home that delivers an exceptional lifestyle every day. The combination of design, walkability, security and the broader precinct vision for the broader precinct immediately stood out.”

Jordan Winada, Head of Acquisitions (Commercial) Victoria at Fortis, said the result highlights evolving priorities at the top end of the market.

“This sale reinforces that premium buyers are prioritising the complete lifestyle experience,” says Winada.

“They’re increasingly looking beyond the apartment itself and assessing the quality of the surrounding neighbourhood as well.”

Sean Cussell, Director at Christie’s International Real Estate Victoria, who negotiated the transaction, said the result reflects the lack of comparable product at this level of the market.

“There’s simply no direct comparison for this in Richmond. It’s not just an apartment; it’s part of a fully integrated precinct combining residential, hotel, workplace and lifestyle amenity,” Cussell said.

“Buyers are increasingly assessing the broader offering, from amenity and walkability to service and convenience. Projects that deliver a complete lifestyle experience continue to outperform.”

The sale contributes to Fortis’ strong national performance, with the business recording more than $124 million in sales since March, the last three all record-breaking penthouse sales across the country, reflecting sustained momentum across its portfolio and continued appetite for premium, design-driven developments.

This follows Fortis’ recent record-breaking Ruby House penthouse sale in Sydney’s Double Bay, which set a new benchmark for apartment living in the suburb and underscores the strength of demand at the ultra-premium end of the market.

Richmond Square will announce its hospitality and lifestyle operators in the coming weeks as the project progresses towards completion this year.

Earned good money this year? Your house might have earned you more

CoreLogic’s Pain & Gain report showed record results for Australian home sellers in the past three months

Hospitality entrepreneurs Bruce and Chyka Keebaugh have set a new price benchmark for apartment living in Richmond with their purchase of a Carmine House penthouse.