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Lowering the entry requirements for real estate agents as part of a bid for a national licensing system will put consumers at risk, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia.
The REIA says a potential national licensing system mooted by the Council of Australian Governments dumbs down entry requirement agents to the detriment of both the profession and consumers.
“REIA, in the past, has been supportive of national licensing, but not at the cost of consumer protection,” Robyn Waters, world president elect of the International Federation of Real Estate says.
She says agent licensing levels will drop leading to an increased consumer risk and a lowering of professional standards.
“We also do not want to see the abolition of ongoing professional development as it would result in many practitioners not participating in legislative updates which are pertinent to their area of real estate practice,” Waters says.
“Many Australian families and small businesses rely on real estate agents to either negotiate or sell the single biggest investment they will make – be it the family home or a small business.”
Waters is representing Australia at the Asia Pacific Real Estate Congress currently on in Singapore.
The meeting looks at the challenges and opportunities which prevail in the region for real estate professionals as a result of globalisation.
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awalsh-7Ub9EypybQ

Dumbed down real estate licensing rules will hurt consumers: REIA

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Australia should follow New Zealand’s lead in allowing first home buyers to withdraw from their superannuation to help purchase a home, according to the Real Estate Institute of Australia.
The voluntary Kiwisaver superannuation scheme allows first home buyers to withdraw some or all of their savings to buy a home and committed members also receive a once-off payment of up to NZ $5000 for home deposits.
Members of the scheme can choose to contribute 3%, 4% or 8% of their gross salary and their employer contributes at least 3% of their gross salary. The government seeds the account with NZ $1000 and contributes up to NZ $521 per year.
Members are normally unable to touch their money until they are 65. The scheme started in 2007.
The NZ $5000 payment functions as New Zealand’s only first home owners grant.
In the year to March 10,733 KiwiSaver members have used the first home owners initiatives, according to New Zealander housing minister Nick Smith.
The REIA says access to schemes like this could help improve Australia’s declining home ownership.
“With over 82% of all Australian households holding at least some savings in their superannuation account and the average value across all households at $142,429, some access to these sources could reverse the current trend of declining home ownership,” REIA president Peter Bushby says.
“Both of these features can also be used to help with the overall deposit when buying land to build a first home house on. Furthermore, if a person has previously owned a home but is currently in a similar financial position to a first home buyer, they may still be eligible for both features.”
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Australia could learn from New Zealand's first home buyers super scheme: REIA

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Canberra's house prices grew over the June quarter to their highest point ever, according to the latest housing market report from Australian Property Monitors.
"The Canberra housing market has recorded solid growth over the June quarter, which follows a subdued period earlier in the year," the report says.
"Median house prices rose by 1.8% over the June quarter, to be up 4.2% over the 2013 financial year. Canberra’s median house price is now at an all time high of $576,248."
The unknown equation in the Canberra market is the impact of the federal election and any possible cuts to the public service.
However, today regular observer <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/hotspots/canberra-needs-to-stand-by-for-some-earth-quaking-changes-terry-ryder/2013090464794?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=upperright" target="_blank">Terry Ryder wrote</a> that "Canberra generally has the most consistent city market in Australia. It often has the lowest unemployment and the highest average incomes in the land. That provides a solid under-pinning for property markets."
Howver, Terry Ryder also goes on to say that the ACT needs to "stand by for some earth-quaking changes" as a result of the upcoming federal electionand that "whoever wins the election will put the cleaners through the federal public service, particularly if we have a Tony Abbott-led government on Monday morning."
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Canberra house prices hit all-time high in June: APM

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Nightcliff is Darwin’s most searched suburb by buyers, but with a median house price of $843,448 it’s out of reach for many. But nearby Coconut Grove has a median house price that is 19.8% cheaper.
Westpac has compiled a list of 10 Darwin suburbs where it’s cheaper to buy than in their more popular but pricey neighbouring suburbs.
Click to enlarge
<a title="Click to enlarge" href="/images/stories/2013/09/03/darwin-houses-sept-3-big.gif" rel="shadowbox"><img src="/images/stories/2013/09/03/darwin-houses-sept-3-small.gif"></a>
The hidden gem suburbs are close to the popular suburb but have a lower cost median house or unit price. The most popular suburbs were determined by the most searched for suburbs on realestate.com.au.
“Buyers who want to truly own their home sooner can find real value by simply considering a suburb which is just a stone’s throw away from their first preference,” says Westpac’s Gai McGrath.
If you wanted to buy a house in Darwin’s fourth most popular suburb, Parap, with a median house price of $808,054, you could consider travelling just three kilometres down the road to The Narrows where the average house price is 27% cheaper at $591,916.
You could own your home 15 years and eight months sooner and save $216,138 in purchase price $244,122 in interest repayments over time, according to Westpac.
If you wanted to buy a unit in Golden Grove, Adelaide’s eighth most popular suburb, you could consider travelling eight kilometres to Salisbury East where the average unit price is 28% cheaper.
The hidden suburb with most marked difference with its more popular counterpart was The Gardens which with a median house price of $719,522 is 40.5% cheaper than Larrakeyah’s $1.21 million.
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Darwin's 10 hidden gems: Parap is 27% cheaper than The Narrows and just 3km away

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Three retired Hitachi train carriages have been hoisted onto the roof of a novel Collingwood office development.
The design for the six-office development, End to End , by architecture firm ITN Architects, allows tenant access to the trains. Each of the six tenants will reportedly have half a train each, with access via an elevator from the basement.
One of the carriages may be turned into an art gallery or a bar.
The development at 48 Easey Street is a tribute to graffiti art including the notorious train graffiti.
In 2012, two of the unsold offices in the five level building were being marketed at $1.5 million. According to the <a href="https://end-to-end.yolasite.com/">developer website</a> the offices are still available.
The trains were hoisted into place on August 31 and September 1 with photos placed on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/itnarchitects" target="_blank">ITN Architects' Facebook page</a>.
They were bought from train enthusiast John Horne who bought 120 carriages for $2600 each from the Victorian state government.
Photos courtesy of ITN Architects.
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Decommissioned trains hoisted onto roof of Collingwood office development

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Investors should proceed with caution in the Pilbara given recent announcements from Rio Tinto, according to Helen Collier-Kogtevs from Real Wealth Australia.

There are concerns Rio Tinto may not proceed with some new mines in WA’s Pilbara district after it widened its iron production guidance for the next five years.

Rio Tinto told analysts in Perth that annual exports of iron ore could range from 300 million tonnes to 375 million tonnes in 2018. But back in May it said that figure would be 360 million tonnes to 375 million tonnes, The Australian reports.

That means annual mine production could only rise marginally from the 290 million tonnes it plans to reach next year after a US $10 billion ($11.15 billion) expansion is finished.

Collier-Kogtevs says announcements like these should raise red flags for investors.

“I caution any investor looking at the Pilbara or any mining region to do extreme due diligence,” Collier-Kogtevs told Property Observer.

“When it comes to considering mining towns for investment they are high risk for a reason. Yes you get high returns but they are high risk and you really need an exit strategy in place.”

But despite the risk, there is still money to be made in the Pilbara.

“I would not say avoid at all costs. I have clients investing there and making a truck load of money. But I have people contacting me who have invested there who are in a whole lot of financial pain.”

“It’s all about doing the research. Understand what’s going on and not just at a micro level, you have to understand what’s happening with mining at the macro level.

“A lot of investors have come unstuck not looking globally and the impact that has on our resource market.”

In February 2012 Collier-Kogtevs recommended the Pilbara towns of Newman and Port Hedland as investor hotspots.

She described Newman as a town with a medium investment risk.

“Newman experiences high capital growth, high positive cash flow, medium to high entry level cost and medium risk. The town is strategically important to the national economy, has great historical performance and great projected performance, low vacancy rates, a high per capita income level and a high demand for housing,” Collier-Kogtevs wrote at the time.

“Port Hedland experiences high capital growth, high positive cash flow, high entry level costs and medium risk.”

Since then, Collier-Kogtevs says mining has gone off the boil.

“When I contributed to that article I was looking 12 months ahead,” she told Property Observer, “the landscape has changed.”

“I really didn't expect the government to bring in two new taxes. There a couple of things out of your control as an investor – death, taxes, changes in government and laws. So you do the best you can with the information you've got or the research that you’ve done do to make the best financial decision for yourself and circumstances.

“I'm aware of people buying off the back of a hotspot being nominated. I try and tread with caution; I'll share my opinion but I make sure to tell people to do their extreme diligence and base their decisions on their circumstances.”

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Mining hotspot in jeopardy - proceed with caution

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Investors are better off buying and operating vending machines than building a granny flat, according to Gavin McPherson, the head of property investment firm Oasis Property Group.
He says granny flats are for poorly informed investors in inferior areas and they attract bad tenants.
“The people that peddle this product trade on the lowest rung of investor,” McPherson told Property Observer. “Smart money knows better and doesn’t touch it.”
In NSW regulations only allow granny flats to be built on properties with a 14 metre frontage which McPherson says is only possible in the suburbs which aren’t ideal for investors.
“The stronger inner urban areas (i.e. the eastern suburbs, the north shore and inner west) thrive because it doesn’t allow this.”
“The bi product also of this is YES it does breed a very low class tenant.
“Cash flow is fine, but if you really are searching that hard for cash-flow – work an extra two to four hours a week (without the granny flat investment that does nothing for your capital value of land) or buy coke vending machines.”
But Jo Chivers, director of development firm Property Bloom, says it can add value to a home or investment in the short and long term.
“From a development perspective, it can be a quick and easy way to build your property portfolio and create high rental yields.” <a href="/news">she wrote in July.</a>
“Owners can benefit from cash-flow from the rent on two dwellings and also receive good depreciation benefits on the new flat (if being rented).  This means people can keep moving forward with their investment strategy.
“Unlike buying a single apartment for instance around Sydney which is likely to be negatively geared, adding a granny flat to a property with an existing dwelling can result in a cash-flow positive situation.”
She says small secondary dwellings are an attractive option for singles and couples – one of the fastest  growing sectors of the population.
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Granny flats worse investments than vending machines: Gavin McPherson

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Perth landlords are renegotiating leases to stop tenants who are enticed by low interest rates into buying.
There is a softening Perth rental market with more renters breaking leases and a rising vacancy rate.
The Perth metropolitan vacancy rate is at 3.4% for the quarter, according to the Real Estate Institute of WA – up 1.1 percentage points from three months ago.
And in July the REIWA reported one in four residential tenants were breaking leases – up from one in eight last year – which was putting pressure on the rental market.
Many put the increasing rate of break-leases down to loss of jobs in the resource industry. A recent report by Pit Crew Consulting found the resources workforce has contracted by about one-fifth since its peak at the beginning of this year.
But Jarrad Mahon, director of property management and investment firm Investors Edge, says one of the major influences of the softening rental market is lower interest rates which is allowing more renters to become homeowners.
“The breaking leases are mainly in the lower priced rentals under $500 per week. Where in many of those lower end suburbs it is now cheaper to buy than rent,” Mahon says.
In an attempt to keep potential buyers from breaking leases Mahon has been renegotiating leases.
“When negotiating the lease if the tenant is overly sensitive to price and the current rental market value is lower than what we are charging we have reduced the rent to keep the tenant. A $10 reduction over a year is far less costly than re-leasing the property,” he says.
“There is no positive I can see to tenants breaking lease.”
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Perth landlords lower rents to dissuade potential buyers

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The successful auction of 10 out of 12 rural properties compulsorily acquired for the abandoned Traveston Dam project could signal a revival of the property market in the Mary Valley, north of Brisbane.

The 12 properties were being sold by the Queensland Government which bought them along with 466 others in 2007 for the dam project which was eventually scuttled by Pater Garrett – the environmental minister at the time.

Of the 12 properties taken to auction, nine sold under the hammer and one sold in post-auction negotiations.

Prices for the predominantly grazing land ranged from $310,000 to $840,000.

The properties were sold by three different agencies – John Bambling from Bambling Rurual, Lex Townsend from Professionals Gympie and Matthew Condon from Landmark Harcourts Gympie.

Reports varied but there were anywhere from 200 to 400 people there on the day in what was a surprisingly strong turnout for the agents. 

“We think it was a terrific result in the context of our current market because it’s been so poor for the past couple of years. The prices on auction day were better than expected for the current market for rural properties,” Amanda Bambling told Property Observer.

Many of the properties sold to local buyers though some went to interstate investors. None of the properties sold to previous owners. Agents say it’s a sign of things to come in the area.

“It’s a good indication. There haven’t been many rural sales for quite a few years because of all the government owned up here. It’s a good here for the area and it’s good to see those places get back into production and be utilised,” Townsend said.

“The area we are selling is quite a sought after area, only minutes from Noosa and Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. I think it will pick up. 

“Once people see these sales they’ll be a little more confident to spend. There won’t necessarily be more dollars but there should be more sales. They have something to base it on.”

In 2012 the Newman government said the properties acquired by the Bligh government for $445 million were now worth just $220 million.

Saturday’s auction suggests prices haven’t dropped quite that far. Although previous sale prices were not released, agents said the properties sold for a lot more than half their previous prices.

The $1.7 billion dam which was initiated in 2006 after a prolonged drought. It would have held 153,000 square kilometres of water but was denied approval from the federal government following extensive environmental concerns.

Saturday’s sales:
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/09/03/sept3coles]}
 Bambling Rural - John Bambling

687 Coles Creek Road, Coles Creek 74.4 hectares - $535,000

2433 Bruce Highway, Coles Creek 37.61 hectares with dwelling - $425,000(pictured above)

568 Coles Creek Road, Cooran 41.65 hectares with dwelling - $625,000 (pictured below)

830 Coles Creek Road, Coles Creek 2 hectares with dwelling – passed in at $312,000
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/09/03/sept3coo]}
The Professionals Gympie - Lex Townsend

388 Kandanga Creek Road, Kandanga 8.09 hectares with dwelling - $320,000

Lot 2 Bergins Pocket Road, Kandanga 30.65 hectares - $454,000

172 Ironstone Creek Road, Tuchekoi 102.5 hectares - $595,000

245-437 Newspaper Hill Road, Belli Park 123.53 hectares with dwelling - $840,000

Landmark Harcourts Gympie - Matthew Condon

45 Frayne Road, Amamoor 7.85 hectares with dwelling – sold after auction for $310,000

Lot 11 Summerville Road, Kandanga 58.51 hectares with dwelling – $405,000 

80 Traveston Crossing Road, Kybong 38.06 hectares – passed in

199 Melawondi Road, Melawondi 38.06ha with dwelling – $506,000

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Traveston Dam auctions signal possible market revival

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Dwelling approvals decreased 1.2% in Victoria, the only state where approvals fell over July, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Dwelling approvals increased in July 12.6% in the Australian Capital Territory,4% in the Northern Territory, 3.1% in Western Australia, 1.6% in Tasmania, 1.5% in South Australia, 0.6% in New South Wales and 0.1% in Queensland.
Across the country there was a 0.9% increase in the total number of dwelling units approved.
The number of private sector house building approvals rose 1.1% in July.
Private sector house approvals fell for the second month in Victoria, down 1.0% in July.
JP Morgan economist Ben Jarman told AAP there was a rebound in approvals for both the detached houses and higher density homes categories.
"I don't think there is anyone who is doubting that building approvals are trending up, the question is how sustainable is it?", he said.
"We're reasonably upbeat about what building approvals can do this year. In fact, we think they will be adding more to growth than they have in the last few quarters.
"The question is will they offset what we're seeing elsewhere, which is a fair bit of weakness."
Michael Workman from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia points out that the actual number of residential building approvals jumped 10.8% in July - 28.3% higher than a year ago and well above market expecations of 4%.
The rise was mainly driven by multi-unit dwellings which rose 24.4% to be 62.5% higher over the past year.
Approvals for detached houses rose 3.9% - now 12% higher than last year.
"Note that the volatile multi?unit segment rose by 24%, with most of it in Victoria’s approvals. It means that Melbourne’s apartment market is most probably headed for, or already in, oversupply," Workman says.
"Melbourne’s inner?city apartment prices are rising more slowly than for detached dwellings. Victoria’s strong population growth, near 100k per annum, will help restore a more balanced outcome in the next few years. On a national level, the relatively firm population growth is producing underlying dwelling demand, on our estimates, of around 170 to 180k."
Peter Jones from Master Builders Australia Residential says while building approvals are back into positive territory they still have a way to go. 
“But they are still nowhere near where they need to be to meet the under supply of housing,” Jones says.
“With the Election less than a week away both major parties need to build on this positive trend with their policies.
“The 10.8% increase seasonally adjusted for July brings building approvals back on track after two consecutive falls
“It’s a positive sign that a sustained housing recovery may be taking hold
“Strengthening the building and construction sector with the right policy settings will help kickstart the economy, increase productivity, drive a stronger building industry and more jobs."
 
 
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Building approvals down 1.2% in Victoria: ABS

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Alistair Walsh

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