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Monthly home loan repayments will rise 40% if interest rates return to 2008 highs and banks might not be taking this into account when lending, according to Fitch Ratings.
Monthly repayments on a $300,000 loan would increase from $1820 to $2544, severely reducing borrowers’ ability to meet their mortgage obligations.
Average standard variable interest rates (SVR) provided by large banks are now at 6.1%, with borrowers usually able to get discounts of 0.5 to 1.0 percentage point, according to Fitch Ratings. But SVRs were at 9.6% as recently as September 2008.
The Reserve Bank of Australia recently cut the interest rate for the eighth time since October 2011 to a record low of 2.5%.
“Australia's current low interest rates, coupled with high house prices and high household leverage, could expose borrowers to future payment shocks when interest rates rise,” Fitch Ratings says.
It says banks should be using serviceability tests using SVRs closer to historical averages than they currently do.
Most banks generally use a buffer of 1.5 to 2.0 percentage points higher than the existing rate when calculating serviceability as well as a minimum lending rate, but Fitch Ratings says this might not be enough.
“A minimum lending rate can capture the risk that rates return to average historical levels that are higher than the stress rate with the addition of a buffer.”
“An interest rates rise, together with the projected rise in unemployment, could adversely impact borrowers and residential mortgage vintages originated in a low interest rate environment.”
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Interest rate increases an eventual risk for borrowers: Fitch warning

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Census data contains a wealth of information for property investors but it can be difficult to burrow down through the Australian Bureau of Statistics website to find useful information.
It can provide in-depth data on the demographic makeup of a suburb but it can also show trends over time which can help identify possible hotspots.
First off, investors have to know that geographical boundaries changed in the 2011 census data, so they need to be careful when comparing previous census results to 2011 census results to make sure they’re the same.
The easiest way to start navigating census data is to go to the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/quickstats?opendocument&amp;navpos=220">ABS QuickStats page</a>. Most of our following tips start from there.
Who lives there?
If you’re looking at investing in a particular suburb it’s important to know who lives there, and ABS data makes it really simple to find if you know where to look.
If we want to see who’s living in the Melbourne suburb of <a href="/news">Burnley</a> just type Burnley into the QuickStats search and make sure you select the state suburb entry. The view here shows the basic results from the 2011 census and gives a good snapshot of the demographic make-up if you look under the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/SSC20217?opendocument&amp;navpos=220">People section</a>.
The age section gives a good snapshot of whether you’re looking at a retiree village, a young family neighbourhood or a young professional zone. Compare the suburb ages to the state you’ll see if there’s more kids or more older people.
In Burnley you can see it’s heavily weighted towards young professionals with far fewer children and old people than the rest of Victoria and more than double the state average for 18 to 34 year olds.
If you look at the marriage tab you can see they’re mostly single and scrolling down to the education tab you can see they are far more likely to be university educated than the rest of the state which confirms their young professional status.
If you keep looking here you can check ancestry, income, occupation types and a host of other demographics.
All these help to decide whether you want to buy here and what sort of people you want to be targeting when buying property.
Identifying gentrification
Although census gives a great snapshot of income levels, it can also give a historical change so you can see if an area is undergoing an increase in earning power.
<a href="/news">Waterloo</a> was identified by Bernard Salt as being <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/rising-incomes-pointing-to-13-emerging-suburbs-for-investment-potential-bernard-salt/2013081464225">one of Australia’s top suburbs with increasing income</a>, and using ABS stats we can confirm that for ourselves.
Go to the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/communityprofile/SSC12434?opendocument&amp;navpos=230">Waterloo QuickStats page</a> and under the people tab we can see the various income measurements. In this case there is a median weekly household income of $905.
Compare that to the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSearch?&amp;areacode=SSC12015&amp;producttype=QuickStats&amp;action=401">2006 census results for Waterloo</a>, accessed by selecting 2006 in the dropdown menu next to the QuickStats search box. The format is slightly different but we can see median weekly household income in 2006 was $557 –a 60% increase. It’s not quite as sophisticated as a full scientific survey but it gives a good indication of whether a suburb is earning more.
How good is public transport?
Looking at tram maps, bus networks and train stations can be quite deceptive in working out how good public transport in an area actually is. One easy way is to see how many people in a suburb actually use public transport to get to work.
Looking at <a href="/news">Boronia</a> this time, you want to find the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2011~Community%20Profile~SSC20163/%24File/BCP_SSC20163.zip?OpenElement">basic community profile spreadsheet</a>. It’s under the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/communityprofile/SSC20163">community profile</a> button next to the search box. After extracting the zip file, open it up in excel and find the method of travel by sex section. Boronia looks to be reasonably well connected to public transport but you can see that around 70% of respondents drive to work with only around 5% taking the train.
How popular is renting
Looking at 2006 stats versus 2011 stats you can find which suburbs are more popular for renters. If we’re looking at <a href="/news">Leederville</a> in Perth you can see from the <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ProductSearch?&amp;areacode=SSC51821&amp;producttype=QuickStats&amp;action=401">2006 QuickStats page</a> 36.3% of residents were renting, if you look under Tenure Type. Compare that to <a href="https://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/SSC50434?opendocument&amp;navpos=220">the 2011 page</a> and you can see 43.1% of residents were renting, just look under the dwellings tab and then tenure. It’s not a quantum leap but it does help identify suburbs becomingly increasingly popular with renters.
There are a great deal more ways to harness ABS data to find investment hotspots, these are just some. The next step involves using the table builder function to compare hundreds of suburbs at once but it is a bit trickier.
The tips here can give a good insight into a suburb you may not know much about.
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The Property Observer guide to ABS census data research for smart property investors

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ANZ Banking Group has posted a cash profit of $4.8 billion for the first nine months of the financial year, up 11%, but it says revenue growth was slower than last year.
Revenue rose 5% in the nine months to June 30 while expenses fell 0.5% and provisions for bad debts fell 2%. This helped mitigate a squeeze on lending profit margins caused by low interest rates.
It reported unaudited statutory profit increased 7% to $4.7 billion, from the same period last year.
The growth was largely put down to its expansion in Asia and tightening of costs.
"During the year we have continued to make steady progress with out super regional strategy," chief executive Mike Smith said in a statement.
“We have produced consistent revenue growth with diversification benefits from our exposure to growth markets in Australia and in Asia.
At the same time, we are continuing to actively manage efficiency in every area of the business with a focus on improving productivity and capital utilisation.
He says consumer confidence should increase in the coming months while he played down concerns about China's growth.
"Although the economic outlook in Australia has softened somewhat, there is cause for greater optimism in the medium term as the effect of lower interest rates, a more competitive currency and the removal of some pre-election uncertainty underpin consumer confidence and economic activity."
"In Asia, we believe concerns about growth in China have been overdone. Although there is a rebalancing taking palce in China and there may be volatility associated with this, we need to remember that the world's second largest economy is still growing at around 7 to 7.5%."
In Australia ANZ said there is good momentum in commercial lending and deposits as well as in retail mortgage and deposits while household lending has grown above system for 14 consecutive quarters.
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ANZ posts $4.8 billion profit

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Property lecturer Peter Koulizos forecasts that all capital cities, with the possible exception of Hobart, should have new record high property prices sometime during 2014.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows property prices are on the rise from their global financial crisis lows but Koulizos says we still have some time to go.
 “Even though all capital city prices are on the way up, not all property prices are above their previous high. Sydney, Perth and Darwin have record high property prices but all the other capital cities still have a little way to go before they pass their previous peak,” he blogged on API Magazine.
“I forecast that all capital cities, with the possible exception of Hobart, should have new record high property prices sometime during 2014.
“Yes, the worst is over but in my opinion we still have a little way to go before we can all breathe a sigh of relief.”
But he says historically low interest rates will ensure property prices should bounce back quickly.
According to the ABS the different capital cities experienced their global financial crisis lows at different times.
Darwin was the first hit in June 2011 quarter, followed by Canberra and Perth in September 2011 quarter. Next was Sydney in the December 2011 quarter. Brisbane was next hit in the June 2012 quarter, followed by Melbourne and Adelaide in the September 2012 quarter and finally Hobart in the December 2012 quarter.
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Property prices to return to pre-GFC highs in 2014, except Hobart: Peter Koulizos

A $1500 a night holiday home on Hamilton Island has been listed for sale at more than $4.5 million.

The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/countdown-to-summer-round-house-on-hamilton-island/2012121158401" target="_blank">Round House</a>, designed by architect Peter Conley and built in the late 1980s is a four bedroom home, all with en-suites, a media room, a curved staircase and a salt water solar heated infinity pool that wraps itself around the exterior.

At <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-hamilton+island-114332235" target="_blank">31 Melaleuca Drive</a> the 4112 square metre luxury getaway can sleep 14 people.

It includes a one-bedroom cottage with a private driveway at the bottom of the property.

The property has been recently renovated at a cost of $1 million and is now wheelchair friendly with access ramps and an elevator.

It perches on the eastern side of One Tree Hill and has 180 degree ocean views over Catseye Beach and the Hamilton Island Resort.

The design of the house offers 12 hours of tropical sunshine all around the house.

It is being sold by Wayne Singleton of Hamilton Island Real Estate.

The vendor of the house is reportedly the O&rsquo;Brien family, based in Melbourne.

Sales on the island have reportedly been slow with more than 100 homes on the market.

Agent Mark Beale of Ray White Whitsunday told The Australian Financial Review there are three to four sales in a month on the island meaning the market is well oversupplied.

Prices have been reduced on the island but the rents are still strong.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve sold houses for $700,000 that generate $40,000 a year in rental income, they pay for themselves,&rdquo; Beale said.

&ldquo;Occupancy rates have been anywhere from 50% to 100% better on the island than on the mainland.&rdquo;

Ownership of land in the area operates under a 99-year leasehold system.&nbsp;

Winemaker Robert Oatley paid $200 million for the island in 2003.&nbsp;

Hamilton Island Round House listed at $4.5 million

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Many young potential property buyers are willing to forego a first-home owners grant in favour of buying an investment property as opposed to a home, according to a Mortgage Choice survey.
More than 40% of generation Y respondents to the first time property investors survey said that their planned investment property will be their first ever property purchase.
Most generation Y respondents, born between 1980 and 1994, were motivated to purchase their first investment property by the need to set themselves up financially for the future.
"Gen Ys appear to be financially switched-on and are focusing on property investment,” says Mortgage Choice’s Belinda Williamson.
Almost half of respondents said there is a perception that there is more benefit in investments such as property over the share market.
"This younger generation of investors is looking for financial freedom and they see more profit in bricks and mortar investments," Williamson says.
They are willing to make a number of sacrifices in order to realise their purchase though, with 18% of respondents willing to take on another job to make the purchase, while 41% said they would miss out on a holiday.
"Finding the right property is half the challenge for most investors; the other half is saving the deposit and settling on an investment strategy that will help them to achieve their goals," Williamson says.
"Our survey shows 75% of Gen Y first time investors were choosing to make lifestyle sacrifices to help them achieve their property goals. The top five lifestyle sacrifices included cutting back on general day to day spending, eating out less and limiting take-away food, missing out on a holiday, delaying a vehicle purchase and last but not least, cutting back on alcohol related expenses."
Photo courtesy of <a id="yui_3_7_3_3_1376553138701_895" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pistruiatu/">pistruiatu</a>/ flickr.
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Gen Y willing to skip first-home owners grant to buy an investment property

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Two retail units in Victoria’s Falls Creek ski village have been offered for sale with marketing towards owner occupiers or investors.
The first is a 952 square metre shop leased to Falls Creek Ski Lifts on a nine year lease worth $450,000 a year plus GST.
<img alt="falls_creek_aug_28_one" height="353" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/falls_creek_aug_28_one.jpg">
It houses a ski hire shop, a board lounge and the Apres Vous ski apparel shop.
The second is two ground floor lots totalling 105 square metres being sold in one line.
The units are part of the St Falls Quay West Development in the Falls Creek village.
They are being sold by Christa Zirknitzer of RT Edgar Alpine in conjunction with Ray White Commercial.
“The two units are ideally situated in the ski in, ski out public traffic zone of the retail ski village, offering exposure and positioning for retail activities,” Zirknitzer says.
Zirknitzer did not disclose any price guide for the <a href="https://www.fallscreekretail.com.au/">properties</a> which are being sold by tender ending September 2.
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Two retail offerings in the Falls Creek ski village 

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Property developer Ron Walker says many parts of Melbourne’s unit market are oversupplied with too many small apartments coming to market too quickly.
But he says high quality apartments in the right areas will sell well and his company Evolve Development continues to release units.
“There are certain areas in the city we wouldn’t touch with a 40-foot pole,” Walker told BRW.
“There’s a lot of stock that has come to market very quickly, and they are small apartments where people are living within metres of each other.”
Walker, along with co-directors Ashley Williams and Kris Daff just opened the Melbourne apartment project The Guilfoyle at the former Channel 7 near the Botanic Gardens, which sold off the plan in 2010, despite four owners defaulting.
“If you build quality product, they always sell,” he says.
Evolve has 1000 apartments in the planning stage and about 7000 residential lots in masterplanned communities to be released over the next decade.
It also has the 227-unit Monarch development to be completed in October.
“Our experience to date has been apartments have all rented out very quickly and the rental levels are holding up well,” his business partner Ashley Williams told BRW.
“I think there might be a bit of oversupply coming through in the next 12 to 24 months, but I think that will be quickly digested as people choose to move into these high-amenity areas.”
He says historically low interest rates have increased market confidence but sales in large apartment buildings remain slow despite some improvement in land subdivision sales.
“I think if you look at the established house market there has certainly been a big pick-up in competition,” Williams says.
“There seems to be a lot more competitive auctions happening on the weekend. I think medium term we will get back to steady growth after a couple of sideways years. It will happen first in the inner suburbs and ripple out to medium and outer suburbs.
“Most of the economic signs in Victoria are still pretty strong.”
 
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Too many too small: property developer Ron Walker warns of Melbourne apartment woes

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SQM Research director Louis Christopher says despite recent price increases there is no price bubble to worry about.
“No sooner has a housing recovery been confirmed, than the loud voices go straight to assuming we have a looming property bubble on our hands,” Christopher noted.
“The voices seem to range from those who have no experience or qualifications to speak on this sector through to those who should know a lot better.
He says most capital cities are just experiencing a modest recovery rather than displaying any kind of boom conditions.
“It is just Sydney, Perth and Darwin that have been recording more rapid price rises.”
“If we were to see national housing prices sustaining annualised increases of 7% plus for a considerable period then that is something to watch for. However, it just simply isn’t happening yet.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that interest rates are helping the recovery along and there is also no doubt in my mind that the RBA will look at the national result rather than just what is happening in the Sydney housing market.”
SQM has recently launched a vendor sentiment index which shows vendor asking prices on capital city houses are up 3.7% for the year to $667,100. They are up 0.7% for the month but down 1.7% for the week.
Sydney had the most pronounced weekly change in vendor asking prices, up 4.2% to $898,400 and 7.8% for the year.
Melbourne vendor asking prices for houses are up virtually unchanged for the year, but up 1.4% in the past week.
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Slight uptick but no looming price bubble: SQM's Louis Christopher

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Wall Street Journal senior economics reporter James Glynn says the mining boom in WA might not be totally over.
The iron ore price has hit US$142.80 – the highest point in five months, running counter to predictions by many that the price could drop below $100 this year.
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JamesGlynnWSJ"><img alt="tweet-of-the-day-aug-15" height="135" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/08/tweet-of-the-day-aug-15.jpg"></a>
Credit Suisse analyst Paul McTaggart told The Australian Financial Review he expects the price will come back down but not as much as previously thought.
“I don’t think iron ore will stay at US$130 a tonne. We are heading into a seasonal period of weakness when China construction demand weakens so I think iron ore prices will moderate. However, prices might come down to what will remain a relatively robust level – and come March of next year, when China is back online, iron ore could rally from a higher level,” he told the paper yesterday.
Perth was identified as having <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/rising-incomes-pointing-to-13-emerging-suburbs-for-investment-potential-bernard-salt/2013081464225">the three top suburbs with the greatest increase in earning capacity.</a>
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Iron ore is up so don't rule Perth out

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Alistair Walsh

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