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GUEST OBSERVATION
Why is it that so many people want to invest in real estate, yet never end up doing so?
Here’s a list of some of the reasons or excuses why people don’t invest:
<ul>
<li>Lack of knowledge and therefore confidence in their decisions. </li>
<li>Property management fears - “I don’t want to worry about repairs and maintenance; I’m not getting called at three in the morning to fix a toilet”. </li>
<li>Timing the market - “I’m waiting for the market to soften before I purchase”. That may be the intention, but what if the market rises instead? </li>
<li>Lack of time. People simply don’t have the time to learn the fundamental principles of safe investing, but more relevant is the fact that they don’t have the time to identify smart investments, even if they do understand the basic principles. </li>
<li>Finance. People are not sure how to correctly structure their finance or go about obtaining the right finance. They also seem to feel embarrassed if they are denied a loan the first time they make an application. Never let this stop you, there’s more than one bank out there.</li>
</ul>
One of the other main reasons I believe some people don’t start to invest is because of all the negative talk out there from people who are too scared to invest themselves. These negative people deploy what I call ‘the nasties’. The nasties are little comments that deflate you. These comments are like cancer; if not cut out they can very easily overtake and kill your desire to break free. If you let any of these people or their reasons stop you investing, one thing is certain, you will retire poor. I’m not saying unhappy, but definitely poor.
There is huge benefit to being able to discuss financial strategy with like-minded people, particularly if they are family. Now most people would say that they love their family dearly, but most families do not have a history of investing. Therefore, even though people may respect their family, if family members haven’t proven themselves as investors, they should not be considered as advisors.
Let’s look at this a different way. If you wanted to bake the perfect chocolate cake, think for a minute on what you’d need to accomplish this. You’d have to mix the right amount of flour with the right amount of water, you’d add an egg, maybe some cocoa, etc. Would you take advice from someone that has never baked a cake before? No, you’d go and find a funny hat-wearing expert cake-making chef and you’d decide upon a recipe that has been tried and tested. The same applies to investing; learn from those who have a proven method that works.
Be very careful taking ‘advice’ or ‘tips’ from anyone that has not built a portfolio of property. Basically, don’t listen to them.
Most times when you hear negative talk, people are simply trying to justify why they’re not investing for themselves.
Remember, with these types of people, don’t waste your time trying to change their views, instead just nod and smile.
Stay on track. Stick to your plan.
Cam McLellan is a property investor, businessman and the founder and CEO of <a href="https://openwealthcreation.com.au/" target="_blank">Open Wealth Creation</a>. 
Open Wealth Creation advise, coach and guide people through the property investment process including arranging finance and choosing property to finding tenants and portfolio management.
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cmclellan-94LEvYTinN

Haters gonna hate - don't let negative comments stop you investing: Cam McLellan

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GUEST OBSERVATION
When it comes to investment strategies, there are those who use a cash ﬂow strategy and those who understand that real wealth is only achieved by using a capital growth property strategy.
The aim of a cash flow strategy is to supplement your income and retire at the end point. But that doesn’t mean you will retire earlier that you would using a growth strategy. That will depend on your initial available capital and the timing of the next market growth cycle.
A cash flow strategy is very simple. Identify properties with a rental yield higher than the total amount of your expenses, interest repayments and holding costs. Once your desired level of passive cash flow has been reached, you have a choice about whether or not you want to remain in the workforce.
There are a number of problems with a cash flow strategy. The first is the amount of capital required in today’s Australian markets to establish a sufficient cash flow positive portfolio. This aside the main issue when considering a strategy to build wealth is that real wealth comes from doubling your asset holdings every seven to 10 years. You will never achieve real wealth by trying to supplement your income. I’m sure you’ve realised by now that I’m a capital growth property strategist.
The properties required to build a cash flow portfolio are usually located regionally or on the outskirts of major cities. With regional properties you’re lucky if they double in value every 15 years, so we don’t consider them as part of a capital growth strategy.
Here’s an example of how a growth strategy outperforms a cash flow strategy.
If you were to invest $400,000 into a cash flow property portfolio and assume that it would double every 15 years, then your initial investment will double twice in value over 30 years. Its value at this time would be $1,600,000. This may seem like a large amount in today’s money, but in 30 years it won’t buy you much.
If you made the same $400,000 investment in a growth property portfolio and assume your investment will double every seven to 10 years, then you can assume your initial investment will double three to four times in 30 years, which means if doubled every 10 years it will be worth $3,200,000. If it doubles every seven years, the end value will be about $6,400,000.
Be very clear on your desired end position when comparing and considering these two strategies. You can’t save your way to wealth with rental income or earned income.
I also want to make it clear that you should never combine these two strategies when building your portfolio. Decide on your preferred strategy and stick with it. If you’ve already started on a cash flow strategy path and you want to switch to a growth plan, I recommend you sell up and realign your portfolio to your plan.
Tips
<ul>
<li>You can’t achieve real wealth by trying to supplement your income.</li>
<li>Regional properties generally double every 15 years and are not suitable for a capital growth strategy.</li>
<li>Growth properties historically double every seven to 10 years.</li>
<li>Never combine these two strategies when building your portfolio.</li>
</ul>
Cam McLellan is a property investor, businessman and the founder and CEO of <a href="https://openwealthcreation.com.au/" target="_blank">Open Wealth Creation</a>. 
Open Wealth Creation advise, coach and guide people through the property investment process including arranging finance and choosing property to finding tenants and portfolio management.
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What's the right investment strategy for you? Cam McLellan

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GUEST OBSERVATION
I’ve now seen many property cycles come and go and my business partners have seen many more again. There is one common thing that emerges every time a market heats and this time seems to be no different.
Sharks.
If you choose wisely, you can expect your property value to increase at around 8% a year, so property investment is a pretty safe bet.
Smart investors get rich slowly.
Yet during a rising bull market you’ll find seminar rooms full of people lapping up the advice of so-called experts. But once the party’s over and the market cools, these guys do a Houdini faster than you can say economic downturn.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe in investing in education. So long as a weekend course is not the extent of your learning. After all, you wouldn’t expect to become a pro-golfer after just one weekend out on the course, would you? If you really want to educate yourself, don’t just go to one investment seminar. Go to them all!
Back when a slick operator by the name of Henry Kaye was doing the rounds I considered myself a pretty savvy investor. At the time I played in a band and one night our drummer told me he’d just paid $8k and was in the process of handing over another $15k (huge money back then) for a property course. He’d just signed on to buy three apartments off the plan with the aim of selling before settlement. He told me he was going to be a multi-millionaire.
I was intrigued and went along to one of Henry’s seminars to see if I was missing something. I was shocked by what I heard. The advice he gave was based on the theory that prices would continue to escalate, as if the bull market would never end!
Around 3,500 Australians had their lives devastated, losing collectively around $50 million dollars as a result. They were convinced that they could become rich by buying multiple apartments for the small outlay of $400, the cost of a deposit bond. The aim being to flip them for a higher price before settlement.
They weren’t the first to be conned and they certainly won’t be the last.
There are plenty of Henrys out there who will take advantage of the uninitiated. Often they’re getting paid massive commissions to promote poor investment options, or they own the development and simply want to move stock. These people are sharks who don’t care about ruining lives. Always do your homework and question the advice you get from experts and advisors.
Other types of sharks to watch for.
Beware; investing is like jumping in the ocean. It’s great fun and sometimes feels very powerful. But look out, someone always wants to take a piece out of you and if you let them, they’ll eat you whole. The bigger you get or the more you show off, the more sharks you attract.
Sharks come in all shapes and sizes. Usually they are fast talking, pin-striped, single breasted and wear a tie. But here are a few things to keep in mind.
First rule of engagement: ask everyone you meet what they charge up front and get in writing what they promise to deliver. Asking the cost up front and politely demanding things in writing before doing business is not rude. In business, it’s the rule. Remember as I always say, property investing is a business. If someone doesn’t give you a straight answer or won’t put something down in writing, you’ve started to smell that fishy shark smell. If someone lies on the little things, they will definitely lie to you on the big things that matter.
If you hear a lie, you’ve smelled a shark. Swim away fast.
Most people who think of sharks in the property world think of agents. Agents aren’t sharks, not scary sharks anyway. You know exactly what an agent wants to do. They don’t hide from the fact that they want to sell you a house. You know they will try to work every angle they can. They will take any information you give them and use this as leverage to sell you a property. That’s cool, we’re in the property buying game. We can live with that, but it is important during your investment journey, to understand how agents are paid and some of the basics about the way they operate.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
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<h3>Sharks to look out for:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Skimmer sharks A type of shark that doesn’t go for the big bite, they live off lots of little bites. These are the sharks to keep an eye out for. Skimmer sharks are people who charge more than market rates for their services or deliver a service below what is agreed. Skimmer sharks can live off a client for a long time taking lots of little bites while smiling their sharky smile the whole time. This is why it’s important to have clear agreements in writing when dealing with people, and then hold them to their agreement. This way, skimmer sharks are exposed quickly before they start to nibble. If you have a basic agreement in writing with the people that you deal with, if they then try to take a little bite from you, you’re able to politely smack them over the nose with your written agreement; this keeps every one honest. Don’t allow people to feed off you just because you may like their personality. </li>
<li>Great Whites  The most feared and dangerous shark of all. The Great White is an all-powerful shark; they come from nowhere and dazzle you with their fast talk and enormous presence. These are the sharks that aim to eat people whole. In a slow market they look for get-rich-quick schemes to ‘educate you’ on things like how to buy an old granny’s backyard and retire from your big score. Watch out for the feeding frenzy in a bull market. They smell blood and come out thick and fast when the market hype starts in the papers. You’ll see amazing deals like apartments off the plan with projected end values based on fast moving markets. This has emptied lots of people’s pockets and left them holding seriously undervalued investments.</li>
</ul>
I’m not opposed to you paying for education, there’s more to learn out there than just what I tell you. If you do pay for education, be very sure of the skills that you will obtain and how you can practically utilise these skills. Ensure that you are getting value for your money.
Smart investors know that a true wealth strategy is not built around market hype or get-rich-quick schemes.
People who try to get rich quick aren’t investors, they’re speculators and speculators lose money more often than they make it because they don’t have a systematic low-risk investment strategy.
Remember people and process. In life you are the only person that will make things happen. Invest your time into education and learn the process of a safe investment strategy. It’s then up to you to make things work.
Be wary of sharks. I guarantee you will definitely meet plenty along your journey.
Cam McLellan is a successful property investor, businessman and the founder and CEO of <a href="https://openwealthcreation.com.au/" target="_blank">Open Wealth Creation</a>. 
Open Wealth Creation advise, coach and guide people through the property investment process including arranging finance and choosing property to finding tenants and portfolio management.
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How to spot a property spruiker shark

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GUEST OBSERVATION
You should always begin with the end in mind, in other words your desired outcome.
Once your journey begins, it’s easy to get distracted and stray from your path of systematic investment. Talk to your accountant about your initial setup and holding structure, as this will have an impact on the timing of your exit strategy.
Here are the four main exit strategies property investors:
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-one.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Sell to pay off your debt
There are some pros and cons to this strategy. Many people feel the need to be debt free and their only financial goal is to pay off the family home.
From time to time you will hear people toss around the saying ‘work smarter, not harder’. But the majority of people don’t do this. Instead, they work hard to pay off the family home with income they earn from a job. And that is a big waste of time.
I realise most people have been conditioned to think this way by their parents and society as a whole. But that doesn’t make it a viable strategy. I’ll give you an example that shows why paying off the family home over 25 or 30 years with earned income is a bad strategy.
Let’s say you only ever buy three properties in your life.
Two well-chosen investment properties bought at $500,000 each and the family home also bought for $500,000.
<ul>
<li>Investment property value - $1,000,000</li>
<li>Family home value - $500,000</li>
<li>Total property value $1,500,000</li>
</ul>
For simplicity’s sake we’ll assume the total loan amount is also $1,500,000.
Remember tax breaks and rental income will help you fund most of the loan repayments.
As we know, well-chosen property will double in value about every seven to 10 years. That being the case, all you need to do to become debt free is to hold the investment properties through one full growth cycle and then sell them.
This means your two investment properties will increase in value from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. If you were to sell the two investment properties at this point for $2,000,000 you would incur capital gains tax of 25% on the profit from the sales (25% rather than 50% as these properties will have been held for a period longer than 12 months). The remaining amount available to reduce debt after tax will be $1,750,000.
You can now pay back the $1,500,000 debt on the investment properties and your own home, leaving you with $250,000 to play with. I’m sure you’ll think of something to do with the extra money.
This is a simple example of what you can do, though it’s not the strategy I recommend.
Remember, if the rent is covering the repayments on your portfolio, then what you have is good debt. It’s worth examining whether your desire to reduce debt is due to societies deep-seated belief that all debt is bad.
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-two.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;"> Move one of your loans to principal and interest
Or keep it as interest only but start paying off the principal from your excess cash flow.
Once you pay the debt on this property, focus your increased cash flow on your remaining total debt.
Your interest repayments have been reduced because you’ve already paid off one house. This means you can pay off your next house in an even shorter timeframe.
This is called the domino effect.
As each loan or house is paid off, cash flow improves and subsequent loans are paid off at a faster rate until you are debt free. This is a reasonable strategy to use while you are still working and it means you can have a stress-free retirement with a solid income. To truly become debt free or to fast track your wealth building, you may need to use the selling exit strategy in conjunction with the domino effect.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
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Neither of the above two strategies are my preferred options however. My choice is to:
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-three.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">Make interest-only payments and live off the equity gains and increases in rental yield
This is relatively simple process. Once I’d achieved an increase in my portfolios value, I had my portfolio revalued. I then created a line of credit with the banks. This now allows me to use these funds to live off. This is an ideal situation, as long as your portfolio grows in value faster than your living expenses.
Most people want to know how they can eventually own their properties outright. But ask yourself this. If your portfolio is supporting your loan repayments and providing you with an adequate income, why do you need to pay them all off?
You could simply have your portfolio at a positive or neutral cash flow position and leave it to increase in value. Meanwhile you live off the equity gains. If the value of your portfolio increases on average at a faster rate than your yearly expenses, this may be a satisfactory strategy for you.
<img src="/images/2014/07/04/yellow-four.jpg" alt="" style="float: left;">Hand it over to your kids...
If they are smart enough to handle it. You can use this strategy in conjunction with the others I’ve mentioned. Simply transfer control of a portfolio that’s held in trust by appointing a new company director. The actual asset never changes hands so no tax is incurred. You are simply signing across control of the asset’s holding entity.
As with any exit strategy, the right ownership structure is very important.
Remember, your portfolio will be equity rich and positive in cash flow by the time you make an exit. An exit strategy is all about minimising tax and maximising returns.
Tips
<ul>
<li>Always begin with the end in mind.</li>
<li>Sell to pay off your debt.</li>
<li>The domino effect.</li>
<li>Live off the equity gains and rental yield.</li>
<li>Give your portfolio away.</li>
</ul>
About the author:
Cam McLellan is a successful property investor, author, blogger and the CEO of <a href="https://openwealthcreation.com.au/" target="_blank">Open Wealth Creation</a>.
Cam and his team at Open Wealth Creation provide end to end property investment services from education and inspiration, investment property selection, finance and loan structuring, risk assessment, settlement and portfolio management.
In addition to amassing a commercial and residential property portfolio, Cameron has built a group of companies listed five times in the BRW fast growth lists.
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The four top exit strategies for property investors

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Al, my business partner, and I were recently out at one of the secondary schools talking to the students about the basics of investing and property as an investment option.
But I decided to start my property section a little different from usual and I think it really woke them up.
I wanted to provide them insight to the property world that most Australians never get.
Here’s how it went…
I started explaining to them that I had a friend named Leigh, who when growing up was mesmerised by Hollywood. He loved film making and a bit over 10 years ago wrote a movie script for a little film called Saw. When Leigh and his mate James landed in Los Angeles the first time they were swept off their feet by Hollywood executives and were promised the world. They rejected all offers to purchase their script and decided to hold onto the movie rights. They made Saw and have now gone on to make other films like Insidious, The Conjuring, and James currently directing the latest Fast and Furious film. So yes these boys made it big time.
Hollywood is called 'tinsel town' for a reason. There are lots of bright lights but these lights are only there to cover up the rotting core. Talking to Leigh over the years he explained to me that Hollywood is very similar to the way I describe one part of the property industry. The part I relate to Hollywood is what I call the property advisory or seminar circuit.
The thought of making it big time seems fantastic, but something in your gut just doesn’t feel right. This is how Leigh felt about Hollywood and this is how I felt about the property industry.
Wherever there is large amounts of money there will be sharks. So I told the kids I was going to do an exercise and if they participated they would see the advisory or seminar circuit for what it really was. They would hopefully then be able to remain safe as they ventured into the property investment world.
So Al and I split the room up in two. We put on some pumping music and started throwing $20 notes into the crowd. We worked the kids up to a frenzy getting them to yell ridiculous things back and forth at each other. They had an absolute ball and pocketed some quick cash in the process. Al and I joined in the yelling and ran around high fiving all the kids.
I then turned the music off and asked them to sit down. I asked them if any of them had been to a property seminar.
None raised their hands.
I told them that they all had now just been to a property seminar and went on to discuss that the majority of property seminars are design to follow on with charging you for overpriced education or over-inflated property purchases.
Here are some of the points we then discussed.
The dictionary defines a scammer as the following: "Swindler / Scammer: a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud."
When it comes to buying property we are talking about large sums of money. We are not buying lollipops. Sadly this brings in the sharks.
Signs that the sharks are circling.
<ul>
<li>Pumping music aimed at getting you hyped up. Smart investors do not buy on emotion.</li>
<li>Visuals of money or luxury items.</li>
<li>The presenter positions themselves as a saint. They tell you about the charity that they support. Philanthropists do not promote the fact that they give their money away. If someone promotes the fact that they are a philanthropist this is a big tell-tale sign that they want to take more than they give.</li>
<li>Questions asked multiple times like ‘Are you ready to change? Are you ready to take action? Are you ready to make the sacrifice?’ If you hear this you’re about to be the sacrifice.</li>
<li>Act now, price reduction offers during or at the end of seminars.</li>
<li>No discussion on the risks of investing. This should be the centre of an education session. I always find it amusing that risk is either skimmed over or never discussed.</li>
<li>The promise of getting rich quick. Remember smart investors get rich slow.</li>
<li>Promises of above average returns.</li>
</ul>
I told the kids that they should always question and advisors motivation. To understand why someone is promoting a certain product or service, you need to firstly understand how they are paid. 
These were pretty smart kids so hopefully this lesson will keep them safe in the years to come. 
Cam McLellan is a successful property investor, businessman and the founder and CEO of <a href="https://openwealthcreation.com.au/" target="_blank">Open Wealth Creation</a>. 
Open Wealth Creation advise, coach and guide people through the property investment process including arranging finance and choosing property to finding tenants and portfolio management.
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How to stay safe from the property sharks

<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.

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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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Cam McLellan

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