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There has never been a shortage of people calling property unaffordable and it has become common practice to discuss the idea of parents becoming guarantors for their children to assist, particularly where deposits are not sufficient.
Becoming a guarantor leaves the parents with a loan over their home, restricting their potential future borrowing capacity and leaving them at the mercy of their children’s astute repayments.
However, Smartline Personal Mortgage Advisers’ executive director Joe Sirianni is pointing to a potential new solution. Under this loan structure, which differs from a straightforward cash loan or gift to your child, the bank lends up to 90% of the property value, with a separate loan from the parents of 10% to 20% of the home.
It must be a freestanding property that the first home buyer is purchasing, explains Sirianni.
“Many parents are keen to give their children assistance to give them that first leg up on the property ladder, which is admirable, but it is a big commitment,” he said.
“Providing a guarantee can, in the worst case scenario, leave the parents open to losing their home if the child can’t or won’t meet their debt obligations to the bank. Even without the worst happening, being a guarantor can still impact on the parents’ ability to borrow or sell the property.”
He also warned that cash loans and gifts are often not recognised by lenders as a genuine deposit or could be lost if a child and their partner split up.
“The only thing riskier than lending to family is lending to complete strangers, which is what banks do thousands of times a day,” he said.
Sirianni explains this structure effectively gives the child two loans. While the smaller loan is to the parents, the bank still manages the repayments, security and paperwork for the parent’s loan for a deposit. The interest rate charged on the portion of the loan that is from the parents is 50% that of the main loan.
Those giving their children the loan can see the full amount paid out through repayments or as a result of sale or refinancing.
“While some parents may have been very reluctant to provide financial assistance in the past, they should feel far more comfortable knowing they have security over the children's property,” said Sirianni.
“It will no doubt make it easier for children to ask for help, and for parents to be able to say yes, knowing they are protected.”
One such product, from Bluebay Home Loans, is called a Parent Assist Loan. It markets itself as an Australian first.
Interestingly, parents who involve themselves in these loans are also eligible to receive a share of the investment growth on the property.
{mijopolls 64}
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Would you give a loan to your children? 

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Apartments aren’t always a cheap alternative to a home, and in recent years beautiful prestige developments have been built across Australia – many even spanning the size of a standard detached house.
Looking to CoreLogic RP Data’s statistics, 12 Melbourne suburbs emerged with median apartment prices above $700,000.
Here are the 12 that made the list (with sufficient volume to be meaningful).
<ol>
<li>
<a href="/news">Albert Park</a> $863,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Balwyn North</a> $829,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Brighton</a> $817,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Brighton East</a> $804,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Mont Albert North</a> $775,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Toorak</a> $768,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Canterbury</a> $750,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Kew East</a> $749,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Ashburton</a> $731,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Beaumaris</a> $720,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Port Melbourne</a> $715,000 
</li>
<li>
<a href="/news">Caulfield South</a> $708,000</li>
</ol>
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The 12 priciest suburbs to buy an apartment in Victoria

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The ‘cooling off period’ is a right that the buyer has when they sign the contract for sale of a residential property. It provides them a number of days to back out of the contract.
If you don’t know what a cooling off period is, you can <a href="/expert-insights/buying/what-is-the-cooling-off-period-investment-terms-explained">read more about it in our quick explainer here</a>.
The terms of the contract vary from state to state, though there are many similarities.
Consumer Affairs Victoria details six occasions where a buyer, usually, cannot cool off. They also note that a clause in a contract cannot be used to remove the right to cool off where it is allowed.
<ol>
<li>On commercial or industrial properties. 
</li>
<li>On rural properties larger than 20 hectares. 
</li>
<li>On a property sold at public auction, or within three clear business days before or after an auction. 
</li>
<li>If they are an estate agent or an agent's representative. 
</li>
<li>If they are a company. 
</li>
<li>If they have previously entered into a contract of sale with the seller for the same property with substantially the same terms.</li>
</ol>
Ensure you obtain legal advice around the nature of your cooling off period.
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Six times the “cooling off period” does not apply: Consumer Affairs Victoria

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When purchasing an investment property, or even a home, it’s unlikely for many to consider what they’re going to do on the selling end. However, considering your future re-sale prospects and what you may need to do if your property plans go toe up is a worthwhile exercise.
It is this type of future planning that is what is known as your ‘exit strategy’. By thinking about what you will do if you lose your job, or the property doesn’t perform, you are not only preparing yourself for the worst case scenario but also providing yourself some significant forethought that may see you re-think your property purchase.
This term is often used to explain your “end game” – that is, where you hope to end up with property. For some, this may be selling down a whole portfolio and living off of the capital gains in retirement. However, an ‘exit strategy’ is more your emergency plan for when things are not going according to how you’d imagined.
Even if your mantra is “never sell” or you are purchasing the property to hand down to your children, an exit strategy is prudent.
Types of ‘exit strategy’
Selling up is likely the most common, although not the only, exit strategy available. There are some other far less likely outcomes that may be worth a consideration. For instance, for those who are renting and looking to buy an investment property nearby, moving into the property could be considered a form of exit strategy. You may also want to develop the block if this is a possibility.
There is also the possibility, particularly if you have a portfolio of properties, that you can restructure your loans, or that you can organise to sell specific properties but not others. It’s worth discussing the CGT implications with your accountant and to get your broker on board early on to discuss your loans. For example, you may be able to pay interest only for a period if you are finding it unaffordable.
For the purposes of this article, we will assume that your exit strategy is to sell.
You must consider the following:
<ul>
<li>How much of a loss can I stomach on this property? </li>
<li>In what situation would I sell up? (Falling market, loss of job, long-term vacancy, other opportunity becomes available) Knowing the signals can help you sell before it’s too late, and you can ensure that you have adequate protection that may stop you, or your family, needing to sell up. This could be life insurance, landlord’s insurance or even income protection.) </li>
<li>What are the costs associated with selling? </li>
<li>When am I likely to need to sell? </li>
<li>Are there many prospective buyers (and will there be in the future)? </li>
<li>How long is it likely to take to sell the home (days on market, current trends)?</li>
</ul>
While you don’t want to employ your exit strategy until you very much have to, remember, this is your last-resort option, if you haven’t adequately planned upfront or the unexpected occurs, then you may need to sell fast.
To protect yourself from rushing through a sale process, ensure you have built in the correct insurances and buffers to have a financial barrier that allows you to hold the property for a full selling campaign that is typical of the area. You will want to speak to an accountant, and potentially a financial planner, to help prepare yourself in case of a downturn. Some areas will take longer to sell than others, and if you’re falling in a downward spiralling market then you need to be prepared. 
Some investors even go so far as to consider “market indicators” that will dictate when it’s time to bring in the exit strategy. Perhaps it’s when the market gets too hot, or when a notable decrease in rent is noted. Each investor will differ in when they think the indicators suggest it’s time to sell, and some are happy to weather out a downturn in the cycle, confident that the future will bring an upturn. It’s up to you to determine your own comfort level.
The aim is to never be forced to put the exit strategy into place – hopefully by purchasing well and planning in advance – but if you forget this crucial stage then you may find yourself in a less than comfortable position.
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What is an ‘exit strategy’? Investment terms explained

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In the lead up to Asbestos Awareness Day on 28 November, it is a crucial time to consider your investment property and homes, as well as the safety of those who live in them.
One in three Aussie homes contains asbestos, including those constructed of brick, weatherboard, fibro and clad.
All property owners, particularly those who own a home built or renovated prior to 1987, should be aware of the dangers that asbestos can pose.
In Canberra, an Asbestos Buy Back Scheme is currently underway as a result of the <a href="/news/real-estate-agents-could-face-1-1-million-fine-for-not-disclosing-mr-fluffy-asbestos">Mr Fluffy asbestos insulation scandal</a>. The scheme involves the government purchasing affected properties and demolishing them.
Around 40 home owners have agreed to take part in scheme, according to the Asbestos Response Taskforce.
Home owners have until the end of June next year to decide whether or not this is what they want to do.
For those unable to choose this option, renovating or rebuilding can be an option. But owners must take care, explains Peter Dunphy, chair of the Asbestos Education Committee.
“There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres,” said Dunphy.
“With at least one in three Australian homes containing asbestos, many home owners, renovators, tradies and handymen are putting their health and the health of families at risk when doing home renovations, maintenance and demolition if they release dangerous asbestos dust and fibres that can be inhaled and lead to asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma.”
So where can asbestos be in your home?
Click to open in new window:
<a href="/images/2014/11/18/asbesto%20onv%2018%20one.png" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/11/18/asbesto%20onv%2018%20one.png" alt=""></a>
Source: Asbestos Awareness
Here is a useful <a href="https://asbestosawareness.com.au/dangers-of-asbestos-nsw/safety-facts-nsw/" target="_blank">20 point checklist for you to look at to safety check your home</a>.
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Infographic: Where might you find asbestos in your property?

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A new online listings portal, named SQUIIZ, has been launched with the initial phase now live.
PRDnationwide’s managing director Tony Brasier said that the <a href="https://squiiz.com.au/" target="_blank">SQUIIZ</a> site has almost 200,000 listings on day one.
“That’s the benefit of a collaboration of the major brands in the industry,” Brasier said in a statement.
SQUIIZ branding will be on all signboards of PRDnationwide franchise offices.
“A lot of work and collaboration has gone into the past 12 months to get it to the launch phase and that includes building the technology. We are very pleased with the progress so far and are counting on the support of all real estate agents over next 12-24 months and beyond to make SQUIIZ a success,” said Brasier.
The app, which is yet to be launched, will include all the content on the site.
Having a look at the listings they have captured, Property Observer found that SQUIIZ had 10 listings for Mount Druitt, compared to 74 on realestate.com.au and 73 on domain.com.au, while RealestateVIEW records 18 properties.
When considering a different type of market, such as Victoria’s Toorak, we see that SQUIIZ has zero results. Domain records 126 properties, while realestate.com.au has 127. RealestateVIEW records 112 properties in Toorak.
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Online listings portal SQUIIZ launched with 200,000 listings

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If there’s one thing every property investor should know it’s that cheap does not always equal good value; properties and areas are often cheap for a reason.

Previously, we looked at <a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-40-cheapest-property-markets-are-they-really-a-good-place-to-buy">the 40 cheapest property markets across the country</a>, according to RP Data. We warned that median prices in themselves are of limited usefulness. Be sure to <a href="/expert-insights/investing/how-to-determine-the-median-house-price">understand how this figure is put together</a> before reading median price lists like that in this article. Data like this can be very useful to those who know what they’re looking at. But if you misunderstand what the data is saying, then you can come to some very ill informed conclusions.

A quick gaze over this list proves that some areas may be worth further exploration – offering high rental yields along with their low entry points. However, as Property Observer has regularly <a href="/news/qld/can-you-really-get-a-double-digit-rental-return-in-queenslands-mount-morgan">explored in the past with cheapie suburbs and double digit yield promises</a>, these on-paper figures do not always stack up in real life.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28100]

Some areas also appear to be recording strong dips in their median house prices. This may suggest the areas are in decline, but it may also suggest that the recorded median price is actually lower than the price you will need to put down to secure what you are after in the suburb.

Of the 22 New South Wales suburbs with a sub-$200,000 median price, according to RP Data, over the past three months 17 recorded a decline, no change or an “N/A” result.

A proportion of these areas have limited numbers of sales that their statistics are based on, which is why we have included that figure in brackets after each one. That can mean their prices are quickly skewed due to a few cheaper properties selling.

Six on the list, or more than 25%, recorded fewer than 25 sales, while half of the list (including these areas) recorded fewer than 50 sales. This may call into doubt the veracity of the statistics, or at the very least mean you need to look a little closer.

Our cheapest on the list is <a href="/news">Coonamble</a>, with a median price of $112,000. Taking this area on its own sheds some interesting light on why you can’t buy blindly on selected statistics. Situated 575 kilometres north-west of Sydney, the area had fewer than 3,000 people as of the 2011 Census.

An 860 square metre block of land in the area<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-residential+land-nsw-coonamble-201013843" target="_blank"> is currently available for $11,000</a>, “following a fire which raged through the weatherboard home on this block.” It is within a “couple of minutes walk to the main street.”

However, Coonamble Mayor and local business owner Allen Karanouh believes there is strength for investors and home buyers in the area. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaYqsqEYsFk" target="_blank">He recently starred in a video series</a> with Ray White Coonamble’s Don Schieb that has been advertised as a listing, sharing the opportunities for those wanting to do a change to a rural lifestyle.

“It has been one of the best performing towns in Australia, for instance in real estate in maintaining a very steady increase in prices, great return on investment and we don’t see many shops closing down,” says Karanouh.

{qtube vid:=YaYqsqEYsFk}

Schieb <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXI0HSi7KBE" target="_blank">explains in the series</a> that investors can buy a house for $60,000 or $70,000 and get $7,000 a year for it in rent – around a 10% return.

“Most of the investors are from Sydney. They look at properties on the internet and quite a number of these places have been sold without inspection,” he says.

He does mention there has been some pain for the region with an abattoir shut in 2001, losing 40 jobs. However, there have been renovations and it’s expected to open again this year.

{qtube vid:=CXI0HSi7KBE}

Each of these areas is substantially different from the next.

Picture of Coonamble main street courtesy of <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cgoodwin" target="_blank" title="User:Cgoodwin">C. Goodwin</a>/<a class="mw-mmv-license cc-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.

See over page for the full list of areas. Please click below.

<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Click on the suburb name to go a more in-depth suburb data page.

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Adelong</a></li>
</ul>
$187,000

Three month growth: -10.10%

12 month growth: 3.89%

Average annual growth: 6.99%

Gross rental yield: 5.56%

(Based on 17 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Batlow</a></li>
</ul>
$122,000

Three month growth: -0.71%

12 month growth: -24.46%

Average annual growth: 5.27%

Gross rental yield: 7.46%

(Based on 29 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Berrigan</a></li>
</ul>
$147,000

Three month growth: -18.19%

12 month growth: -1.83%

Average annual growth: 11.43%

Gross rental yield: 6.09%

(Based on 12 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Broken Hill</a></li>
</ul>
$119,000

Three month growth: -0.83%

12 month growth: 0.00%

Average annual growth: 8.87%

Gross rental yield: 9.94%

(Based on 316 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Coonamble</a></li>
</ul>
$112,000

Three month growth: 0.00%

12 month growth: -2.61%

Average annual growth: 6.22%

Gross rental yield: 9.29%

(Based on 72 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Cowra</a></li>
</ul>
$185,000

Three month growth: 2.21%

12 month growth: -1.33%

Average annual growth: 2.05%

Gross rental yield: 6.46%

(Based on 209 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Culcairn</a></li>
</ul>
$160,000

Three month growth: N/A

12 month growth: 18.52%

Average annual growth: 3.40%

Gross rental yield: 7.15%

(Based on 30 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Deniliquin</a></li>
</ul>
$175,000

Three month growth: 0.00%

12 month growth: 0.14%

Average annual growth: 3.01%

Gross rental yield: 6.54%

(Based on 151 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Finley</a></li>
</ul>
$132,000

Three month growth: -10.68%

12 month growth: -6.56%

Average annual growth: 4.31%

Gross rental yield: 7.50%

(Based on 63 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Glen Innes</a></li>
</ul>
$178,000

Three month growth: -4.05%

12 month growth: -4.05%

Average annual growth: 5.48%

Gross rental yield: 6.74%

(Based on 101 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Gundagai</a></li>
</ul>
$190,000

Three month growth: -3.80%

12 month growth: 5.56%

Average annual growth: 3.31%

Gross rental yield: 5.47%

(Based on 14 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Hay</a></li>
</ul>
$149,000

Three month growth: 16.02%

12 month growth: N/A

Average annual growth: 7.11%

Gross rental yield: 5.78%

(Based on 68 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Henty</a></li>
</ul>
$130,000

Three month growth: -7.14%

12 month growth: -15.58%

Average annual growth: 4.24%

Gross rental yield: 8.00%

(Based on 24 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Kandos</a></li>
</ul>
$154,000

Three month growth: -4.04%

12 month growth: 4.58%

Average annual growth: 6.47%

Gross rental yield: 6.74%

(Based on 33 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Kempsey</a></li>
</ul>
$153,000

Three month growth: N/A

12 month growth: N/A

Average annual growth: N/A

Gross rental yield: 8.52%

(Based on 10 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Lockhart</a></li>
</ul>
$130,000

Three month growth: -7.14%

12 month growth: -16.38%

Average annual growth: 1.66%

Gross rental yield: 7.30%

(Based on 17 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Manilla</a></li>
</ul>
$195,000

Three month growth: 11.43%

12 month growth: 21.88%

Average annual growth: 7.46%

Gross rental yield: 7.47%

(Based on 68 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Murrurundi</a></li>
</ul>
$180,000

Three month growth: -18.18%

12 month growth: -18.18%

Average annual growth: 8.43%

Gross rental yield: 7.80%

(Based on 30 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">South Grafton</a></li>
</ul>
$195,000

Three month growth: -2.99%

12 month growth: -4.88%

Average annual growth: 2.85%

Gross rental yield: 7.07%

(Based on 130 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Tumbarumba</a></li>
</ul>
$171,000

Three month growth: 1.49%

12 month growth: -7.84%

Average annual growth: 6.51%

Gross rental yield: 5.72%

(Based on 33 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Wellington</a></li>
</ul>
$120,000

Three month growth: -7.69%

12 month growth: -11.11%

Average annual growth: 3.36%

Gross rental yield: 8.67%

(Based on 100 sold)

 

<ul>
<li><a href="/news">Werris Creek</a></li>
</ul>
$130,000

Three month growth: -6.47%

12 month growth: -1.89%

Average annual growth: 7.26%

Gross rental yield: 8.00%

(Based on 112 sold)
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Should you buy a New South Wales cheapie? 22 suburbs under $200,000

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Bloomdale at Diggers Rest is the long-term project of development company Investa Land, with 3,500 lots in total to be built.
Given that as of the 2011 Census the population of Diggers Rest was at 2,275, it’s clear that this will be the development that puts the area on the map.
The project is <a href="/news/vic/big-plans-for-diggers-rest">a 15-year plan for the area, a slow and steady house and land sales effort </a>that won’t change the suburb overnight.
Currently, almost all the properties on listings websites are for new builds, house and land, or land on its own. The established properties on the market tend to be larger, or acreage blocks.
<a href="https://www.bloomdale.com.au/" target="_blank">Bloomdale</a> properties are priced from $161,900 for land and house and land from $322,000, with blocks spanning 336 square metres to 626 square metres.
It quickly emerges that Investa isn’t the only development group trying their hand in the area, although it seems they are by far the largest.
<a href="https://stivesestate.com.au/" target="_blank">St Ives</a>, a development from Core Projects, has recently been launched. Stage one includes 420 square metre lots to 676 square metres from $200,000 at 1468 Old Calder Highway. Their 300 lots have a completion expectation of December 2018.
Property Observer went to Bloomdale to speak to Paul O’Brien, general manager at Investa Land about the development and what can be expected for the future on the often-forgotten north western side of Melbourne.
{qtube vid:=u5itbp9a81I}
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Video: The emerging north-west Melbourne suburb of Diggers Rest

<html><body>
Buying property requires a strategic approach that involves obtaining information to give you an edge in negotiations, explains EPS Property Search director Patrick Bright.
He says that he regularly sees buyers weaken their position by disclosing too much information and that the reality is that very few buyers are skilled negotiators when faced with a well-trained sales agent.
“Buyers often get carried away with their emotions rather than asking the selling agent the quality questions they should so that they can gather all the necessary information to develop the best negotiation strategy,” Bright warned.
“The average buyer manages a handful of property negotiations in a lifetime while the average selling agent negotiates more than a handful of transactions every month.”
Here are the five mistakes Patrick Bright warns against.
<ol>
<li>
Never disclose your budget to the selling agent While you will be likely giving the agent a rough guide based on the properties you’re inspecting, he warns that once they know your real budget they will do “everything they can to extract every cent out of you”. This is especially the case if they haven’t reached the vendor’s bottom line yet. 
</li>
<li>
Never let the selling agent see you fall in love with the property “I’ve seen this happen far too many times,” explains Bright. “My advice is to never make any comments or talk about the property while you’re there.” He warns buyers to avoid the selling agent’s questions and to instead ask them a question whenever they ask you one. 
</li>
<li>
Never make a silly low offer Making low offers is fine, he says, but don’t make it a silly one. “If you come in too low with your first offer and have too many conditions then you risk alienating the vendor and the selling agent or having them think you’re a time waster. When I put in a low offer I always attach comparables with it to justify the offer and minimise any chance of alienating the vendor,” he suggests. 
</li>
<li>
Never let the agent know if you are motivated to buy Indifference is the name of the game. “If you’re buying property with your partner, let one person do all of the talking and have all the communication with the agent otherwise the agent will easily play one of you off against the other in order to get information out of you,” he suggests. Hide your motivation. 
</li>
<li>
Never make a fed-up purchase You may have missed out on several homes you were really keen to purchase, and have been looking for a couple of months, but that doesn’t mean you give up and just buy, says Bright. “The problem is it won’t be long before they’ll regret it and want to sell. To sell then buy another home in the same price range will cost around 10% of the purchase price in selling and buying costs.”
</li>
</ol>
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Five things you should never do when purchasing: Patrick Bright

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The new Mortgage Choice Happy As Index has found that 49.4% of Victorians are comfortable with their finances, with 28.6% noting they are uncomfortable.
Just over 20% considered themselves “neutral” with their finances.
Mortgage Choice spokesperson Jessica Darnbrough said that it was a pleasing result, pointing to the number of those committed to saving their money.
“When Victorians were asked how much of their after tax income they had managed to save this year, more than 40% said they had saved more than 16% of their after tax income,” said Darnbrough.
A further 10.8% said that they saved 21% to 25% of their income.
Less than 25% noted that they hadn’t saved at all.
“The index found that almost 40% of Victorians only worry about their finances when they have a ‘big financial commitment’,” she said. A total of 20% said that they think about finances on a ‘daily basis’.
The majority, at 59.8%, said that they were happy or extremely happy with their current lifestyle. This was a result only beaten by Queenslanders, with 63% citing themselves as happy or very happy with their current lifestyle.
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Almost half of Victorians “financially comfortable”: Mortgage Choice Happy As Index

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.

Joel Robinson

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.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

Jennifer Duke

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