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"It's tradition. Every night on reveal we have a little cry, and the next morning we're all good," said The Block Glasshouse contestant Chris on the latest room reveals' episode.
Chris and Jenna have certainly had plenty of disappointment to bounce back from in their journey from underdogs to wonderdogs and back to underdogs on The Block. This week was no different.
Despite their best intentions, the couple failed to repeat the success of their main bathroom, which earned them a <a href="/expert-insights/building/block-glasshouse-newbies-reborn-with-perfect-score">perfect score</a> from the judges. This week, they came in last place yet again, delivering an unfinished room (pictured below).
 <img src="/images/2014/09/23/block-sept-23-breakout.jpg" alt="">
Though the judges were inexplicably enamoured with Chris and Jenna's choice of <a href="https://www.beaumont-tiles.com.au/AllProducts/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=183022D&amp;Search=three&amp;pspid=1" target="_blank">resin-based 3D tiles</a>, it seems they weren't quite worth the (considerable) effort it took to install them. Chris' scheduling bungle didn't help either: telling his glazier the wrong date set the team back considerably.
Judges Neale Whitaker, Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer had plenty to say about the bathroom's grotty bronze mirror, the electrical sockets hanging out of the wall and poor finishing touches. They were, however, enthusiastic about the design and layout of the bathroom, which managed to fit in a bathtub and double shower.
Chris and Jenna received 23 out of 30 for their effort.
Karstan and Max, who were the victims of some rather laborious pranks this week, didn't fare much better. They delivered yet another glossy, big-tiled, dark bathroom (pictured below). At least the cold-looking rooms are consistent.
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/katstan%20and%20max.jpg" alt="">
One of the major problems with The Block format is the expectation that contestants will respond to the judge's comments from week to week, with each room better than the last. But doing so creates inconsistency throughout the apartments. While the viewing public may enjoy seeing each team progress through a coherent narrative, buyers would rather a consistently styled home.
So Karstan and Maxine's stubborn cling to high-gloss might just pay off on auction day. For now, they remain unpopular with the judges, who awarded the team 24 out of 30.
Perpetual favourites Michael and Carlene also had a less-than-stellar run with their ensuite (pictured below). Unfortunately, the glass door to their ensuite was installed before their tiles were installed, and it didn't fit when the flooring was completed.
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/michael%20and%20carlene.jpg" alt="">
So there was one less piece of glass on reveal day, but it was still too much: Neale declared that the couple's use of glass throughout the ensuite, including glass pendant lights, made it feel cold.
He also hated the dried nettles that sat in Michael and Carlene's bathroom, though Darren defended the dead flowers pictured below. It seems he's a fan of the souped-up potpourri, having used dried flowers in his own book, Easy Luxury. Michael and Carlene were given 25.5 points for their efforts.
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/dried%20nettles.jpg" alt="">
There was some distance between the bottom three and the top two, with Dee and Darren's score clearing Michael and Carlene's by three points. But 28 wasn't enough for Deanne, who declared Shaynna a "bogan from Wantirna" with "no idea about styling" after she gave their ensuite (pictured below) a measly 9/10, citing storage issues.
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/dee.jpg" alt="">
Darren and Dee, who had the smallest ensuite of any team, finished their interior spaces with characteristic WASPish flair (bar the bizarre chevron towels). The couple's provincial styling, as shown in the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-prahran-117930567" target="_blank">online listing</a> for their apartment, sits a little strangely in an office conversion. It seems to work for them - just not well enough to win the team any prizes.
This week, the award for winning room went to Simon and Shannon's ensuite, pictured below.
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/simon%20and%20shannon%20bath2.jpg" alt="">
The brothers, who had been banking on the appeal of a timber bath, got exactly what they wanted. The judges swooned over their wooden washtub and its spout, which descended from the ceiling. The bathroom also featured glass pendant lights and a gold Chinese drum stool.
They received a 29.5 score this week, earning them a $15,000 prize.
Simon and Shannon will be spending the $15,000 on their terrace spaces, with the apartments' interiors now completed.
All photos courtesy of Channel 9.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Dead flowers debate on The Block Glasshouse, but ennui ensues after ensuite reviews

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The Queensland Office of Fair Trading has ordered an unlicensed Brisbane real estate agent to pay more than $134,000 in fines and compensations.
Despite being unlicensed since 2004, Alisa Phyllis Davies of Arana Hills continued to operate her agency, Jenas Realty Pty Ltd. Davis was fined $6,000 after pleading guilty to one count of acting unlicensed as a real estate agent.
As the sole director of Jenas Realty, she was found guilty of misappropriating trust money and was fined a further $70,000. The business was also fined $50,000 for operating unlicensed and claiming it held a current real estate agent license.
The court heard that the business made a false representation that it had a valid real estate license by sending clients messages with its expired license number.
Davies was also ordered to pay $8,400 in compensation, after receiving rent from a tenant in 2012 and 2013 but failing to pass the $8,400 sum along to the landlord.
All real estate agents are required to hold a valid license under the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000. Agents must complete training requirements and pass suitability checks to qualify for a license.
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Brisbane unlicensed agent ordered to pay $134,000

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Today marks the start of World Green Building Week, and who better to keep us in the loop than the Green Building Council of Australia.
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/world%20green%20building.jpg" alt="">
Over the next five days, events will be held all over the world to celebrate and educate the public about sustainable building.
This year, the theme is "Get up, green up". Each Green Building Council is holding their own events.
Australian events include networking events for young professionals, webinars, site tours of sustainable buildings and even an open mic night.
You can see the <a href="https://twitter.com/gbcaus" target="_blank">Green Building Council of Australia</a>'s events schedule <a href="https://www.gbca.org.au/events/world-green-building-week/world-green-building-week-2014-industry-events/35723.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.
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World Green Building Week: Tweet of the day

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<img src="/images/2014/09/22/Untitled.jpg" alt="">
A plush home cinema in Victoria got a standing ovation from readers in last week's poll.
We asked readers which home theatre was their favourite, with five options plucked from current market listings.
This offering in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-greenvale-117843851" target="_blank">Victoria's Greenvale </a>secured the top spot (pictured above).
It seems that for many readers, more is more. The home theatre in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-sorrento-116132183" target="_blank">72 Ashmore Way Sorrento, Western Australia, </a>with a sculpted ceiling and leather seats, came in second place (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/09/18/4.jpg" alt="">
It was closely followed by the home cinema in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-north+sydney-117701243" target="_blank">7/88 Berry Street North Sydney, NSW. </a>The cinema pictured below has glowing LED lights tucked over its ceiling panels and a more relaxed lounge seating arrangement than some of its contemporaries.
<img src="/images/2014/09/18/1.jpg" alt="">
The unfurnished home cinema in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-116832791" target="_blank">43 Lansell Road, Toorak</a> was a little less popular, though it offered the most space of any of the home cinemas.
<img src="/images/2014/09/18/2.jpg" alt="">
In last place came <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-balwyn-117863915" target="_blank">11 Belgrove Avenue, Balwyn's </a>home theatre, pictured below. The nostalgic appeal of the flip-up seat red cinema chairs, complete with cup holders, wasn't enough to win over voters.
<img src="/images/2014/09/18/3.jpg" alt="">
 
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Poll results: Greenvale home cinema gets five stars

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The median price for a Brisbane unit sits at $389,250, according to RP Data.
The city's median price was up 2.6% in the quarter to August. On a yearly basis, Brisbane's unit prices increased by 5.6%. Property Observer looks at some recent Brisbane apartment sales to see just what $389,250 will buy you, and how much you have to sacrifice to get close to the CBD.
Inner ring: 0-5 kilometres from the CBD
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-brisbane+city-116772003" target="_blank">128 Charlotte St, Brisbane City </a></li>
</ul>
 <img src="/images/2014/09/22/1.jpg" alt="">
This one bedroom, one bathroom apartment in the Brisbane CBD sold for $380,00 last month. The 64 square metre unit in Charlotte Towers faces south-east, with an enclosed balcony. Its bedroom has built in robes and the apartment currently returns $2,136 per month, after deducting management fees.
Residents have access to the complex's outdoor plunge pool, heated indoor lap pool gym and barbecue.
<ul>
<li>Price: $380,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: One</li>
<li>Drive to CBD: 0 minutes</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-new+farm-117445423" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">5/81 Barker Street, New Farm</a>
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/2.jpg" alt=""> 
The online listing for this New Farm apartment advises the new owners to redesign or renovate it. Sold for $384,500, the unit has one bedroom and one bathroom, with a kitchen that is separated from the living and dining space.
The apartment, with around 40 square metres of internal floor space, comes with an under cover car port.
<ul>
<li>Price: $384,500</li>
<li>Bedrooms: One</li>
<li>Drive to CBD: Eight minutes</li>
</ul>
This article continues on the next page. To see how much you can get for your dollar in Brisbane's middle ring, click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Middle ring: 5-10 kilometres from the CBD
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-indooroopilly-115998471" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">2/8 Shirley Street Indooroopilly, Queensland</a>
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/3.jpg" alt="">
This two bedroom, two bathroom ground floor apartment in Indooroopilly sold for $385,000 earlier this year. Located in a six-unit complex, it has 126 square metres of internal floor space. Both bedrooms have built in robes, and the apartment has a large courtyard.
<ul>
<li>Price: $385,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: Two</li>
<li>Travel to CBD: 10 minutes</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-carina-117600931" target="_blank">6/31 Mayfield Road, Carina</a>
<img src="/images/2014/09/22/4.jpg" alt="">
Another two bedroom apartment in a block of six, this Carina unit sold for $380,000 this month. The apartment, with a rear deck, has built in robes in both the bedrooms, one of which has an en suite. There is another main bathroom, and an open plan living and kitchen area within the apartment's 122 square metres. The apartment, within five minutes' walk to the City Express bus, also includes a secure double garage.
<ul>
<li>Price: $380,000</li>
<li>Bedrooms: Two</li>
<li>Travel to CBD: 12 minutes</li>
</ul>
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How do Brisbane's units compare across the regions?

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As a first home buyer, it's sometimes hard to figure out how you compare to others in the same position.

Are you spending way more than you should and overcommitting yourself? Or are you trying to scrimp and eyeing a property that most buyers, first timer or otherwise, wouldn't touch?

If you're planning on laying money down for your first purchase, you have to be realistic about how much you can spend. You may be able to save up for a deposit on a $650,000 house by eating baked beans every night for a year, but that's not a sustainable way to live.

Once your mortgage payment obligations start, they don't stop - not if you decide to get married, or have a baby, or get sick. So be honest with yourself about what you can afford.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29048]

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) gathers data on different segments of the market, including first home buyers. According to the ABS, the average loan size for a first time buyer in July this year was $307,400.

Adding an assumed 10% deposit, that brings the typical first home buyer price to an estimated $338,140 (though remember, those <a href="/expert-insights/buying/what-does-a-home-really-cost-for-a-first-time-buyer">aren't the only costs</a> associated with buying your first home). While the ABS figures can allow you to make a rough guess at what others are spending, remember - there is no one particular loan size, l<a href="/expert-insights/investing/what-level-of-gearing-should-i-accept-for-my-first-investment-ask-margaret">oan to value ratio</a>, or finance scheme that fits everyone. 

It's important to note that our $338,140 is a national average, and prices vary from city to city. For a more specific breakdown, see what Property Observer's expert contributors <a href="/expert-insights/buying/exclusive-first-home-buyer-picks-from-the-experts">picked around Australia</a>. 

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8082]

So what exactly will $338,140 buy you?

In Melbourne, that might get you a one bedroom apartment like <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-flemington-117540416" target="_blank">this one</a>, located three kilometres from the CBD in Flemington. The lowrise apartment pictured below sold for $340,500 in August.

<img alt="" src="/images/2014/09/19/1.jpg">

Showing just how much things change a mere 3,400 kilometres away, in Perth's Balga you can pick up a <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-balga-116930007" target="_blank">three bedroom attached house</a> for $340,000.

 <img alt="" src="/images/2014/09/19/2.jpg">

If the average first home buyer across Australia is paying around $340,000 for home, does that mean you should too?

Not necessarily. Prices, household incomes and living costs vary all across the country - what might work for your friend in Balga may not be such a wise decision in Sydney. You might be better off waiting until you can afford a property that offers good capital growth.

Perhaps you're wondering what the first home buyer market was like five years ago (or how much easier your older brother had it).

In July 2009, the average loan size to a first home buyer was $269,100 - meaning the average first home buyer commitment size has increased by 14% over the past five years. According to the ABS, the proportion of first home buyers in the market was higher then, with 25.7% of all homes financed in July 2009 belonging to first time purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28487]

First home buyers make up less than half of that proportion of the market now: only 12.2% of all dwellings financed in July 2014 were first home purchases.

Some think the apparent decline in first home buyers is the result of an increasing unwillingness to overcommit on housing - or to commit at all. Others believe the ABS needs to revise its methods.

There's no single number that represents how much a first home buyer should spend. But if you're purchasing your first home, be realistic and know your limit.
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How much should you spend on your first home?

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While national monthly median price changes generate a lot of headlines, Property Observer contributor Pete Wargent is more interested in the view from afar.
<img src="/images/2014/09/19/tweet%20wargent.jpg" alt="">
The AllenWargent property buyers co-founder <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/PeteWargent/status/512761386682699776" target="_blank">noted</a> that Sydney property prices have increased by more than 50% in the past six years, but growth in the smaller cities has been much more modest.
Wargent isn't the only property commentator to note our unbalanced capital city markets. RP Data senior research analyst Cameron Kusher informed Wargent that upon seeing the same figures, some foreign bankers were "extremely shocked at how weak the market is outside of Syd and Melb".
Wargent's take on our lopsided national property markets? "Two speed doesn't even start to cover it".
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Wargent takes the long view: Tweet of the Day

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With high quality movies getting cheaper to download and a night at the cinema more expensive than ever, home theatres are a pretty tempting option.
There's no waiting in line for tickets, no gum under the seats and no shushing your partner when they ask what happened while they were in the bathroom.
Property Observer found five home cinemas on the market. Which is your favourite?
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-north+sydney-117701243" target="_blank">7/88 Berry Street North Sydney, NSW</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/18/1.jpg" alt=""> 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-116832791" target="_blank">43 Lansell Road, Toorak, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/18/2.jpg" alt=""> 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-balwyn-117863915" target="_blank">11 Belgrove Avenue, Balwyn, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/18/3.jpg" alt="">
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-sorrento-116132183" target="_blank">72 Ashmore Way Sorrento, WA</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/18/4.jpg" alt=""> 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-greenvale-117843851" target="_blank">Greenvale, Vic</a> <img src="/images/2014/09/18/5.jpg" alt="">
</li>
</ol>
{mijopolls 36}
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Home cinemas: Which would you pick?

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Fans and skeptics alike will have the chance to have a stickybeak around the country's most famous office conversion this weekend.
The Block Glasshouse at 121-127 High Street Prahran will be on show on Saturday 20 September and 21 September from 10am to 2pm.
<img src="/images/2014/08/25/masterchris.jpg" alt="">
The public can poke their heads into Chris and Jenna's <a href="/expert-insights/building/the-block-room-reveals-martyrs-mavericks-and-master-bedrooms">curious copper-walled bedroom</a> (above), climb atop Carlene and Michael's <a href="/expert-insights/building/block-glasshouse-newbies-reborn-with-perfect-score">raised shower stage</a> (below) and loiter in the rather <a href="/expert-insights/building/will-buyers-agree-with-the-judges-on-the-block">lacklustre laundries</a>. 
<img src="/images/2014/08/11/block%20michael.jpg" alt="">
They will also have the opportunity to check out the rooms that haven't been revealed on television yet - though people can already take a peek at Chris and Jenna's yet-to-be-aired terraces on their <a href="/expert-insights/building/the-block-glasshouse-chris-and-jennas-apartment-listed-online">apartment's online listing</a>.
From Property Observer's experience at the Fans v Faves open for inspection earlier this year, spectators can expect long lines, a slow shuffle through the apartments and plenty of selfie opportunities with the contestants.
The Block Glasshouse apartments will be up for auction on 11 October.
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The Block Glasshouse open for inspection this weekend

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One, two and three bedroom apartments have been released at CBRE's Bosco project in Sydney's Five Dock.
Located 9 kilometres from the Sydney, the apartments are within walking distance of Canada Bay.
The masterplanned development were designed by Bates Smart with reference to Mediterranean towns. It includes six-metre deep garden areas surrounding the cluster of apartments, with a central courtyard garden.
The residences have sandstone, terracotta and Roman brick facades.
Priced from $600,000, the new apartments all include parking.
The Bosco project is being developed by CBRE Residential and EG Funds Management, a specialist property fund manager.
 
 
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Apartments on offer at Five Dock's Bosco development

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.

Joel Robinson

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

<main data-perf-region="main">
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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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]

Jessie Richardson

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