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The Victorian, New South Wales and West Australian state governments have issued letters to property spruikers in their states outlining their obligations under consumer law.
Victoria’s consumer affairs minister, Heidi Victoria, spoke to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-08/state-governments-warn-spruikers-to-stick-to-the/5581698?section=business" target="_blank">the ABC</a> about the high pressure, persuasive techniques used by property spruikers at seminars and events.
“The sort of things that we’re concerned about is, for example, a high pressure sales environment – so when people come along just for information, but then feel obliged to either spend money on an education program, or that type of thing,” said Victoria.
“We want to make sure they’re not feeling pressured into signing anything on the night, that they are given plenty of time. But also to understand that those operating in the space must give a 10 day cooling off period.”
In February, the ABC reported that West Australia, New South Wales and Victoria’s governments were monitoring 15 property spruikers. However, Victoria said though some property spruikers had received letters outlining their legal obligations, Consumer Affairs Victoria was not currently investigating any particular property spruikers.
“This is just more a general ‘get to know you’ sort of letter, and say, ‘these are your rights and obligations’,” Victoria said.
“We’re very much about educating people who are operating in any business. The type of letter that has gone out to them just outlines their responsibilities, and also their obligations, and of course if they don’t abide by their obligations, and if they’re not working correctly under Australian consumer law, then we can take it much further.”
Of people investing in property through a self-managed super fund, Victoria said consumers must know their rights.
“A lot of people have to understand that when they’re doing this sort of investment, that they need legal and financial advice,” she said.
“It’s not something that can be taken lightly. As I said, it really is something that many people put their life savings into, and the last thing they want is for that to go belly up. So they do need to know their rights, their obligations as consumers and make sure they are investing in something that’s going to be safe, and something that has that long term projection.”
To see the letter sent by West Australia’s Commissioner for Consumer Protection, see next page
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
West Australia’s notice to the state’s property spruikers warns them of penalties associated with misleading consumers, which include fines of up to $1.1 million.
In a letter sent to property spruikers by West Australia’s Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll, she states:
<img src="/images/2014/07/10/cut-out-july-10-one.jpg" alt="">
In particular:
<img src="/images/2014/07/10/cut-out-july-10-two.jpg" alt="">
 
She adds:
<img src="/images/2014/07/10/cut-out-july-10-three.jpg" alt="">
Driscoll notes that misleading claims “can result in penalties of up to $1.1 million for a corporation or $220,000 for an individual”.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Property spruikers receive warning letters from states

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Those who doubt the merits of flexible office environments may get the chance to experience them first hand with Inhabit.
Designed by furniture supplier Stylecraft in collaboration with POMT and Woods Bagot, the centre is located in Stylecraft's Sydney show room.
People will have the opportunity to test the merits of flexible activity based work office spaces with Inhabit, a space designed by furniture supplier Stylecraft in collaboration with POMT and Woods Bagot.
The fully functioning office will be open to Stylecraft’s clients and partners, who can book the space for a pilot group to test and try. Stylecraft’s managing director Anthony Collins says users will be able to carry out their usual work at Inhabit.
“We have created a space like no other in Australia,” said Collins. “User groups can spend a day or even a week at Inhabit for an immersive experience of flexible working – and still be doing their day jobs while they are there.”
Custom printed smartcards which give testers access to individual lockers and spaces in the office were supplied by POMT.
Users can book zones, desks and meeting rooms through an online system and individual screens in each bookable zone. WiFi is available throughout the entire office.
The office showcases the latest workplace trend: Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, with staff members able to hook up laptops, tablets and smartphones to video conferencing equipment, screens, and an “interactive smart wall”.
Jeremy Pollack, director of strategy and development for POMT, says versatility is central to the space’s design.
“The challenge we had was not just designing technology to work for one company’s users, but for many companies’ users,” said Pollack.
“It’s BYOD taken to its extremes. We had to consider multiple different devices and multiple different applications which all have to work with the collaborative and AV technologies deployed.”
Since its June opening, a number of pilot groups have already tested out Inhabit.
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Flexible workplace open to trial at Inhabit 

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The Lifestyle Channel’s Selling Houses Australia will return next year, with filming currently taking place.
It seems filming for the new season began at the start of this month, with host Andrew Winters tweeting the following:
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/sha1.JPG" alt="">
As always, the locations for the new season are a tightly held secret, but Winters offers a little clue with this tweet:
<img src="/images/2014/07/09/sha2.JPG" alt="">
Winter, along with interior designer and The Block judge Shaynna Blaze and landscape designer Charlie Albone, will be helping home owners who are desperate to sell their properties, which might be struggling to attract buyers due to poor staging, bad conditions or the sellers’ attitudes.
Winter has been in the real estate business since he was 17, selling homes in Central London and Australia and imported his television franchise from England, where he was the host of Selling Houses – he was also the host of another spin off, Selling Houses Abroad.
Blaze is also a familiar face in renovation reality TV as a judge on The Block, with Belle Magazine editor-in-chief Neale Whittaker and interior designer Darren Palmer. Not to be beaten by Winter and Blaze, Albone has hosted other Lifestyle Channel shows including The Party Garden and Charlie and the Flower Show.
Selling Houses Australia makes a point of tackling particularly difficult to sell houses, including the three bedroom <a href="/news/nt/even-selling-houses-australias-andrew-winter-renos-didnt-turn-the-tide-on-rapid-creek-darwin-apartment-offering">apartment of boilermaker Robert Crispe</a>, which even Winter couldn’t  help - the home failed to sell at its filmed auction. 
If you have a home you’re hoping to offload, applications for the show are open through the <a href="https://www.lifestyle.com.au/tv/selling-houses-australia/apply/" target="_blank">Lifestyle Channel’s website</a>.
The application reads:
“Can't sell your home and need a makeover from the team? We want to hear from you!
“Selling Houses Australia are always searching for homes that will offer fresh challenges for the team. They've been hit with just about every real estate nightmare from on site pylons to flood affected homes, to inner city hovels but there are always more testing property scenarios out there and more home owners in unique circumstances.
“So, if your home is stagnating on the market with no buyer in sight then register now. Try to be as specific as possible with your dilemma whether it be location, décor, or an urgent need for a sale.
“Please note: your house must be on the market to qualify and must remain on the market after the makeover until it sells."
Applicants are asked to provide their contact details, descriptions of their home and its selling history (including the time it’s been on market, the agent’s details and the house price). They are also asked whether they are Foxtel subscribers. 
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Selling Houses Australia now filming 2015 season

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Westpac has cut the introductory variable interest rate for its Flexi First Option Home Loan product by 49 percentage points. 
Customers opening a new Flexi First Option Home Loan with conditional approval by 3 October will have a 4.84% per annum interest rate for the first two years of their loan. The interest rate converts back to 5.33% after the two year period (comparison rate 5.38%).
Westpac has offered an ongoing discount on its Flexi First Home Loan product since April 2013, with a 0.21% per year rate cut bringing the variable rate to 5.12%. Borrowers cannot take advantage of both discounts at the same time.
Westpac also removed its $600 Home Loan Establishment Fee on all new home loans. According to The Adviser, Westpac brokers were told the discounts would “position Westpac competitively in the market as the bank to assist your first home buyers with their home loan and other financial needs”.
The bank has applied special interest rate offers to a variety of its other variable products.
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Westpac courts first home buyers with 4.84% variable rate

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Australian architecture practices have a strong presence on the shortlists for the 2014 World Architecture Festival and INSIDE Festival.
According to BVN Donovan Hill national director James Grose, who has projects nominated for both festivals, there are 15 Australian architects, many with more than one project, shortlisted in the World Architecture Festival programme this year.
“Having multiple Australian projects being shortlisted in the World Architecture Festival awards is a tremendous confidence booster for Australian architects,” said Grose.
The Australian PlantBank at the Mount Annan Botanic Gardens in Sydney is shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival's Higher Education and Research category. The PlantBank (pictured below), designed by BVN Donovan Hill, is the largest seed bank in the Asia Pacific.
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/Australian-PlantBank-july-8-one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/Australian-PlantBank-july-8-two.jpg" alt="">
Photographer: John Gollings. Source: Supplied.
Auckland’s ASB North Wharf (pictured below), by BVN Donovan Hill in association with Jasmax, will be presented to the <a href="https://www.worldarchitecturefestival.com/" target="_blank">World Architecture Festival</a> and <a href="https://www.insidefestival.com/" target="_blank">INSIDE</a> juries in Singapore in early October. The project was recently awarded the New Zealand Architecture Medal, prompting the jury to comment: “In ASB North Wharf we may be seeing the future shape of work.”
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/abs-wharf-july-8--one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/abs-wharf-july-8--two.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/abs-wharf-july-8--three.jpg" alt="">
Photographer: John Gollings. Source: Supplied.
The practice’s Regional Terminal at Christchurch Airport (pictured below) will also be showcased at the awards in Singapore. The project received the New Zealand Architecture Award for Commercial Architecture and Interior Architecture earlier this year.
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/Regional-Terminal-Christchurch-Airport--july-8-one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/Regional-Terminal-Christchurch-Airport--july-8-two.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/Regional-Terminal-Christchurch-Airport--july-8-threee.jpg" alt="">
Photographer: John Gollings. Source: Supplied.
Other Australian architects which will be presenting projects for the World Architecture Festival and INSIDE festival juries include Bond University’s Abedian School of Architecture’s <a href="https://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/bond-light-installation-wows-the-crowds-at-viv-2" target="_blank">Cellular Tessellation light installation</a>, presented at Sydney’s 2014 Vivid Festival. 
Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects’ Garangula Gallery is also shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival, as is the Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre by Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp. Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp's Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival's New and Old category, and for the concurrent INSIDE Festival for its interior design.
The World Architecture Festival spans 30 categories and includes architects from more than 40 countries. INSIDE Festival occurs concurrently at the same venue, and recognises achievements in interior design and architecture. Festival attendees are able to view presentations from every shortlisted architect. 
For the full list of Australian projects nominated for the 2014 World Architecture Festival, see the next page.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The Australian projects nominated for the 2014: World Architecture Festival
<ul>
<li>AGL Lakeside Pavilion / Anthony Nolan, Kennedy Associates (Mt Annan, Australia)</li>
<li>Bankstown Library and Knowledge Centre / Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (Sydney, Australia)</li>
<li>Three Chimneys House / Allen Jack+Cottier Architects (Country NSW, Australia)</li>
<li>Garangula Gallery / Fender Katsalidis Mirams Architects (Harden, NSW Australia)</li>
<li>Cellular Tessellation / Abedian School of Architecture, Bond University (Sydney,Australia)</li>
<li>Whyalla Regional Cancer Centre Redevelopment / Hames Sharley (South Australia, Australia)</li>
<li>Dandenong Mental Health Facility / Bates Smart Architects (in association with The Irwin Alsop Group) (Melbourne, Australia)</li>
<li>Australian PlantBank / BVN Donovan Hill (Sydney, Australia)</li>
<li>Medical Science 2, University of Tasmania / Lyons (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia)</li>
<li>Deakin University, Burwood Highway Frontage Building / Woods Bagot (Melbourne, Australia)</li>
<li>Sustainable Industries Education Centre – Tonsley Tafe / MPH Architects (Adelaide, Australia)</li>
<li>Abedian School of Architecture, Bond University / Cook Robotham Architectural Bureau LTD (Gold Coast, Australia)</li>
<li>Griffith University: Rescuing the Declining Campus/ Cox Rayner Architects (Brisbane, Australia)</li>
<li>Crown Mahogany Room / Bates Smart (Melbourne, Australia)</li>
<li>Pittwater House / Andrew Burges Architects (Sydney, Australia)</li>
<li>Aperture House / Cox Rayner Architects &amp; Twofold Studio (Brisbane, Australia)</li>
<li>Stamp House / Charles Wright Architects (Cape Tribulation, Australia)</li>
<li>Constance Street Public Housing / Cox Rayner Architects (Brisbane, Australia)</li>
<li>SILT / Liam Proberts (Brisbane, Australia)</li>
<li>Tasmanian Museum &amp; Art Gallery / Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (Tasmania, Australia)</li>
<li>Sustainable Industries Education Centre – Tonsley Tafe / MPH Architects (Adelaide, Australia)</li>
<li>National Australia Bank, 700 Bourke St, Melbourne / Woods Bagot (Melbourne, Australia)</li>
<li>41X, Australian Institute of Architects Lyons (Melbourne, Australia)</li>
<li>Liberty Place / Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (Sydney, Australia)</li>
<li>Sir Samuel Griffith Centre / Cox Rayner Architects (Brisbane, Australia)</li>
<li>Lune de Sang Sheds / CHROFI (Byron Hinterland, Australia)</li>
<li>Weddell’s First Neighbourhoods – Urban Design Concept / Troppo Architects with Taylor Cullity Lethlean (Darwin, Australia)</li>
<li>The Olive Grove / Ian Moore Architects (Wollombi, Australia)</li>
<li>Wentworth Park Competition / Fox Johnston-Nettleton Tribe (Sydney, Australia)</li>
<li>National Arboretum Canberra / Taylor Cullity Lethlean and Tonkin Zulaikha Greer (Canberra, Australia)</li>
</ul>
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Australian architects showcased on international stage

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The 10 most expensive homes in the country sold this week are all located in Queensland and New South Wales.
While <a href="https://www.myrpdata.com/" target="_blank">RP Data</a>’s top 10 sales list is usually dominated by east coast cities, Melbourne usually makes an appearance. Not so this week, when three Queensland properties made the top 10 list, with the remainder coming from Sydney.
The most expensive sale of this week is $1.5 million down from last week’s top sale, when <a href="/news/madame-korner-sells-longtime-double-bay-home">Judit Korner secured $7.2 million</a> for her Double Bay home. 
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.offermann.com.au/buying/6_belmore_tce_sunshine_beach/" target="_blank">6 Belmore Terrace, Sunshine Beach, Qld </a><img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex1.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> The week’s top selling home was a two storey beach-facing house designed by John Mainwaring. The architect happened to also design another top 10 trophy home – the house at 145 Ryan St, West End, was last week’s eighth highest sale, selling for $2,475,000. This <a href="/news">Sunshine Beach</a> contemporary home (pictured in the gallery above), with six bedrooms and five bathrooms, sold for $5,700,000 through Tom Offerman Real Estate. According to the agent, the vendors tasked Mainwaring to design a “robust, calm and intimate” home. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-church+point-114770779" target="_blank">2101 Pittwater Rd Church Point NSW <img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex2.jpg" alt="" style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em;"> </a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-church+point-114770779" target="_blank"> </a>Edenwood, a four bedroom, four bathroom house, sold through Re/Max for $5,075,000 this week. Set on a 3,465 square metre plot, the double storey home has panoramic views of Pittwater through mature gum trees. The home comes with a heated pool and spa, with a tennis court and pavilion. The vendors purchased the property for $2,080,000 in 2000.<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-church+point-114770779" target="_blank"> </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-115911775" target="_blank">2 Macquarie Road, Vaucluse, NSW </a> <img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex3.jpg" alt=""> This five bedroom, five bathroom home sold for $4,050,000 through Laing + Simmons Double Bay after 158 days on the market. The corner-positioned full brick three storey residence is set on 670 square metres of land. It opens with a double height marble foyer and continues through to several living and lounge areas, including an octagonal sitting room. It was advertised by the agents as having “good fung choi [sic]”. The listing information also says that the vendors would “now meet the market” for the sale. They made a loss on the property, paying $4,250,000 in 2010. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://%20%20%20http:/www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-116319743" target="_blank">50 Hopetoun Avenue, Vaucluse, NSW</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex4.jpg" alt=""> A north facing house on a 940 square metre plot also secured $4,050,000 when sold through 1st City Hasemer &amp; Caldwell.Eyles Double Bay. The five bedroom, three bathroom house has a formal living room, separate dining and separate rumpus room with kitchenette and media room. Outside, there is a saltwater pool and courtyard. The house had last changed hands 38 years ago. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-115094859" target="_blank">36 Olola Avenue, Vaucluse, NSW</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex5.jpg" alt=""> Another Vaucluse home made the top 10 list, with this house selling for $3,370,000 through Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay. Situated opposite Vaucluse park, the contemporary home has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, a study and a lobby and gallery area with a cathedral ceiling. There is a self-contained one bedroom area downstairs, with an office area and bathroom. Outside, there is a heated pool. The vendors unsuccessfully attempted to sell the home at auction in December last year. They held the property for 27 years – it was purchased for $833,500. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-dover+heights-117141091" target="_blank">33 Military Road, Dover Heights, NSW</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex6.jpg" alt=""> This home secured $3,250,000 at a mortgagee in possession sale through BradfieldCleary Double Bay. With coastal views, the house has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, with open plan living areas. The property has a lap pool, wine cellar and a four-car garage, with a rooftop terrace. The master bedroom has its own private balcony. It was purchased in 2010 for $4,250,000. The former owner attempted to sell the house in March last year, but it failed to move after 194 days on the market. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/south-brisbane/1062220/" target="_blank">51/410 Stanley Street, South Brisbane, QLD </a><img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex7.jpg" alt=""> A four bedroom, four bathroom South Brisbane apartment sold for $3,200,000 through Ray White Clayfield – more than eight times the <a href="/news/qld/what-can-you-buy-for-brisbane-and-the-gold-coast-s-median-unit-price">Brisbane and Gold Coast median unit price</a>. The north-east facing home has 731 square metres of floor space across a single level. The master bedroom has a marble en suite, walk in robe and private sitting room with access to a covered balcony with city views. Each of the apartment’s four bedrooms has balcony access, while the apartment also comes with a private rooftop pool and spa.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-concord-117145251" target="_blank">11 Ludgate Street Concord, NSW</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex8.jpg" alt=""> This three storey Sydney home sold for $2,790,000 through Georges Ellis &amp; Co Strathfield. The seven bedroom, four bathroom house is set on an elevated 697 square metre block with views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney’s skyline. The vendors purchased the property for $1,310,000 in 2010. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/new-farm/1149315/" target="_blank">106 Villiers Street, New Farm, QLD</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex9.jpg" alt=""> A contemporary home situated on Teneriffe Hill secured $2,605,000 when sold this week through Ray White New Farm. The entire top floor of the home is a dedicated master suite, while downstairs there are various living areas, a kitchen with marble and stainless steel benches and four more bedrooms. The lower living areas open on to a tiled outdoor entertaining area with barbecue and a lap pool. The vendors purchased the property for $1,175,000 in May 2008. 
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-queenscliff-117335575" target="_blank">7 Hill Street, Queenscliff, NSW</a> <img src="/images/2014/07/08/ex10.jpg" alt=""> This semi-detached home sold for $2,450,000 through Cunninghams Property Balgowlah. The bright four bedroom, three bathroom house is located 400 metres from Queenscliff beach, with schools, shops and public transport within walking distance. The entire second storey is taken up by the master bedroom and a “parent’s retreat”, with a full en suite and north facing balcony. After just over two years of ownership, the vendors sold the property for around $500,000 more than the purchase price. They bought the home in April 2012 for $1,915,000.
</li>
</ol>
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The 10 most expensive home sales of the week: RP Data

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Victoria’s young Adam and Lisa have trumped West Australian couple Carole and Russell in the House Rules finale, thanks to the public vote.
The judges awarded Carole and Russell 19/20 for their final challenge, where they transformed Adam and Lisa’s back shed into a James Bond style bar and spa. Adam and Lisa trailed behind in the judge’s eyes, scoring 17/20 for their Balinese makeover of Carole and Russell’s dingy downstairs gym.
But it was the public who had the greater pull. Audiences had a say over 50% of the final score in an online poll, and Adam and Lisa won by an undisclosed margin. In <a href="/expert-insights/building/who-will-you-vote-for-in-the-house-rules-grand-final">Property Observer’s own poll</a>, our readers showed an overwhelming preference for the younger couple. 
The couple will now have their $546,000 mortgage paid off.
“This has just been unbelievable,” said Adam at last night’s live season finale.
“I couldn’t be more proud of Lisa. She came from not knowing anything to being absolutely stunning and amazing and I love her so much."
Dubbed the season's "dark horses" by Johanna Griggs, Adam and Lisa struggled in the first few challenges, receiving just 7/20 for their first makeover task, and forced to sleep in tents while carrying out renovations. Their fortunes changed when they renovated <a href="/expert-insights/building/swimwear-model-maddis-shoe-room-overhaul-as-house-rules-hits-tropical-pallarenda-townsville">Maddi and Lloyd's Townsville home</a>, receiving a first-ever clean sweep, with 10/10 scores from the judges and Maddi and Lloyd.
Lisa was just as Adam thrilled with the season's final result. “This means we can get married, start a family, and our life will be a little less stressful,” she said.
Adam told host Johanna Griggs that he didn’t initially know that Lisa had even applied for House Rules.
“I owe Lisa my life as far as I’m concerned,” said Adam.
Runners-up Carole and Russell thanked all the other contestants.
“Yeah we’re sad we didn’t win, but we’re so happy for [Adam and Lisa],” said Carole. “But look and what we’ve got – we’ve got this amazing home, it’s just sensational.
“We’re so lucky.”
At the beginning of the episode, Carole described her pre-makeover house as “an absolute dump”, which was now a “Balinese paradise”.
In the last challenge, the grandparents requested a “Balinese six star resort” for their spa and bar area. Despite almost running out of money, Adam and Lisa delivered, with a sunken spa, an outdoor shower and a bar featuring jarrah throughout.
They lost points for the poor functionality of their indoor corner seating, which backed onto stacked stone walls. Judge Wendy Moore awarded the team 9/10, while Joe Snell gave them 8/10.
Adam and Lisa received <a href="/expert-insights/building/the-wallpaper-house-rules-in-home-decorating-he-said-she-said">even more wallpaper</a> in their back shed after Carole and Russell pasted gold bullion patterned wallpaper all over the wall behind the bar. The judges loved their long bar set under the shed’s window, with Snell giving Carole and Russell 9/10 and Moore awarding them 10/10.
At the episode’s conclusion, Griggs announced that another season of House Rules will air next year. <a href="/expert-insights/building/house-rules-season-three-do-you-have-what-it-takes">Applications are now closed</a>.
Photo courtesy of Channel 7.
 Note: This article initially incorrectly stated that Wendy Moore gave Carole and Russell a 9/10, with Snell scoring them 10/10. It was in fact Moore that scored the team 10/10. The article has now been amended.
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Underdogs Adam and Lisa win House Rules season two

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Units in Brisbane and the Gold Coast sold for a median price of $370,000 in the three months to June, according to RP Data-Rismark.
Brisbane and the Gold Coast have the cheapest median unit price on the eastern seaboard and are behind Perth, which has a median unit price of $440,000. For the month, Brisbane and Gold Coast unit values were up 1.6%.
Property Observer looks at recent sales to see just what a $370,000 unit looks like in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-hope+island-116215299" target="_blank">8418 Magnolia Drive East, Hope Island</a>
<img src="/images/2014/07/07/brisbane_0004_bris%20july%207%20one.jpg.jpg" alt="">   This two bedroom unit sold for $375,000 late last month. Overlooking the <a href="/news">Hope Island</a> Golf Club and Lake Lugano, the unit is “a short buggy ride” to the nearby Marina shopping village. The apartment has two bathrooms, an open plan living area, two basement car spaces and 24 hour manned security. It was advertised as “FIRB [Foreign Investment Review Board] approved to buy for non-Australian residents”.
Price: $375,000
Bedrooms: Two
Drive to CBD (Gold Coast): 31 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-palm+beach-114501115" target="_blank">4/75 Jefferson Lane. Palm Beach</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/07/2.jpg" alt="">
A <a href="/news">Palm Beach</a> apartment, metres away from the beach, sold for $368,000. The tiled living area and each of the apartment’s two bedrooms have ocean views. The apartment also has one garage space, a separate workshop and a balcony overlooking the beach.
Price: $368,000
Bedrooms: Two
Drive to CBD (Gold Coast): 25 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-annerley-117083903" target="_blank">4/20 Sarah St, Annerley</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/07/3.jpg" alt="">
Sold in late May, this <a href="/news">Annerley</a> apartment secured $365,000. The unit has two bedrooms and one bathrooms, with views from Toohey Forest to Mount Cootha. The newly renovated top floor apartment has open plan living areas and an updated kitchen. The single car garage also includes an internal laundry and storage space.
Price: $365,000
Bedrooms: Two
Drive to CBD (Brisbane): Nine minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-qld-toowong-116920647" target="_blank">7/31 Bayliss Street, Toowong</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/07/brisbane_0001_bris%20july%207%20four.jpg.jpg" alt="">
This apartment in a brick block of 12 sold for $364,500 last month. The unit is located in <a href="/news">Toowong</a>, five kilometres west of the Brisbane CBD. Tiled throughout, the upper-floor, newly renovated apartment has two bedrooms, an air conditioned lounge and an updated bathroom. The vendors purchased the home ten years ago, for $210,000.
Price: $364,500
Bedrooms: Two
Drive to CBD (Brisbane): 10 minutes
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-brisbane+city-116361711" target="_blank">128 Charlotte St, Brisbane City</a>
 <img src="/images/2014/07/07/5.jpg" alt="">
This one bedroom apartment with river views is situated right in the <a href="/news">Brisbane</a> CBD in Charlotte Towers. Located one block from the Queen Street Mall, the building has a gym, heated lap pool, outdoor plunge pool sauna and barbecue areas. The buyer can expect to pay $4,300 per year in body corporate fees and $1,900 a year in council rates and urban utilities costs.
Price: $365,000
Bedrooms: One
Located in CBD.
</li>
</ol>
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What can you buy for Brisbane and the Gold Coast’s median unit price?

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The Spanish-style estate of Reese Witherspoon and her husband, talent agent Jim Roth, is on the market.
At just over 0.5 hectares, Witherspoon’s double plot is a fraction of the size of the sprawling grounds that housed her Cruel Intentions character, Annette Hargrove, whose scenes at Mrs Rosemont’s house were filmed at the famous 64.5 hectare Old Westbury Gardens.
Even so, the property’s <a href="https://340northgunston.com/" target="_blank">US$14 million price tag</a> is nothing to sniff at.
Witherspoon’s Brentwood estate, in sweet home California, is situated at the end of a cul de sac in the gated Brentwood Circle community. The home has five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom with shower (which Witherspoon no doubt avoids for 24 hours after a perm) and a powder room. The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, fireplace, lavish marble bath, in built robes and a separate gym or office.
The house has a double height entry leading to a formal living room, formal dining room and a cozy library, where one could curl up around a copy of Les Laisons Dangereuses. 
The eat-in kitchen and family home open through French doors to the gardens and lawns, allowing residents to walk the line between the indoors and outdoors.  Outside, there is also a pool, which would hold enough water for elephants, and a spa, perfect for filming an application video for law school. The family friendly gardens hold a sunken trampoline, children’s playground and vegetable gardens.
Australia also makes its mark on Witherspoon’s home, with tall eucalyptus trees on the property.
Witherspoon’s home is selling through David Offer. A 2,682 square metre portion of the property is also available to purchase separately.  
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Elle Woods farewells Brentwood: Reese Witherspoon lists home

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Three people were arrested in Johannesburg earlier this week, following a five months investigation by the Major Fraud Squad of the Western Australia Police.
Working with the Australian Federal Police and South African authorities, the Major Fraud Squad have arrested and charged Asanda Zimkhitha, 28, of South Africa and Magnus Ikechukwu Kama, 38, and Nbubusi Sunday Okeke, 34, both of Nigeria with fraud, forgery and uttering.
The trio allegedly emailed a <a href="/news">Mandurah</a> real estate agency, which was managing a property owned by a South African person, pretending to be the owner.
After convincing the agency to change the owner’s contact details to their own, the three individuals allegedly asked to sell the property, communicating electronically and signing the agreements with forged signatures.
The property was put on the market and an offer accepted by the group, still pretending to be the owner. Hard copy documents were sent to the real owner’s real address in South Africa by post and the true owner contacted the agent, telling them the sale was unauthorised. The police were then contacted.
Last year, a separate fraud attempt occurred when Ntuen Promise Ekenmini collected documents regarding a fraudulent Falcon home sale (near Mandurah), also owned by a South African. Ekenmeni allegedly collected the document at a Lagos courier office, using a fake driver’s licence.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dom Blackshaw of the Major Fraud Squad of the West Australian police acknowledged the work of South African authorities and the Australian Federal Police.
“This successful outcome could not have been made possible without the excellent support and cooperation of the AFP and local authorities in South Africa,” said Blackshaw.
“This spirit of cooperation means that offenders who attempt these frauds can’t hide behind international borders, and we will be working effectively and cooperatively to make sure they are identified and caught.”
He also told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the trio won’t be extradited from South Africa.
"We won't prosecute for the attempt here because they will be adequately dealt with in that country and obviously save that large cost and the time spent trying to bring people into our country to try and prosecute,” Blackshaw told the ABC.
"We're hoping that these three, that are now going to be interviewed by the South African authorities, will even throw more light on how they are operating and the extent of the group,” he continued.
West Australian Commissioner for Consumer Protection Anne Driscoll said real estate and settlement agents must be wary of fraud attempts.
 “Unfortunately these fraud attempts will undoubtedly continue so all agents need to be vigilant at all times and have the processes in place to detect these fraud attempts at an early stage,” said Driscoll.
“It is an essential part of the identity verification procedures for any change of contact details by an owner to be confirmed by the real estate agency by sending a notification to the original addresses, both physical and electronic, that are on file. This will alert the real owners at an early stage if their details are being changed fraudulently,” she said.
“This confirmation should occur before any documents are sent which could give criminals even more information about the real owners and the property they are trying to sell. Requests to change details by owners of WA property living in Africa should raise a red flag and warrant special attention to property managers.
“There have been two successful and now six attempted real estate frauds reported to us in the past six years and all except for one of those cases have involved owners in South Africa. The other owner resided in Nigeria. Property managers who receive change of contact details and agents who receive sale requests from South African and Nigerian owners should apply intense scrutiny,” said Driscoll.
Under the Codes of Conduct, real estate and settlement agents have an obligation to make sure they carry out sufficient identity checks and compare all signatures against originals. If they fail to comply, they may be subject to disciplinary action.
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Three arrested in South Africa after WA home sale scam

<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.

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[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.

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

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

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

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

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

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

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

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