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<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/collierslogojuly17.jpg" width="200" height="138" alt="collierslogojuly17" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
James Crawford has recently been appointed by a listed property developer (AHC Limited) to sell 12 high profile commercial sites in Helensvale on the Gold Coast.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/crawfordprofile.png" width="200" height="200" alt="crawfordprofile" style="float: left;">Agent: James Crawford Position: Director of Investment Sales Company: Colliers International Office location: Brisbane
How long have you been in the industry?
Five years
What’s happening in the area you specialise in?
The commercial property market on the Gold Coast has experienced challenging times however, Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) initiatives, low interest rates and an increase in business confidence is contributing to the stabilisation and modest improvement in market conditions.
Describe the most interesting property you have sold?
We were recently appointed by a listed property developer (AHC Limited) to sell 12 high profile commercial sites in Helensvale on the Gold Coast. With more than 100,000 vehicles passing daily, the project has been a huge success. Buyers and interested parties have included ASX listed companies, high net worth individuals, racing car teams, developers, national storage groups, importers, retailers, financial services groups and IT groups to name just a few…
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?
A genuine interest in people, property and a results driven attitude.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
Building relationships and securing a sale.
Where would invest a spare $750,000?
I would leverage $750,000 to purchase a tenanted freestanding commercial property circa $1.5m on the Gold Coast.
Which football team do you support?
Australian Wallabies
What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?
My iPhone. Allows me to respond to clients and buyers wherever I may be.
How do you use social media?
I stay connected with industry associates and clients via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/james-crawford/34/a74/b90">Linkedin.</a>
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In profile: James Crawford, Colliers International's Gold Coast commercial property specialist

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Profits at Macquarie group are set to rise in 2014 as its financial services arm, Macquarie Bank, continues to expand its mortgage footprint via mortgage lending, wholesale funding and mortgage broker distribution deals.
Macquarie chief executive Nicholas Moore signalled a rise in profits in May with the group's AGM, set to take place on Thursday -  last year Macquarie reported a 17% rise in net profit to $851 million for the year ended March 31.
At its 2013 full-year result announcement in early May, Moore said that "profit for the 2014 financial year was expected to be an improvement on 2013 provided market conditions were not worse than those experienced during 2012 - 13."
More recently analysts at Deutsche Bank say the investment bank is significantly undervalued by the market and are forecasting the Macquarie share price to rise as much as 30% over the next year and a half.
The share price has risen from around $36 in mid-April to currently at $46.33 with Macquarie's mortgage expansion a key component of its growth strategy.
The latest APRA monthly banking figures show that Macquarie Bank has grown its owner occupier home loan book by 22.4% in the space of three months from $3.96 billion in February to $4.85 billion in May and more than doubled it in the past 12 months - in May 2012, the loan book was worth $2.2 billion.
This ranks Macquarie as the 11th biggest mortgage lender to owner-occupiers, though it has some way yet to go if it is to become the so-called 'fifth-pillar' in banking behind the four major banks - a position long occupied by ING Bank, which has a $27.59 billion owner-occupier mortgage book.
Macquarie's investor home loan book is also surging, having risen 21% over the past three months from $1.77 billion to $2.14 billion.
Alongside its growing home loan book, Macquarie is branching into new areas of mortgage finance funding while cementing relationships with niche home loan players.
Last month BRW Magazine reported that Macquarie Bank would provide warehouse funding to assist specialist lender Bluestone's re-emergence after a GFC-induced five-year break from mortgage origination.
Macquarie Bank acquired a 17.5% stake in Bluestone in November 2010.
Under the stewardship of chairman Alistair Jeffrey, Bluestone was one of the biggest providers of non-conforming loans (mortgages to borrowers with credit-impaired borrowing histories), but was forced to stop originating new home loans in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage crisis.
Bluestone will now offers its mortgages through AFG’s network of 1,800 mortgage brokers, of which Macquarie is a shareholder.
The provision of funding for Bluestone followed soon after Macquarie Group and Macquarie Bank raised their holding in Mark Bouris’s wealth management and home loans franchise business Yellow Brick Road from 8.3% to 10.5%, this after Macquarie Bank tied up a wholesale funding and mortgage distribution arrangement with the fast expanding franchise business in November last year.
In April, Macquarie Group and Macquarie Bank acquired a 19.8% stake in listed non-bank lender Homeloans Limited - a further potential distribution arm and funding tie-up for its home loans.
Prior to the onset of the GFC, Macquarie provided securitised mortgages to Bluestone and Aussie Home Loans, before pulling back due to the virtual freezing of the residential mortgage backed-securities (RMBS) market.
In early 2010, Macquarie Bank signalled its return to the mortgage game with the creation of Vow Financial, a mortgage aggregation business comprising a number of mortgage broker groups, through which it can distribute its mortgage offerings.
Macquarie has a minority (less than 20%) stake in Vow, which represents around 600 brokers across Australia and has loans under management of about $16.5 billion.
In January this year, Business Spectator columnist Robert Gottliebsen wrote of mortgage and deposit war erupting on the back of Yellow Brick Road accessing cheap funding from Macquarie Bank.  
Macquarie has made no secret of its plans to grow its mortgage lending arm.
As part of its annual operational briefing in February, Macquarie Group CEO Nicholas Moore noted the group’s expanding mortgage portfolio and that “originations are expected to continue to grow significantly in the 2013 calendar year”.
Mortgage Choice chief executive Michael Russell told BRW magazine that Macquarie Bank clearly has an “insatiable desire for a much bigger market share in home loans”.
The APRA figures also show that Macquarie Bank has a $4.65 billion secured housing loan book and total resident assets of $59 billion.
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Macquarie profits forecast to rise in 2014 financial year as home loans business grows 22.4% in three months

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Harry Triguboff will quit the Gold Coast apartment market after completing construction of Meriton's Stellar Apartment project at Southport. 
The Meriton website confirms that Stellar will be its “last development on the Gold Coast” following the release of the final stage of its $1 billion Brighton on Broadwater project.
The residential tower is set to rise to 55 levels and featuring around 500 apartments as well as over 30 shops, an on site recreational complex with indoor heated pool, sauna, spa and gymnasium, overlooking the Broadwater and Nerang River.
Off-the-plan sales of Stellar apartments have yet to begin, but interested parties are asked to register their details with Meriton.
When completed it will be the tallest tower in Southport, designed by DBI architects, and featuring, one, two and three bedroom apartments with views of the Broadwater, Pacific Ocean and Surfers Paradise skyline.
Around 600 apartments in Brighton on Broadwater have been retained as serviced apartments - a market Meriton sees as key to its future growth.
Triguboff, who turned 80 earlier this year, told the Gold Coast Bulletin the Gold Coast market was too volatile with developers needing assistance.
His comments suggest he will continue to focus his developments around Sydney, where he has been building up <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/harry-triguboff-buys-mascot-site-for-%2447-million-with-plans-for-400-apartments/2013062562656">a large war-chest of inner city and suburban development sites.</a>
Harry Triguboff (pictured below), who built his first <a target="_parent" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/harry-triguboff/2013013159060">two-story development in the Sydney suburb of Tempe</a> in 1963, described Sydney as “economically solid” and a “big and old city”.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/07/Harry-Triguboffjuly24.jpg" width="470" height="373" alt="Harry-Triguboffjuly24">
"The Gold Coast is still building up,” he said, with developers put off by its booms and busts.
The news that Meriton will exit the Gold Coast after 17 projects will come as a blow to the local real estate industry, developers and investors, given the negative publicity around the local high-rise apartment market and the failure of other high profile high-rise projects.
Triguboff suggested an intriguing solution to the Gold Coast market – offering differential interest rates.
"For instance, if mortgage rates were 5% in Sydney they could be 3% or 4% on the Gold Coast,” he said.
Triguboff’s first developments on the Gold Coast were the Nelson and Florida developments, in the early 1980s.
In the mid-1990s he built eight residential towers on Main Beach, Southport. He returned to the city in 1993, snapping up a succession of Main Beach development sites and building eight towers in the beachside suburb.
More recently he has focused on Brisbane with two high-rise apartment projects - the  completed 74-level Soleil tower, currently the city's tallest and Infinity, which will rise to 81 stories when completed in early 2014.
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Harry Triguboff to quit "volatile" Gold Coast market after one last high-rise hurrah

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The premises of a Domino’s Pizza outlet in the south west rural town of Ararat has been listed for August 7 auction with expectations that it will fetch around $475,000 under the hammer.
It will be auctioned as part of a<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-retail-vic-ararat-500808735" target="_blank"> Burgess Rawson portfolio auction.</a>
In previous Burgess Rawson auction, fast food outlets have been snapped up by investors at attractive yields with the presence of a well-known brand name and a long lease proving enticing.
In June, McDonald’s Australia bought back its own Preston, Melbourne premises at auction for $6.45 million reflecting a yield of 5.65% on net income of $365,000 plus GST.
In April a <a target="_blank" href="/news">KFC restaurant in Mentone</a> in Melbourne’s southeast sold for $3.505 million equating to a gross yield of around 6.5% based on rent of around $227,167 per annum.
The Domino's Ararat premises measure 130 square metres and have recently undergone a $200,000 refurbishment undertaken by ASX-listed Domino’s.
The double-fronted shop on two titles is on Ingor Street as part of an established shopping centre with anchor retailers including Woolworths and Bakers Delight.
It is being marketed by Jamie Perlinger and Billy Holderhead of Burgess Rawson.
Domino’s Pizza has signed a new five year lease with 10 years’ worth of renewal options.
Domino’s pays annual rent of around $31,000 with fixed annual increases of 4%.
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Domino's premises in Ararat offers small investors 6% plus yield potential with long lease

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ME Bank has cut its three year fixed lending rate by 5 basis points to 4.94% per annum - its lowest rate ever.
It continues a trend of lenders cutting fixed rates ahead of a possible rate cut on August 6.
The new rate is available for its three year fixed home and investment loans across the super members home loan (SMHL) and member equity home loan (MEHL) range, including loans within a members package. 
“Fixing lets borrowers lock in low rates over the longer- term, which can help you pay off your home loan faster," said Jamie McPhee, chief executive of ME Bank.
“It also provides an insurance policy against increasing interest rates and provides cash-flow certainty if your current circumstances mean higher rates would put you under stress.”
ME Bank is 100% owned by industry super funds.
Its mortgages and other financial products are provided to industry super fund, union and employer association members.
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ME Bank cuts three-year fixed home loan rate to 4.94%

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The 2013 financial year delivered a 15.6% return for members of median growth superannuation funds, equalling the best performance in the past 16 years, according to research firm Chant West.
Funds oriented more heavily to listed shares and property delivered the strongest results.
It equals the super return generated in 2007 – just before the GFC sent returns plummeting into the red –and was not that far short of the previous highest return of 19.4% in 1997, achieved five years after compulsory super was introduced by Paul Keating.
Unhedged international shares delivered the strongest return over the past year of 33% but the second best performing asset was Australian listed property (A-REITS) with a return of 24% with global listed property returning 17.2%.
Unlisted property returned 8.4%.
Australian shares returned 21.9% and international hedged shared returned 21.3%.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/larry_uploads/chant_west.jpg" width="470" height="278" alt="chant_west">
The top-performing fund for the year was BT’s Super for Life 1960s Lifestage, which returned 18.6%, while even the worst-performing fund in the growth category returned a healthy 10.2%.
Master trusts, with their higher weighting to listed shares and listed property (59% versus 55%), finished the financial year ahead of industry funds, returning 16.1% versus 15.9% - only the third time that master trusts have finished ahead in the past ten years.
Over the longer term, however, industry funds maintain their dominance.
Master trusts are super funds that allow financial advisers to be more personally involved with clients in their super fund asset allocation.
Chant West director Warren Chant cautioned super fund members not to get carried away with a one year figure.
“You’ve always got to remember that superannuation is a long-term investment. There will be good times and bad times, and you certainly can’t expect returns like this every year,” he said.
He says the typical return objective for a growth fund is to beat inflation by 3 to 4% (after investment fees and tax) over rolling five year periods which, in the current low inflation environment, translates to 6% to 7% per annum.
“To judge whether funds are meeting their long-term objectives, you really need to look back as far as you can, and certainly well past the GFC. 
“We now have reliable data for all the major funds going back 21 years to July 1992, which is when compulsory super came in, and if we look back over those 21 years we see that funds have achieved those objectives. 
"The annualised return over that period is 7.5%, the annual CPI increase is 2.6%, so the real return above inflation has averaged 4.9% per annum. 
“As for the risk objective, there were three negative years out of the past 21 which averages out to one in seven, so that target was also met. The bottom line is that, over the 21 years in which we’ve had compulsory super, Australia’s major funds have done what they set out to do,” Chant says.
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Listed property trusts help super funds to best returns in 16 years: Chant West

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Singapore-based CapitaLand will retain its 59% stake in listed property group Australand after failing to secure a “sufficiently compelling” offer.
The announcement comes just a day before Australand releases its half-year results and a day after there was speculation in the Fairfax press that Stockland may make a bid for Australand.
Australand's share price had soared from around $3.20 in mid-June to close at $3.61 yesterday.
However it fell to $3.49 in early trading following the announcement.
Australand issued a statement to the ASX yesterday notifying the market that the process of seeking a buyer had concluded and that indicative proposals had been received from “various parties for all and parts of the business which commenced in early 2013”.
“However, no proposal was able to be developed that was superior to business as usual,” said Australand.
It added that CapitaLand would continue to receive a “steady stream of recurring income” from Australand’s from its commercial and industrial properties, its industrial development business and would benefit from “the improved outlook for the residential sector in key Australian cities”.
A statement submitted by CapitaLand noted that indicative proposals had been received but none were "sufficiently compelling".
Bidders for parts of Australand included GPT, which had its $2.8 billion bid to acquire Australand’s investment property portfolio and commercial and industrial businesses rejected in December.
GPT withdrew its interest at the end of May as did US private equity giant Blackstone.
Mirvac was also tipped as a possible buyer - though this was never confirmed.
A block share trade of CapitaLand holding was also mooted.
The Australian Financial Review's Street Talk column reported that Perth-based residential developer the Satterley Property Group was interested in acquiring Australand's WA and Victorian residential land assets.
Hadley Green Investment Group director Mark Wist commented to Property Observer that the combination of an investment portfolio and a residential property development business would not have appealed to a wide range of potential providers - hence interest amongst interested parties in only acquiring parts of the Australand business.
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CapitaLand to retain majority stake in Australand ahead of half-year results announcement

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Property investing is set to become more male-dominated over the coming years, according to a new survey by mortgage comparison website RateCity.com.au.
It found that of those people who plan to invest over the next 12 months, 63% are men compared with 37% who are women.
Two years ago, the results were a lot closer with 58% prospective investors being men compared with 42% being women.
The results are compiled from RateCity database and the Nielsen CMV National Online Survey comprising responses from 69,592 Australians in 2013 and 32,924 in 2011.
Property investing is also growing  more appealing for younger Australians with the survey finding that those aged between 25 and 34 are the biggest age group intending to invest in property in the next 12 months.
This has changed from the end of 2011 when the biggest age group planning to invest in property was 35-44.
Overall, there was a slight increase of Australians planning to invest in property, with about 3% of the 69,592 people surveyed by Nielson planning to do so over the next 12 months - this excludes people who already own property.
Out of these people, 56% agree that it’s a good time to invest more, which shows that investors are more positive about the property investment market.
“It’s easy to see why property investment is an attractive option for many young Australians because of their risk profile,” says Alex Parsons, CEO of RateCity.
“They have more time to invest in property as property investment is generally a long-term strategy. It’s probably the first time for many young people to invest and property is a lower risk investment than other investment types.”
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Gender divide widens as men show greater affinity for property investing: RateCity survey

How have the investor magazine hotspots fared two years on?

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Another non-bank mortgage lender that uses money raised from small investors to fund property developments has run into trouble.
Bairnsdale-based Gippsland Secured investments (GSI), which has raised around $154 million from just over 5,000 savings accounts, has suspended further redemptions of ‘at call’ and term investments.
The funds have been frozen as of July 19 with GIS warning that information from an ongoing review of “certain loan assets and security properties” will show that “there will be material increase in GSI's provisions for impairment of loans".
Selling its debentures and loans via six branches in East Gippsland, GIS offered fixed investments offering returns of 5.2% per annum for three months rising to 5.6% for 24 months with ‘at call’ investments offering a 5.2% return for SMSFs only.
“Mortgage secured loans for any purpose,” says the GIS website.
GIS reached the $150 million investment funds milestone in July last year with the funds used to finance “local people and projects within the Gippsland region”. Photos on the website show residential development projects.
It reported a loss of $63,000 for the six months to December 2012 with $126.4 million lent out for terms of less than 12 months and $2.9 million worth of loans impaired.
It follows the collapse of another regional <a href="/news">Victoria debenture issuer and mortgage lender Banksia</a> and the collapse of Queensland-based LM Investment Management and Wickham Securities and NSW-based Provident Capital.
All offered investors – mainly ‘mom and dad’ investors and retirees with self-managed superfunds – high returns with the funds lent on as mortgages, often on high risk property developments.
In many cases these companies acted as lender of last resort because the developer could not secure funds from the mainstream lending market.
GIS’s most recent Summer 2013 newsletter mentions that its final results were “hindered slightly by the adverse fallout from the demise of Banksia Finance (based in Kyabram) and the purchase of Southern Finance (based in Warrnambool) by Bendigo Bank.
“Although having no direct connection with either company, we do operate in the same industry and so it’s no real surprise that the negative sentiment impacted on us to at least some degree,” wrote Glenn Sanford, managing director of GIS.
“GSI continues to actively manage its key financial drivers such as liquidity and capital on an ongoing basis and we are comfortable with the current settings.
“GSI is an independent business, operating a straight forward business model that has stood the test of time,” say the directors in the newsletter.
Sanford along with another director, John Stephenson, are the treasurer and chairman respectively of Provic Group Inc - an industry body representing nine debenture/note issuing companies based in regional centres across Victoria and southern New South Wales.
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Investor funds worth $154 million frozen in rural non-bank lender Gippsland Secured Investments

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Larry Schlesinger

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