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I am always amazed when Australians talk about their assets: they’ll tell you about their houses, their businesses or their boats.
It surprises me because in my opinion, your greatest asset is the ability to generate revenue.
I was reminded of this a few days ago when I was told of the plumber who had a stroke, leaving his wife with no form of income to cover the mortgage and other bills. When she called on her husband’s accountant to sort out the business, she got a surprise: he had income protection insurance.
Not every wife who calls her husband’s accountant gets a response like that.
Our economy has shifted to high rates of self-employment in the past 30 years, with professionals and tradies selling their services on a contracted basis. Although you see this most prominently on construction sites and mines, the legal, accounting, management and engineering professions have all moved towards contracting during my time in the work force.
This shift has been good for the economy and good for the contractors (in most cases), but I’ve noticed a glaring lack of sickness and injury safety nets in the contracting fields. The unions, over the decades, built a solid system of sick leave and workers’ compensation to protect the families of a worker who got sick.
But most contractors do not fall under the award system, and they also do not have the most basic of protection coverage: income protection.
Income protection insurance pays a percentage of a sick worker’s income during a period of inability to work due to injury or illness. The insured usually agrees to a waiting period, for instance you may have to be off work for two weeks before you are considered incapacitated.
It’s an invaluable expense for self-employed people because it goes some of the way to securing that crucial asset – income – while you’re lying on your back recovering.
The last research I saw on this subject was from AXA. It found that among self-employed males, only 23% of income was covered, and among female contractors, only 14% of income was protected.
At the same time, 89% of Australians have comprehensive car insurance.
If you’re a self-employed person in a household where your income is the main or the sole source of revenue, you should consider what happens to the bills and the mortgage and the vehicle costs if you have to spend a few months off work.
I’m not talking about a workplace accident, because when you operate through a company structure you need workers’ comp coverage, and most mining and construction companies won’t allow a contractor on the property without first showing his or her workers’ comp slip.
I’m talking about the scrapes and misfortunes that people go through away from the workplace: the broken leg at netball, the tummy bug in Bali, the stroke, the bout of pneumonia, the stomach ulcer, the hernia operation, the chemotherapy, etc. In short, the medical dramas that seem to happen to someone else until they happen to us.
The protracted global financial crisis has made us focus on our finances, and consequently Australians are pulling out of consumer debt and not taking mortgages in anywhere near the volumes they did pre-GFC.
This behaviour is essentially a de-risking of households – a choice to not hold debt lest something happen that reduces the capacity to pay it back.
There’s another way of looking at the same concern: insure your income.
For those who haven’t done it, I suggest you talk to either a financial adviser or to an insurance broker. Life insurance is not enough – it’s a welcome safety net to the people you leave behind when you die, and you should definitely have it if you are the main breadwinner and you have a mortgage.
But what if you can’t work for two months? You’re still alive, but that’s long enough to put the house at risk, to miss car payments, to max out credit cards and to put undue financial stress on your family.
Many self-employed people belong to a professional or trade organisation that offers income protection insurance, but they can’t make you take it.
I urge those who have not covered their income to at least talk to a broker and discuss why it is that you’d insure your car but not your main source of financial security.
Income is your greatest asset – it’s worth protecting.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
This article first appeared in News Ltd. newspapers
 
 
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Insure your greatest asset – your income: Mark Bouris

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The major banks independently lifted their mortgage rates last week, and I was surprised with the number of questions I was being asked.
Many mortgage borrowers want to switch to a cheaper lender after these interest rate rises, but they’re confused about three questions: how much money will I save? What options do I have outside the major banks? And, is it worth the hassle of switching?
Let’s start with the first question: the answer is that you can save hundreds from your first new mortgage payment and you can save tens of thousands over the life of the new loan.
Let’s say two customers have an average $350,000, 30-year mortgage. The Westpac customer, with a standard variable rate of 7.46%, will pay $55,440 more over the life of the loan than the Yellow Brick Road customer, who has a rate of 6.84%.
Even a NAB customer, with the lowest standard variable rate of the big banks, will pay $38,160 more than a Yellow Brick Road customer.
This is simply the comparison sitting on my desk right now. Your job is to find your own examples and know how much you will pay over the life of your loan and then run different interest rates through the online calculators.
This brings me to the second question: what mortgage options are available to me?
To understand your options, I suggest two paths: you get online and research the comparison web sites, or you see a mortgage broker.
There are many comparison sites available on the internet. The service I find simplest is Canstar Star Ratings, but there are quite a few.
You should start by knowing exactly how your current loan works: the interest rate, the features, the fees, etc. Perhaps make a list of what you like about your current loan, because even if you think you’re paying too much, there may be features that you have come to rely on, such as 100% offset, fortnightly payments and easy redraw.
Be honest about the features – their value may be greater than what you can save.
Scroll down and look at how many home loans are cheaper than you’re paying, and then weed them out until you find the loans that also have the features and fees you want.
If it’s too daunting or time consuming, you can see a mortgage broker. These experts know the market and can match you with the best priced and best featured home loan.
It’s very rare that a broker can’t find a better loan than the one you have already – it’s their job.
The harder you look, the more you’ll find lenders you may not have heard of: credit unions, regional banks, building societies and mutuals.
Don’t be put off by their supposed obscurity. According to Abacus, the industry body for the Australian mutual sector, there are 119 mutual lenders in this country with a combined 4.6 million customers. Generally speaking, these lenders are the ones with the lower interest rates because they don’t need the high profit margins that the big banks rely on.
Armed with options and convinced you can save money, is it a hassle to actually change a home loan?
That depends on how organised you are. Personally I don’t think a few hours of collecting paperwork is a high price to pay for saving $40,000.
I suggest you do it this way: organise a new, lower-priced loan at a lender. You will need proof of identity, of employment and of earnings.
You’ll receive a written loan offer in which the new lender will commit to “buying out” your current loan, without exit fees of course.
Your options will now expand because in my experience, nine times out of 10 your current bank – when contacted by the new lender – will offer to match your new rate.
Having gone through this process, you now have real choice: choice of price and choice of who you borrow from. You have answered your own questions and come out with a better result than when you started.
This is how home lending should operate. That fact that it doesn’t frustrates me.
Borrowers either become complacent about their set-and-forget mortgage, or they’re scared of changing from a big bank.
What I would tell them is that the first thing you do when you change mortgage is change your attitude.
So you’d like to save $40,000 over the life of a mortgage? It could be time to change your attitude.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
This article first appeared in News Ltd. newspapers
 
 
 
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Don’t be afraid to refinance – it could save you tens of thousands: Mark Bouris

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The decision to keep official interest rates on hold last week means the economy is looking strong in the opinion of the Reserve Bank economists.
While most of the metrics considered by the Reserve Bank – European sovereign debt, the US economy, Chinese growth – are out of our control, the consequence of changing interest rates impacts on everything we do.
When we wait for the RBA’s decision on the cash rate at the start of each month, we tend to convince ourselves that interest rates are the only thing that counts in a home loan. But a mortgage is not only about price; there are also features and service, either of which can be as important as price.
I’ve written recently about mortgage pricing, pointing out that the big four banks have 90% of all new mortgages, yet their mortgage rates are around one percentage point higher than many of the non-banks and credit unions’ home loans.
And when it comes to features there are lenders who still won’t let you pay fortnightly, won’t let you access 100% offset on the loan account and won’t allow redraws on your excess mortgage payments.
So, price and features differ in the mortgage market, but it’s service that may be the most important.
Borrowing to buy property is a long-term commitment and is the largest debt most people will ever take on. Most borrowers admit they need advice, guidance and management. They need service.
When I was young, loan managers at the banks formed relationships with the people they approved: they visited customers at their homes; they came over to say hello when they saw you at the club; they gave advice and they contacted you personally if the loan was in arrears.
I’m not claiming that this was a golden era of customer service: banks themselves thought it prudent for loan managers to stay close to borrowers, to know their customers, to be proactive when someone lost a job or there was a matrimonial break-up.
When the 1990s started and hundreds of bank branches were being shut down, we were sold on a new version of the bank-customer dynamic. We were told that relationships were inefficient and the new era was about transactions.
If you look at all the advances in banking in the past 25 years, most of them are concerned with transactions: ATMs, phone banking, internet banking, iPhone apps. And we love it.
But what about service?
Back in the ‘90s, my business offered mortgages about one percentage point lower than the banks’, and we worked on having the best standard variable rate mortgage in the market, with redraw facilities, weekly and fortnightly payments, etc.
But the interesting part was the service. Originally, some high-paid American banking consultants advised us to build an electronic, distributed banking model, which essentially meant no branches but lots of call centre and internet access.
Guess what? The borrowers wanted service. They wanted a branch on a high street, where a manager took an interest in their circumstances and was part of the community. They wanted advice, guidance and management.
We started building branches, we trained loan managers who became their own small business owners and we ensured that the mortgage was not simply a transaction or a product: it was a relationship in which both the lender and the borrower were invested.
By 2003, the non-bank lenders had taken 15% of the Australian mortgage market, from a standing start in 1995.
And it wasn’t only the non-banks proving that Australians wanted to talk to experts about their mortgages. We have also seen the rise of mortgage brokers since the mid-1990s as borrowers sought out an actual person to give guidance.
Brokers now account for around 43% of all new mortgages in this country.
So now, even in a time when technology is king, service is still at the centre of the proposition for Yellow Brick Road.
I think it’s OK for Australians to feel uncomfortable with the transaction-based mortgage approach and to start demanding that they deal with a loan manager they can see, a face they can recognise and an expert they can be guided by.
Service has not died out. Ask someone who’s really happy with their mortgage: nine times out of 10 they’ll have a relationship with their lender.
Good service with your mortgage is still available, but if you want it you have to make a choice.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ybr.com.au/">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
This article first appeared in News Ltd. newspapers
 
 
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Service counts when finding a mortgage broker: Mark Bouris

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General investors and superannuation contributors did not do well over 2011.
The Australian share market lost about 15% of its value, and SuperRatings reports that even conservative “balanced” super funds went backwards by 1.9%.
House values in Australia’s capital cities dropped by around 3% to 4% during 2011.
So what should people be investing in this year?
I suggest a serious look at investing in property and renting it out to tenants.
There are several reasons for this outlook, including soft house prices, strong rental demand and the prospect of solid total returns.
You ideally want to buy the property at a time when real estate is in the downturn phase of its cycle, you want to rent it out when rental demand is high, and these two factors should come together to produce a total return that not only beats inflation but also compares favourably with alternative investments.
One of the first rules of buying property is that you must not overpay. This is important for two reasons: firstly, you don’t want your income from the property being overshadowed by high mortgage repayments; and secondly, capital growth in the property is as important as the monthly cashflow from rental income, and you will enjoy greater capital gains when you buy the property for a lower price.
With property prices having been flat or going backwards for two years, it seems like a good time to buy.
Property can also be looked at in terms of affordability, and affordability is attractive for investors right now. Disposable household incomes grew about 6% in the year to September 2011 while dwelling values declined by a total of 3.3% since May 2010, according to RP Data-Rismark research.
Rismark says disposable incomes per household have risen about 15% further than capital city dwelling values since the end of 2003.
When many people buy investment properties, they simply want to buy the cheapest place they can find and rent it for the highest rent they can charge. I advise potential landlords to hold out for a property that is in a sought-after area, close to shops, transport and schools.
There is no point having a rental property that you can afford when no one wants to pay you to live in it.
Then you have to look at rental demand because when you buy an investment property, you are going into business as a landlord.
On this score, there’s some good news for property investors. Weekly rents across the capital cities rose 1% over the December 2011 quarter and are 6.3% higher than at the same time last year.
This suggests rental demand is exceeding supply, which is good for landlords. Anecdotally, you hear stories of people queuing to see the good properties and offering to pay more rent than advertised to secure the property.
While this is a good result financially, it’s also a benefit in terms of tenant management. One of the biggest headaches for a landlord is a bad tenant, but when demand is strong you don’t have to take the first applicant. You can pick the tenant who is best suited to your property and who has the best record.
If you feel you can buy cheaply in the current property market and you can take advantage of the strong rental demand, then you have to think about your total return.
The total gross return enjoyed by property investors around Australia has averaged 1% per cent over 2011, much better than the 15% losses experienced in Aussie shares.
The average capital city apartment is now offering a gross rental return of 5.1%.
This is looking like a strong scenario for investors wanting to buy property, and if the current financial market pricing for further interest rate cuts comes to pass, the outlook for housing in 2012 looks positive for not only owner-occupiers, but landlords too.
As a final hint to first time property investors, I would urge you to take professional advice before entering into this: consult a solicitor or accountant about your tax position as a landlord, use an insurance broker to get the right insurances, and spend some time finding the right property management company.
It’s a good time to be a landlord, but only if you do it properly.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ybr.com.au/">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
This article originally appeared in News Ltd. papers.
 
 
 
 
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Now is a good time to become a landlord, but you must do it properly: Mark Bouris

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I kicked off 2012 with a tweet where I asked followers what they thought the biggest issues would be in the new year. The first response was mortgage interest rates and the domination of the big banks.
It's an interesting concept and one that I think Australians have been sold short on. What do I mean by this? Simply that the solution to the problem of high mortgage rates and mortgage domination by a few players is almost entirely the result of borrowers' choice.
There is an interesting situation in Australia right now where the big four trading banks write more than 90% of all new mortgages. That's a highly dominant position by world standards. You'd expect that the reason four banks write nine out of 10 mortgages is that they offer lower rates – something you'd expect given the scale that such market dominance affords.
But the big four are not cheaper: Canstar's RateCity comparison tables were posted on January 3, and I was having a look, seeing who was offering what right at the start of the new year. I was struck by how much more expensive the banks were: their standard variable rate mortgages were bunched together, from NAB's 7.22% to Westpac's 7.36%, with Commonwealth's 7.31% and ANZ's 7.3% in the middle. Yet there were more than 20 mortgage lenders with standard available rates about one percentage point cheaper than the big banks. These are credit unions and non-bank lenders, mostly.
We also know that the government changed the law last year so that Australians could switch from their current mortgage to another one without paying penalties – the exit fee ban. And we also know that because of the internet and the rise of mortgage brokers, there's never been as much information available as there is now.
From my perspective it's clear that mortgage interest rates are high for 90% of Australians because they choose to have it this way. I experienced this a decade ago when I was the executive chairman of Wizard Home Loans. Together with other non-bank lenders – Aussie and RAMS – we offered mortgages with better prices, service and products. By 2003, non-bank lenders had about 15% of the mortgage market and banks had halved their mortgage margins. Now? Non-banks have 1% of the mortgage market and their interest rates are much lower than the bank competition.
The answer 10 years ago was the same as it is today. If borrowers want the best deal for themselves they have to exercise their right to choose.
That's what makes a vibrant free market: providers making their best offer, and consumers making a choice.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://neoskosmos.com/news/en/Peoples-choice" target="_blank">Neokosmos.com</a>
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Borrowers must exercise their freedom of choice: Mark Bouris

A who's who of Australian surfing, business and entertainment has emerged on title records following the completion of Esprit Rainbow Bay, the latest boutique beachfront apartment development by former professional surfer Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects.

The completed project has attracted an enviable collection of owners, many with long-standing ties to the southern Gold Coast and the surf culture that has helped define Rainbow Bay and neighbouring Kirra for generations.

Given Gedoun's own background in surfing, it perhaps comes as little surprise that some of Australia's most recognisable surfers have chosen to buy into the development overlooking one of the country's most celebrated stretches of coastline.

Pezet Matheson directors Jayde Pezet and Todd Matheson launched the project in late 2021, and have managed the sales campaign all the way through to its sell-out and recent completion.

<img alt="Esprit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fc6261-b84e-4b09-8a44-66d3067fd0d1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-29%20at%208.51.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4AOcb6ETZwNUnMPdTtz1B3pZAIB_jgZ2" />

Former world champion Mick Fanning, who grew up in Coolangatta, secured an apartment in 2023. He paid&nbsp;$2.07 million. Last year he sold his Bilinga home for over $16 million.

Three-time world champion Joel Parkinson also purchased in the development, alongside big wave surfer Mark Mathews. Mathews bought the most expensive apartment in the building, spending just over $4 million.

Joining them is Rip Curl founder Doug Warbrick, whose company helped shape Australia's global surfing industry over the past five decades.

The appeal of Rainbow Bay has extended well beyond the surfing community.

International DJ Paul Fisher purchased an apartment through his investment vehicle, YLB Developments, an abbreviation of his trademark phrase "You Little Beauty".

The purchase comes as Fisher and his wife Chloe are developing their own luxury apartment project further north in Palm Beach. Their boutique beachfront development, Pescado, comprises just seven apartments on Jefferson Lane, which start from just shy of $6 million. The couple intend to retain the two-level penthouse as their Australian base between international touring commitments.

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and his wife Wendy have also invested in Esprit, purchasing two apartments after spending decades holidaying on the southern Gold Coast. They also have a luxury apartment in Joe Adsett's Rockpool, less than 400m away from Esprit.

<h2>Boutique project draws owner-occupiers</h2>

Esprit launched in 2021 and sold strongly, with buyers drawn to its boutique scale, beachfront position and contemporary design.

The completed development comprises 94 apartments across 11 levels, offering expansive floorplans designed primarily for owner-occupiers rather than the investor market.

Crowning the building is Club Esprit, pitched as being the Gold Coast's first residential rooftop wellness centre. The roof features a&nbsp;25 metre magnesium lap pool, which is surrounded by wet daybeds and poolside cabanas,&nbsp;multiple barbecue areas,&nbsp;a yoga and relaxation play lawn, and a private dining room with a kitchen scullery, bar, lounges, and an outdoor terrace.

The wellness centre is&nbsp;fully equipped with a Technogym, ice bath, infra-red sauna, steam room, thermal room, and treatment room. The roof has views spanning&nbsp;Rainbow Bay, Snapper Rocks and the Pacific Ocean.

<h2>S&amp;S Projects continues to shape Rainbow Bay</h2>

S&amp;S Projects founder Paul Gedoun has become one of the key figures behind Rainbow Bay's evolution over the past several years.

After establishing S&amp;S Projects, Gedoun has focused on delivering lifestyle-driven apartment developments designed primarily for owner-occupiers seeking a permanent coastal home.

Esprit is Gedoun's third completed project in Rainbow Bay, following Flow and Awaken, both of which achieved record prices for the suburb.

He is now delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, a 38-apartment development on Boundary Street that is currently selling, and has no plans to leave the precinct anytime soon. S&amp;S Projects has also lodged plans for its fifth Rainbow Bay development, an 88-apartment project on Boundary Street featuring a strong wellness focus.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">First look: S&amp;S Projects proposes 88-apartment wellness tower at Coolangatta's Boundary Street</a>

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Joel Robinson

Who's who of buyers revealed as Esprit Rainbow Bay settles

Nature Based Cities (NBC), the not-for-profit organisation focused on improving biodiversity and nature outcomes in urban development, has launched its latest industry design guidelines and accreditation framework, this time targeting precinct-scale residential communities.

The move extends NBC’s influence beyond its initial focus on medium and high-density residential developments. Several projects have already achieved NBC accreditation since the launch of its Medium &amp; High-Density Residential Guidelines in early 2025.

The expansion into masterplanned communities and new residential precincts reflects the growing need for stronger nature-positive benchmarks as Australia’s outer suburban growth corridors continue to expand at pace.

Paul Hameister OAM, NBC Founder and the Executive Chairman of Melbourne developer Hamton who itself leans heavily into nature and biodiversity in its developments, says the&nbsp;nature-first approach to mitigate the effects of climate change has become standard in other parts of the world such as the UK, but Australia is lagging.&nbsp;Australia’s environmentally sustainable design (ESD) rating tools have no minimum mandatory requirements for living landscapes.

“We’ve always wanted to do more, and we know other developers who want to do more, but the ESD rating tools just aren’t there,” Hameister says. “In Australia, you can have a five-green-star rated building that’s concrete and glass with not a blade of grass. 
 
“The focus is on reducing emissions, which is laudable, but there hasn’t been enough attention paid to protecting and re-establishing nature. We need both for the health of the environment and for communities.”

He says that having now&nbsp;made good progress in supporting developers of medium and high-density residential projects, NBC is now looking to bolster better nature-based decision-making and recognise developers of greenfield projects in the outer ring and large inner-ring brownfield precincts, who want to champion nature and living landscape as a defining feature.

Since 2022, the not-for-profit has sought to remove the roadblocks preventing developers from incorporating nature and living landscapes into their projects, shifting the conversation from the reduction of emissions and grey infrastructure, toward recognising nature as an essential infrastructure.

The New Communities Design Guidelines and Scorecard arm developers with the tools needed to deliver a nature positive outcome for their new communities. Intended to be adopted at the outset of the planning process, the guidelines are designed to help create communities that are cooler, healthier and more resilient while also enhancing social wellbeing and long-term economic value.&nbsp;

New Communities developers seeking accreditation will be independently assessed across a range of key criteria including ecology, tree canopy, biodiversity, and walkability. Once the masterplan is complete and submitted for approval, the scorecard is formalised based on proposed outcomes. Projects that meet the NBC criteria will receive either Commended or Exemplary accreditation outcomes, creating a clear benchmark for nature-positive new communities in Australia.&nbsp;

Janis Fischer, Director at Tract and NBC Advisory Council member, said the development of new communities in our suburbs can have a substantial impact on nature and biodiversity.

"By incorporating nature-based design principles at the inception of a project, developers and their design teams can achieve nature positive outcomes that are good for both people and the planet.’’&nbsp;

NBC accredited New Community projects will gain access to NBC branding and marketing tools to help communicate their nature-based credentials to purchasers and the broader market.&nbsp;

Nature Based Cities: A new Australian benchmark for developing nature-positive new communities

Apartment buildings are increasingly being designed around how people actually live day to day, not just how they want a building to look.

For buyers, that shift is showing up in practical inclusions that respond to changing habits. Work-from-home spaces, EV charging, wellness amenities, secure bike storage and parcel management are becoming part of the broader apartment conversation, reflecting a move toward buildings that reduce friction in everyday life.

Online shopping has become one of the clearest examples of that change.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online. That has made parcel delivery a regular part of apartment living, rather than an occasional inconvenience.

For apartment residents, however, the delivery process can be less straightforward than it is for detached homes. Parcels may be left in lobbies, redirected to Post Offices, missed entirely, or placed under the responsibility of building managers and concierge teams.

That is why secure parcel infrastructure is increasingly being considered alongside more familiar apartment amenities.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-VjjLwoViX0?si=A3k7ws9NX35Uac7_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Australia Post Parcel Lockers offer one way to address the issue. When a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS, then collect it using a QR code or one-time PIN. The parcel is kept secure, accessible and removed from common areas.

The broader Parcel Locker network now includes more than 1,500 locations across Australia, positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and other accessible locations.

For new apartment projects, the relevance is clear. A building’s amenity offering is no longer only about lifestyle spaces, but also about convenience, security and functionality.

As buyer expectations evolve, secure parcel delivery is becoming part of the same design conversation as flexible working, sustainable transport and resident wellbeing.

It is one less thing for residents to worry about, and another example of apartment design adapting to the way Australians now live.

Apartment design is adapting to the way Australians shop

While school holidays and trips to Europe tend to define the winter property market, there's been no cold snap at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> in North Sydney.

Developer-builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a> sold more than $35 million worth of apartments throughout June, including a $6.8 million apartment that now ranks among the highest apartment sales ever recorded in North Sydney.

SRM Residential agent Ben Stewart said buyer demand throughout June reflected a mix of improving market confidence and longer-term thinking from owner-occupiers.

"We're seeing strong demand from owner-occupiers who are taking a longer-term view," Stewart said.

"Many recognise the opportunity to secure an apartment in an iconic building and premium location while values remain attractive. They may initially lease the property, but the intention is to eventually move in themselves, rather than purchasing purely as an investment."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=367129]

Located at 177 Walker Street, The Walden will deliver 161 one, two, three and four-bedroom residences across a 30-storey tower designed by Rothelowman. Every apartment occupies a corner position, maximising natural light, cross ventilation and views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, Sydney Heads and the northern districts.

Rather than a traditional balcony, the residences feature winter gardens that seamlessly extend the open plan living areas, creating versatile spaces for relaxing or entertaining throughout the year. Floor-to-ceiling glazing draws in natural light while showcasing sweeping views from the building's elevated Walker Street position.

Every apartment features high-end Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, and fully integrated appliances.

The larger residences have been planned with distinct entertaining and private zones, with many master suites positioned on corners to capture natural light and harbour views. Walk-in dressing rooms, freestanding baths and refined stone finishes reinforce the house-like feel that has resonated with downsizers and owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6393]

Rothelowman Principal Ben Pomroy said the project was designed to make the most of its unique position overlooking the harbour.

"The Walden is a celebration of all things beautiful, curated for those who expect nothing less than exceptional," Pomroy says.

"Meticulously designed entertaining spaces and light-filled living areas that capitalise on capturing the natural beauty of Sydney's iconic harbour."

Residents will also have exclusive access to The Pavilion, a dedicated amenity building featuring a rooftop pool, wellness studio, gymnasium, sauna, concierge service, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and work-from-home facilities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6402]

The project marks ALAND's first major luxury apartment development in Sydney's inner-city market after more than two decades delivering residential communities across Greater Sydney.

Founder and CEO Andrew Hrsto previously said the rarity of the Walker Street site made it an opportunity the company could not overlook.

"This is a rare opportunity to bring a truly exceptional project to life in one of Sydney's most iconic locations, and to showcase our craftsmanship and design expertise at a world-class level," Hrsto said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6383]

The Walden has been introduced to the market at a time when demand for living in North Sydney is at an all-time high. Billions of dollars have been invested in infrastructure, including the recently opened Victoria Cross Metro station, located just 300 metres from The Walden, providing residents with direct access to the Sydney CBD in just minutes.

Private investment has also transformed the area through the arrival of new retail and dining destinations, elevating the lifestyle offering in what was once considered primarily a commercial precinct rather than an aspirational residential address.

The Walden is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

ALAND records $35 million in sales in North Sydney as The Walden bucks quiet winter selling season

The long-awaited redevelopment of the former Eastlakes Shopping Centre site has reached a major milestone, with Conquest's plans for a new mixed-use precinct officially placed on public exhibition.

The State Significant Development Application would transform the 1.7-hectare site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/19a-evans-avenue-eastlakes-nsw-2018">19A Evans Avenue</a> into one of Sydney's largest urban renewal projects, delivering 736 apartments above a new shopping centre anchored by Woolworths, alongside specialty retail, dining, commercial space and new public open spaces.

The public exhibition marks the next chapter for the project after <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/conquest">Conquest</a> acquired the stalled Stage Two development from Crown Group, who completed the first stage across the road prior to their voluntary liquidation.

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5fca22c5-d1ed-4e2c-8801-03f7df1eafc8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland%20podium.png?VersionId=uomwr41nF8CmLUZRDcu3mHQechlbxucS" />

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Designed by DKO Architecture, the proposal comprises four residential buildings ranging from 14 to 18 storeys above a two-level retail podium. The development would deliver 736 apartments, including 74 affordable homes, 215 Build-to-Rent apartments and 521 market residences. Provision has also been made for dual-key apartments, which could increase the total number of dwellings to 877.

At ground level, the shopping centre has been designed as the suburb's new meeting place, anchored by a full-line Woolworths and complemented by a curated mix of fresh food retailers, cafés, restaurants, health services and everyday convenience shopping. Generous pedestrian links and landscaped public spaces will connect the retail precinct through to Jack Mundey Reserve, creating a more walkable and connected neighbourhood.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

"Eastlakes has been overlooked for too long, and this is the community’s moment. We are building a shopping centre and homes, a genuine heart for the suburb, and we genuinely want locals to help shape it."

"We enrich communities through the creation of homes, places, and experiences designed for life, built to last, and owner for generations. That starts with listening, so we warmly encourage everyone with a connection to Eastlakes to view the plans and share their thoughts."

<img alt="First look: Conquest unveils plans for 736-home Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22f6fb20-54fb-4bd7-8a92-48fafdd00608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/eastland.png?VersionId=cugp7s9hrMHGJJdYzkeAkrFoQgnF4GXf" />

DKO said the design had been shaped by the site's landscape setting and surrounding open space.

"Our vision for the site embraces its unique Bidjigal identity by blending the residential living with generous landscaping and a material palette inspired by the Bidjigal locality, and celebrating the panoramic views to Botany Bay and the wetlands reserves."

"Taking cues from Country, we seek to harmonise built form with the landscape and lightly touch the earth. By reconnecting, retaining and regenerating existing ecology, and weaving in natural elements, we can deepen our connection to Country."

The landscape strategy extends across the podium and rooftops, incorporating communal gardens, children's play areas, lawns, community gardens, family gathering spaces and extensive tree planting. New landscaped links will also strengthen the connection between the precinct and Jack Mundey Reserve, while publicly accessible open spaces have been integrated throughout the development.

The proposal builds on Conquest's broader placemaking strategy for the site. Through an ongoing partnership, local artist Joe Rashbrook has been appointed Urban Art Curator, working alongside young residents to transform the project's site hoardings into a public art gallery that allows the community to engage with the redevelopment before construction is complete.

Conquest has rapidly expanded its development pipeline since acquiring the Eastlakes site, with more than $6 billion worth of mixed-use projects now in planning across Sydney, including Stanmore, Castlecrag and Waterloo.

Conquest CEO Michael Akkawi said the redevelopment was about far more than replacing a shopping centre.

Mark Bouris

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