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Geelong girl Portia De Rossi and her wife Ellen DeGeneres are on the property radar again, this time relisting their Thousand Oaks horse ranch.
Located in the Hidden Valley area of Thousand Oaks, the 10.5-hectare horse ranch is listed for $10.995 million.
The property features eight bedrooms and ten bathrooms.
The couple bought the ranch in 2008 for $8.5 million and has since given it a full makeover.
They listed it two years later for $16.5 million and then dropped the price to $14.9 million.
The property features eight farmhouse-style cabins, two barns, stables, a tennis court and a yoga pavilion.
The couple never drops off the property spectrum for long, having <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/aussies-keeping-us-realtors-busy-olivia-newton-john-portia-de-rossi-and-frank-lowy/2013062661728" target="_blank">bought an estate in Montecito California</a> in June for a reported $26.5 million.
The 980-square-metre Saladino Villa boasts six bedrooms, a gourmet country kitchen with a beamed ceiling and a library/media room.
The home sits on 5.2 hectares and features an ocean-view swimming pool, 18th century Spanish entry gates and a 2,000-year-old roman column.
Saladino Villa was originally listed for $24.5 million in 2010 but the price was dropped in January 2012 to $22 million, according to Zillow.
DeGeneres owns several other properties in Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills.
The equestrian ranch is listed with Suzanne Perkins and Patrick Martin of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.sothebyshomes.com/Santa-Barbara-Real-Estate/sales/0113732?utm_campaign=OLDP-Zillow&amp;utm_source=zillow&amp;utm_medium=oldp&amp;utm_content=listing" target="_blank">Sotheby’s International Realty.</a>
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Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi re-list horse ranch for $10.995 million

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It was a busy weekend last Saturday in Sydney for land estates, with Sekisui House's latest land release snapped up, and eager buyers camping out for the release of Landcom's Cadden's Estate.
Sekisui House’s latest release of land at The Hermitage at Gledswood Hills secured the sale of 90% of the available lots selling over the launch weekend. 
Located in Sydney’s Macarthur/South West region, the Gabriel’s Run release included 54 lots.
Lots range in size from 375 square metres to 590 square metres and range in price from $225,000 to $300,000.
Some 50% of the sales were to partner builders and 50% were to homebuyers.
“We noticed a greater sense of urgency among buyers of this release, all looking for quality location and proximity to amenity,” says Sekisui House Project Director for NSW and QLD Craig D’Costa.
“We sold this release via appointment and this has appealed to buyers who like the exclusivity and attention they get through the process,” says D’Costa.
On completion, Gabriel’s Run will include more than 200 lots.
The snappy sales have meant the next land release is expected to be released in the next six to eight weeks, a year ahead of schedule.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/land/environmentally-minded-buyers-snap-up-sekisui-s-western-sydney-project-the-hermitage-perhaps-drawn-by-satoyama/2012030753713">The Hermitage</a> is set on a 312-hectare site and will feature a central three-kilometre green corridor and more than 10 kilometres of bicycle and pedestrian walkways.
The estate will also feature a hilltop village with boutique convenience shopping, cafes and community facilities.
“The Hermitage is a compelling option for buyers because it comes with a clear vision for the future and with over 60 homes now complete and almost 150 residents moved in, people can see this rapidly coming to life on a daily basis,” says D’Costa.
Gabriel’s Run was named after a local identity, Gabriel Louis Marie Huon de Kerillian, who owned the 200-year-old colonial convict-built Gledswood Homestead.
“Honouring the past and making it relevant for the present is very much the Sekisui House way, so each stage, park, path or public space will in some way acknowledge the historical or geographical significance of its location,” says D’Costa.
The Hermitage is the Japanese company’s first Australian master-planned community.
In Penrith’s Claremont Meadows, eager buyers reportedly camped out from Friday August 16 in hopes of securing a block in the Caddens estate.
The sales ran as a ‘first come, first served basis’, with four of the 35 lots selling by noon on Saturday.
Land in the Caddens Estate is priced from $260,000 and lots range in size from 350 square metres to 563 square metres.
On completion, Caddens will include 1,250 dwellings.
The median house price in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Penrith</a> is $365,000, a 12.3% change in the past five years, according to RP Data.
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Busy weekend in Sydney land sales as a few buyers camp out and buy up

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Her Majesty’s Hotel in South Yarra is to be finally redeveloped and restored into 16 apartments, including four penthouses.
Developed by Bravo Properties Developer, apartments range in price from $875,000 to $2.45 million. 
Located on Davis Avenue, apartments will feature terrazzo or parquetry flooring and three-metre high ceilings, with interiors by David Hicks.
The kitchens will include a centrally located marble bench with Miele or Gaggenau appliances.
Residences will have access to a fitness centre and spa.
The first hotel to operate on the corner of Toorak Road and Great Davis Avenue Road opened in 1870 and was known as the Royal Standard.
The Royal Standard was designed by Wilkinson &amp; Permewan and CB Abbott architects.
After many name changes, the hotel was rebuilt in 1889 and renamed Her Majesty’s Hotel.
The three-level apartment development is designed by Nicholas Day and will involve the inside of the building to be demolished to make way for modern development.
Original features will also be added back to the building, including a turret and the large verandah.
Hacer Group were appointed as builders in October last year.
<a href="https://bravoproperties.com.au/hermajestys/" target="_blank">Her Majesty’s Apartments</a> were marketed in 2011 as being finished in October 2013.
Apartments are now scheduled for completion in November 2015.
The median apartment price in <a href="/news">South Yarra</a> is $541,000, a 14.1% change in five years, according to RP Data.
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Her Majesty's Hotel South Yarra to become 16 boutique apartments

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The historic Yamble Homestead on Goolma Road – 40 kilometres north west of Mudgee – has sold having been listed with $1.45 million hopes.
It sold closer to $1.3 million, with listing agent Hugh bateman saying the vendors were incredibly happy.
The vendors purchased the run down home in 2003 for $820,000.
They were the first to ever own the property outside of the Lowe family.
Pioneer Sarah Lowe came to Mudgee in 1832 and selected a range of land, including Yamble.
Lowe’s brother-in-law Reginald Lowe is said to have designed Yamble.
The Gothic style, dual gabled red brick home includes four bedrooms, three bathrooms and is situated on 174 hectares.
The property has been recently renovated but features high ceilings, cedar joinery, timber floors and the original c1900 ballroom.
The home features a 3.5-kilometre frontage to the Cudgegon River, approximately 12 paddocks, a steel cattle yard, machinery shed and a workshop shed.
Approximately 36 hectares of land is sown to oats.
Hugh Bateman of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.thepropertyshop.com.au/buying/NSW/Central-West-Slopes/Mudgee/Lifestyle/1P1914">The Property Shop</a> held the listing.
The median house price in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Gulgong</a> is $308,500, a 40.9% change in the past five years, according to RP Data.
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Historic Yamble homestead in Gulgong sells

A double-storey brick balconied Victorian Terrace in Richmond has now been rented, having passed in at its recent auction and subsequently taken off the market.

Biggin &amp; Scott Richmond said&nbsp;there were two auction bidders.

It was then listed for sale at $1.18 million, but has&nbsp;now been rented out for $850 a week, which roughly reflects a 3.75% yield.

Located at 286 Burnley Street, Villa D&rsquo;Asti last sold in October 2010 for $1,125,000.

The four-bedroom property features a Caestar stone kitchen, open fireplaces and an alfresco courtyard garden.

Villa D&rsquo;Asti was built circa-1885 and boasts grand archways and ornate detailing.

The property was listed with Edward Hobbs of Biggin &amp; Scott Richmond.

The median house price in <a href="/news">Richmond</a> is $785,000, a growth of 13.1% over the past five years, according to RP Data.

Richmond Victorian terrace Villa D'Asti passed it at auction, now rented out for $850 a week

A nine-bedroom Noosa mansion has sold for an undisclosed price, having been most recently listed with a $9.25 million price guide.

No selling price has been revealed.

But Brinbara, hidden at the end of Sunshine Beach on its sprawling 3,595-square-metre two-title beachfront holding, was&nbsp;initially listed&nbsp;wth $14 million price hopes&nbsp;by property developer Michael Brown, the REMM builder and developer of the Myer Centre in Brisbane and Adelaide.

It&#39;s entered through iron security gates, down a winding driveway, past the tennis court with pavilion to the house with soaring porte-cochere. Inside the double entry doors is the massive foyer and the immediate framing of the ocean.

There&#39;s a sweeping staircase to most of its nine bedrooms.

It was built originally by Brian Wood for his wife Barbara hence the name Brinbara, bringing a bit of Toorak by the Sea when they first came to town.

Located on Webb Road, the&nbsp;property boasts a 70-metre water frontage.

The property was first listed in March 2011 with a $14 million price guide.

The home last traded in May 2003 for $7 million, and prior to that, for $3 million in 2001.

Brinbara was listed with <a href="https://www.offermann.com.au/buying/21_23_webb_road_sunshine_beach/" target="_blank">Nic Hunter of Tom Offermann Real Estate</a>, in conjunction with Tim McSweeney.

Undisclosed Sunshine Beach mansion sale after price drops from $14m to $9.25 million

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A 12-storey office building will be demolished to make way for a garment inspired residential complex opposite Treasury Gardens - known as 35 Spring Street.
The $350 million development will feature 270 apartments across 42 levels and will soar approximately 166 metres high.
Brett Griffiths of Colliers says the success in sales has been unbelievable.
"Owner occupiers account for 90% to 95% of buyers, with majority being downsizers," says Griffiths.
Grffiths says the buyers have been locals, with a large majority coming from the inner eastern pocket including Canterbury and Balwyn.
Developer Cbus Property has used architects Bates Smart to design the building, with the façade drawing on inspiration from the Flinders Lane garment trade.
The façade is based on fabric patterns that create a woven veil.
Apartment sizes range from 65 square metres to 330 square metres.
One-bedroom apartments start from $480,000 and two-bedroom apartments start from $770,000.
Two-bedroom apartments with garden views over Treasury Gardens start from $1.42 million and three-bedroom apartments with views start from $2 million.
Three half-floor penthouses are priced from $6 million.
The apartments will feature floor to ceiling glass windows and buyers will have the choice of three colour schemes.
Residents will have access to a gymnasium and a 25-metre pool with a deck and barbeque facilities.
The ground level will include a restaurant that will be open to the public.
The development has a scheduled completion date of mid 2017.
The median apartment price in <a href="/news">Melbourne</a> is $406,100, a 12.7% change in five years, according to RP Data.
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Flinders Lane garment trade inspired 35 Spring Street 70% sold

A five-bedroom architecturally designed home on Glyndon Avenue Brighton is currently under contract, having been listed with an $8 million price guide.

It reportedly fell just below the asking price.

Designed by BG Architecture, the home features natural and reconstituted stone and rich timber finishes.

Rising above a wine cellar and basement car park, the property includes four bathrooms, a gym, a kitchen with floating joinery and a nine-metre window splashback.

The 836-square-metre land has been landscaped by Jamie Clapham and includes a pool and spa.

It is the first time the property has been listed, having been built in 2005.&nbsp;

BG Architecture-designed Brighton home snapped up after $8 million listing

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A time warp from 1958 in Bellevue Hill has been sold under the hammer for $3,395,000.
It was listed with price expectations of $3.25 million.
Located at 1a Benelong Crescent, the four-bedroom home was built by Harold and Anne Lehmann in 1958 and has remained virtually untouched.
Located on 1,056 square metres, the property features a 17-metre frontage, an atrium style central courtyard and three bathrooms.
Listing agent Joseph Raskin says a lot of people have come to look at the property because it is so unusual.
Vogue Magazine reportedly recently went through the property, with an interest to do a fashion shoot in the home.
But with no heritage listing, the property was marketed as a development opportunity.
Raskin said there were five registered bidders on the day and the successful buyer is more than likely going to develop the site.
It was <a href="https://bradfieldcleary.com.au/3823051/1a-Benelong-Crescent-Bellevue-Hill" target="_blank">listed</a> with Paul Langsam of Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay in conjunction with Joseph Raskin of BradfieldCleary Double Bay.
Meanwhile, a four-bedroom Bellevue Hill residence designed by 1960s architect Henry Pollack has sold prior to auction for the first time in nearly 50 years.
It was listed with $4 million plus hopes and listing agent Michael Finger of Ray White confirmed it went for over $4 million.
Located at 20 Cranbrook Road, the two-level house sits on a 912-square-metre site and offers the opportunity to be updated,
It was listed with <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/bellevue-hill/1007726/" target="_blank">Michael Finger and Diane Wilson Ray White Double Bay.</a>
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Bellevue Hill sales see 1958 time warp sell, along with a 1970s Henry Pollack-designed residence

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A granny-flat at the back of a property can be useful for accomodating visiting family and friends, but for the astute investor, it's a useful way to generate extra income through renting it out.
Property Observer has looked around the nation for opportunities in each state.
A four-bedroom home on 13 hectares in Korumburra Victoria features a self-contained granny-flat under a shared roof life.
Located at 750 Korumburra-Warragul Road, the property is listed for $750,000.
Listing agent <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-mixed+farming-vic-korumburra-7540667">John O’Connor</a> says the granny-flat could potentially draw in $300 for a Friday and Saturday night stay.
“It’s difficult to fill a granny-flat for seven nights a week.
“You could offer a midweek package, where you could offer the granny-flat for cheaper,” says O’Connor.
The granny-flat is separated by a carport and has its own privacy.
A three-bedroom renovated home at 3 Chaseling Street in Greenacre is on the market for $779,000.
It features a two-bedroom granny-flat with its own parking space and separate access.
It is currently rented for $350 a week, offering a rental yield of 2.34%.
The listing says the main house could be rented out for $550 a week, offering a potential income of $900 a week and a rental yield of 6%.
The property is listed through <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-greenacre-112042387">Sash Fisher of L.H. Brown &amp; Co Belmore.</a>
A three-bedroom home in South Australia is on the market with a one-bedroom granny-flat.
The property at 11 Lynne Street Brahma Lodge is on the market with a price guide of $299,000 to $309,000.
The self-contained one-bedroom granny-flat could be rented out for $150 to $200, reflecting a potential rental yield of 3.48%.
The property is listed <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-brahma+lodge-113614771">with Alan Bickley of Raine and Horne Salisbury</a>.
A three-bedroom home in Tasmania, which is currently rented out for $330 a week, features a one-bedroom granny-flat on the property.
Located at 1 Parklands Parade Newnham, the granny-flat previously returned $130 a week.
The property is listed for $259,000, offering a potential rental yield of 9.24% if both properties were rented out.
Deb Billing of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-newnham-114107307">Ray White Launceston</a> has the listing.
A four-bedroom property in Brookfield Queensland features a self-contained granny-flat with its own driveway entry.
The main property features a dressage arena, stables and water tanks and is listed for $1.1 million.
Listing agent <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-upper+brookfield-114369503">Emma-Kate Sanders</a> says the granny-flat could be rented out for $200 a week.
Sanders says Brookfield, located 25 minutes from the Brisbane CBD, has very few rental properties, therefore most properties include a granny-flat.
“They are rarely ever available, therefore generating extra income is great,” says Sanders.
In Western Australia, a two-bedroom home – listed for $290,000 - features a granny-flat at the rear of the 884-square-metre block.
Located at 112 Ulster Road Spencer Park, the two-bedroom granny-flat features its own kitchen, dining and lounge room.
Listing agent <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-spencer+park-114368675">Skye Stead of Albany Prestige Realty</a> says the flat received a rental appraisal of $250 a week, a 4.48% rental yield.
A two-bedroom home on Greatorex Road in Alice Springs features a self-contained granny-flat with its own access.
The property is listed for $645,000.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-alice+springs-113948011">Carolyn Lopes of LJ Hooker</a> says the granny-flat could draw in an extra income of $200 a week.
“It’s a great way to pay off a mortgage,” says Lopes.
A three-bedroom renovated home in Wanniassa ACT is on the market for $550,000 plus. 
The property features a renovated self contained granny-flat, which is currently returning $250 a week.
The front house could potentially be rented out for $420 a week, totally a potential rental yield of 6.33% for both properties, or 2.36% for the granny-flat alone.
The property is listed through <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-act-wanniassa-113483399">Peter Campbell-Wood of Ray White Tuggeranong</a>.
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Eight granny-flat buying opportunities for property investors across Australia

Developers and apartment buyers have a narrowing window of opportunity before Brisbane's Olympic infrastructure pipeline begins competing directly with residential construction, pushing up costs, tightening labour supply and making new projects increasingly difficult to deliver.

While Brisbane's apartment market continues to benefit from strong population growth and limited housing supply, industry research suggests the years leading up to 2027 could prove to be the most important period for developers looking to secure builders and buyers hoping to purchase before the next wave of price increases.

A new Colliers report, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Creating Solutions, highlights the scale of the challenge. While thousands of new homes are planned across South East Queensland, the Brisbane Olympic Athletes Village alone will deliver more than 10,500 beds during the Games before being converted into around 1,750 to 2,000 apartments. Equivalent to almost two years of typical inner-city apartment supply, the project will also absorb a significant share of the construction workforce and building materials.

The broader construction pipeline paints an even clearer picture.

Construction Skills Queensland's Horizon 2032 report forecasts Queensland's annual construction pipeline will average $69 billion over the coming years before peaking at $75 billion in 2027-28. Demand for construction workers is expected to increase by 17 per cent to almost 150,000 people, with the industry facing an annual shortfall of around 19,000 workers that could blow out to as many as 35,000 during the peak construction period.

The Olympic venues, athletes village and supporting infrastructure will account for billions of dollars worth of work across South East Queensland through to 2032, creating intense competition for labour at a time when Australia's residential construction sector is already under pressure.

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Colliers Queensland Residential Director Andrew Scriven said the convergence of these projects is creating a clear window of opportunity for both developers and buyers.

"From 2027 onwards, the market will shift dramatically," Scriven said.

"Labour will increasingly be locked into government-led infrastructure and Olympic projects, which means private residential developments will face higher costs and tighter margins. The developers who move now are the ones most likely to get projects off the ground."

Scriven said the same dynamic would also affect buyers, with fewer apartment projects expected to launch once construction capacity tightens.

"If you're looking to change your lifestyle over the next five years, now is your window of opportunity to buy."

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Developers are already positioning themselves ahead of that window.

Following the success of Monarch at Toowong, Consolidated Properties is preparing to launch two new Brisbane apartment projects in the second half of 2026. They include <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/gloriette-30-bedivere-street-yeerongpilly-qld-4105">Gloriette</a> at Yeerongpilly Green, a 25-storey tower within one of Brisbane's key Olympic precincts, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castile-47-skyring-terrace-newstead-qld-4006">Castile</a>, a recently approved 25-storey riverfront development at 47 Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

Hutchinson Builders will deliver both projects, with early works already underway at Yeerongpilly and Newstead expected to commence later this year.

The timing comes as Brisbane's fundamentals continue to strengthen, with strong interstate migration, population growth and vacancy rates remaining below 1.5 per cent.

Colliers Queensland researcher Pragya Sharma said Greater Brisbane is forecast to require around 40,000 new apartments between 2021 and 2031.

"There's a real mismatch emerging between when housing is needed and when it will be feasible to build," Sharma said.

"As a result, the period leading up to 2027 presents a key window of opportunity for developers to secure approvals, funding and construction capacity, while buyers will have greater choice before supply constraints intensify."

Colliers research outlines a critical pre-2027 window to start residential projects before labour squeeze: now is the time to buy

Joel Robinson

Developers, buyers on watch in South East Queensland ahead of construction crunch: Colliers

It's taken less than nine months for developer Sherpa Property Group to sell out all 51 apartments in its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-oasis-palm-beach-7-9-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Oasis</a> development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a>, over a year before its anticipated completion.

&nbsp;

Located at 7-9 Sixth Avenue, the $67 million development has resonated strongly with both local owner-occupiers and downsizers seeking high-quality apartments within walking distance of the beach, dining precincts and everyday amenities.

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Christie Leet, Founder of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Group</a>, said the sell-out reflected both the strength of the Palm Beach market and the success of Sherpa's community-first approach to development.

"The sell-out of Oasis is a fantastic outcome and reinforces the strong demand we're seeing for thoughtfully designed apartments in lifestyle locations," Leet said.

"From the outset, our vision was to create a development that genuinely enhanced the Palm Beach community while providing residents with exceptional homes and wellness-focused amenities.

"We've been incredibly encouraged by the level of local support throughout the campaign, 72.5 per cent of buyers are locals, with a significant proportion of purchasers choosing Oasis as their future home rather than an investment."

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Construction is now progressing following development approval, with trusted builder LPS Group delivering the project and completion anticipated in Q3 2027.

Oasis forms part of Sherpa Group's successful Flourish collection, which has become recognised for its focus on wellness, community and elevated coastal living.

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Residents will have private access to a rooftop amenity space featuring a pool, gym, sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools, spa and barbecue facilities.

"The success of Oasis demonstrates that buyers continue to prioritise quality, location and lifestyle," Leet said.

"We are proud to have delivered a project that has resonated so strongly with the market and look forward to bringing Oasis to life for our future residents."

Sherpa recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>, its third instalment of the Flourish brand in Palm Beach following Flourish Oasis and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>.

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Sherpa sells out Flourish Oasis in booming Palm Beach

Urban Property Group's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/la-vera-macquarie-park-94-talavera-road-macquarie-park-nsw-2113">La Vera</a> is leading the next phase of Macquarie Park's residential evolution, with the new apartment development set to become the first of several new apartment projects in the precinct to complete.

The 169-apartment building has now topped out ahead of its scheduled completion in the third quarter of 2026, as new residential investment continues to reshape one of Sydney's largest employment hubs into a true mixed-use precinct.

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Cox Architecture has designed La Vera to capture the best of its unique positioning on Talavera Road, orienting the building towards Lane Cove National Park.&nbsp;The building features a sculpted northern façade with flowing curves inspired by the surrounding landscape, while its city-facing elevation adopts a more structured architectural expression to maximise skyline views.

"The vision for the project was to conceive a building that adopted an organic and curvilinear form to the northern portion that faces the Lane Cove National Park," <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">Cox Architecture</a> Director Felipe Miranda said.

"The residents that reside in the northern portion of the building benefit by having beautifully crafted curved balconies that speak to the natural context and heighten the relationship of their internal living spaces to the external balconies."

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La Vera offers a diverse mix of one, two, three, and four-bedroom configurations, with prices currently starting from $740,000. Buyers so far have been a mix of Sydney-based investors,&nbsp;metro commuters, owner-occupiers and downsizers from surrounding North Shore suburbs.

Both investors and owner-occupiers have been drawn to La Vera's proximity to Macquarie University, Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie Centre and the Sydney Metro, infrastructure that supports both strong rental demand and a convenient lifestyle for residents.

The apartments feature full-height glazing, timber flooring throughout living areas, stone kitchen benchtops, SMEG appliances, floor-to-ceiling bathroom tiling and ducted air conditioning.

Residents will have access to a rooftop recreation level featuring a swimming pool, sauna, barbecue facilities and landscaped relaxation areas, complemented by additional communal space at ground level. Many apartments enjoy uninterrupted views across Lane Cove National Park, reinforcing the project's connection to its natural setting.

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>, a family-owned developer and builder with nearly four decades of experience, holds a 4.5-star iCIRT rating and was Australia's first developer to introduce 10-Year Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). La Vera is the first apartment development in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/macquarie-park-nsw-2113">Macquarie Park</a> approved to offer the additional insurance protection, alongside a five-year warranty on SMEG appliances.

Urban Property Group CEO Patrick Elias said the additional protection reflects changing buyer expectations in the off the plan market.

"Consumers are a lot more weary and a lot more concerned in buying off the plan than they ever have been. Having LDI is a tool to portray the confidence that we have in our product, and a confidence we want buyers to share," Elias said.

Following completion of the building later this year, buyers will move into their apartments well before Christmas.

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La Vera closes in on completion as Macquarie Park continues residential transformation

Brisbane developer Red &amp; Co's decision to include dual key apartments in its debut Gold Coast apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/como-varsity-lakes-22-lake-street-varsity-lakes-qld-4227">COMO Varsity Lakes</a>, is proving to be one of the project's biggest drawcards, with buyers quickly snapping up the flexible residences.

More than half of the project's 36 dual key apartments have already sold, helping drive COMO beyond the 50 per cent sold mark within the first month of launch.

The strong response highlights growing demand for apartment designs that can adapt to changing lifestyles, with buyers increasingly looking for homes that accommodate multi-generational living, provide rental income opportunities or simply offer greater flexibility over time.

Located on the shores of Lake Orr, COMO will deliver 156 apartments across 16 levels, with the dual-key residences forming a limited release within the broader development.

Each combines a primary two-bedroom apartment with a fully self-contained studio on a single title, connected by a shared foyer and lockable internal door. The design allows owners to house ageing parents, adult children or guests while maintaining privacy, or lease the secondary residence to generate additional income.

Just 17 of the original 36 dual key apartments remain available.

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The innovative configuration combines two fully self-contained residences on a single title, typically comprising a primary two-bedroom apartment alongside a separate studio residence, connected via a shared foyer and lockable internal door.&nbsp;

The model is proving particularly attractive to owner occupiers navigating changing family dynamics and the realities of the current housing crisis.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/npa">NPA</a>&nbsp;CEO Andrew Erwin said dual key living was resonating strongly with modern buyers because it delivered both financial flexibility and practical lifestyle benefits.&nbsp;

“The housing crisis and rising cost of living are fundamentally changing how Australians think about home ownership,” Erwin said.&nbsp;

“Dual key apartments provide a genuine solution for families who want to stay connected while maintaining independence. Parents can help adult children save for a future home, ageing parents can remain nearby without moving into aged care, and owners still retain privacy and flexibility.

“Importantly, buyers are also recognising the financial advantages. It creates the opportunity to generate additional income from part of the home without the holding costs associated with owning a separate investment property.”&nbsp;

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Unlike traditional dual occupancy arrangements, the residences operate under a single title, meaning owners only incur one set of body corporate fees, council rates and holding costs.&nbsp;

The secondary residence can also evolve over time - functioning as guest accommodation, a home office, creative studio or private retreat before later becoming an income-producing asset.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/red-co">Red &amp; Co</a>&nbsp;Director and Co-Founder David Laverty said the strong early sales reflected growing buyer urgency and changing priorities within the market.&nbsp;

“Securing more than half of COMO’s residences within such a short timeframe is an outstanding result and a clear endorsement of both the design and location,” Laverty said.&nbsp;

“Buyers are responding to the combination of location, connectivity and amenity, but ultimately it’s value relative to other East Coast markets that is driving enquiry.”&nbsp;

“We’re also seeing strong interest from owner occupiers looking for homes that can adapt with them over time. Flexibility has become one of the most important considerations for buyers in today’s market.”&nbsp;

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bda-architecture">BDA Architecture</a>, COMO features a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences with 2.7-metre ceilings and larger-format floorplans aimed at owner occupiers, downsizers and lifestyle-focused buyers.&nbsp;

The development will feature an extensive rooftop recreation and wellness offering including a 25-metre lap pool, sundeck, barbecue and dining areas, gym, sauna, plunge baths, landscaped gardens, wellness spaces and rooftop pickleball and paddleball courts.

The remaining dual key apartments range from 137 sqm to 167 sqm and include generous three-bedroom layouts with separate self-contained studio accommodation and dual parking.&nbsp;

Erwin said the dual key concept represented a broader shift in how Australians would live in the future.

“People want homes that can evolve with their lives,” he said.&nbsp;

“A dual key apartment can suit a family today, support an ageing parent tomorrow, and potentially generate income later on. That adaptability is becoming incredibly valuable in the current environment.”

Prices currently range from $2,115,750 to $2,583,000.&nbsp;

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Inter-generational living drives demand for COMO’s dual key apartments as housing pressures reshape buyer priorities 

Builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ceerose">Ceerose</a> has doubled down on its Leichhardt ambitions, lodging its second State Significant Development Application (SSDA) in the suburb in the last six months.

Their newest proposal seeks to transform a former industrial precinct into a new residential community centred around the adaptive reuse of one of the site's heritage warehouse buildings.

The new project, on a 6,930 sqm block at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/40-76-william-street-leichhardt-nsw-2040">40–76 William Street</a>, will bring more than 200 apartments to a suburb that has seen little to no new supply in recent years. It follows Ceerose's late 2025 SSDA for a mixed-use apartment project on nearby Parramatta Road, signalling the developer's growing investment in Sydney's Inner West.

Ceerose Founder Edward Doueihi told Apartments.com.au the developer’s long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West had given it a strong understanding of how the area has evolved and where its future opportunities lie.

“Ceerose has had a long-standing presence in Leichhardt and the Inner West, giving us a unique understanding of the area’s evolution and future potential,” Doueihi said.

“Having delivered projects throughout the region, we have witnessed the suburb’s transformation first-hand and understand the opportunities for its continued growth.”

Doueihi said that understanding also informed the planning process, with a comprehensive Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes Report prepared before the application was lodged.

The report identified the key issues and concerns raised by neighbouring residents and other stakeholders, allowing those matters to be considered and incorporated into the design where appropriate.

He said the delivery of additional housing would also play an important role in supporting the revitalisation of Norton Street and the Italian Forum.

“By increasing the local residential population, the development is expected to strengthen demand for local businesses, encourage further investment, and help restore the vibrancy that made the precinct a thriving destination in the early 2000s.”

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7258c54c-8167-479e-8361-2d5fca9915b4" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010B%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%202.jpg?VersionId=S9DQfxu_jpcB5LrAEYFUbyMzg5odW6i5" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>, the redevelopment would involve the demolition of four existing industrial buildings while retaining and adaptively reusing the site's most significant warehouse. The retained structure would anchor a new residential precinct comprising five interconnected buildings arranged around a large central landscaped courtyard, with heights stepping from five storeys along the surrounding residential streets to 11 storeys at the William Street corner.

According to the Architecture Design Report by Woods Bagot, the proposal "seeks to create a residential village centred around a generous green heart while celebrating the site's industrial heritage through the adaptive reuse of the existing warehouse building."

The development would comprise 203 apartments, with 188 proposed as build-to-sell residences, alongside 15 affordable housing apartments.

Rather than treating the retained warehouse as a standalone heritage object, Woods Bagot has sought to weave the site's industrial history throughout the masterplan. The proposal retains the north and west facades of the landmark corner warehouse, while new buildings reinterpret the site's brick-and-steel industrial language through their material palette and architectural expression.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9e8c64c2-881b-49e1-8c90-6b6acaaa45b6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010C%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%203.jpg?VersionId=Qm8_8H_Xrg_sc4Mdjc59vlAcKF_5wRTb" />

The design is organised around what Woods Bagot describes as a "green heart", a landscaped communal open space that reinstates the leafy character removed when the site became an industrial storage facility. A new pedestrian laneway running through the site would improve permeability between William, North and Francis streets, linking residents through landscaped public spaces while activating the ground plane.

Residents would have access to communal gardens and shared recreation areas distributed throughout the development. Sustainability has also been prioritised, with the project targeting an average 7.9-star NatHERS rating. Proposed initiatives include rooftop solar generation, rainwater harvesting, passive solar design, naturally ventilated lobbies, extensive cross-ventilation and the reuse of existing building fabric to reduce embodied carbon.

The adaptive reuse strategy became a defining feature of the application after heritage investigations found only one of the site's industrial buildings could feasibly be retained. The Heritage Impact Statement concludes that preserving the key warehouse façades while referencing the site's industrial character throughout the new development provides an appropriate balance between renewal and conservation.

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efffafdb-594f-4e2b-a067-921fd51c05e1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010D%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%204.jpg?VersionId=DPmE4.k16YRt0i27hEZVtJAffarpvUfx" />

"Retention and adaptation of the site buildings has been explored but found not to be feasible except for the tallest building, whose street facades will be retained," the heritage report states.

"The proposed building will interpret the brick and steel character of the subject site, including reuse of some components and construction of a large 'sawtooth' structure in the proposed open space."

<img alt="First look: Ceerose returns to Leichhardt with 203-apartment adaptive reuse proposal at former warehouse site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bfef2b5-83f5-40cd-9cab-767092f34266" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Appendix%2010E%20-%20CGI%20-%20View%205.jpg?VersionId=7asb3i_ql4ybbuJOUb5UHBEIy0Q9t.DF" />

The William Street site is located around 300 metres from Leichhardt North Light Rail station and a short walk to Norton Street's retail, dining and hospitality precinct. The surrounding area has increasingly become a focus for urban renewal given its proximity to public transport and the Parramatta Road corridor.

Doueihi founded Ceerose in 1998 and has grown the business to become one of Sydney's more active apartment developers in recent years, with completed projects including The Alex Collective in Alexandria, Abbie's Lane in Annandale, and the award-winning Munro House in Elizabeth Bay. They are currently delivering Belgravia, 17 luxury apartments in Potts Point.

Nicola Trotman

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