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Conveyancing is the legal transfer of a property’s title from the seller to the buyer. It is important that buyers research who they wish to use for conveyancing when they have a contract of sale on a property.
The Real Estate Institute of Queensland recommends the use of a qualified solicitor to undertake the conveyancing process.
Using a solicitor is important as they understand the laws and procedures involved with facilitating a property transfer including, payment of stamp duty, conducting searches and attending to mortgage related matters.  Using a solicitor who understands the process provides peace of mind when making what may be the largest single financial transaction of your life.
Costs associated with conveyancing include title searches, transfer duty, registration fees and solicitor’s professional fees.
Searches undertaken as part of the conveyancing process will usually include zoning, rates and outgoings and body corporates record searches where the property is a unit.
Local government searches have become important in the conveyancing process to determine how an area will develop in the years to come. They ensure major changes like new freeways and major road upgrades are not planned for the backyard of the property you are purchasing.
Searches for zoning and titles can also determine whether the property has any restrictions such as adverse planning, demolition orders, outstanding taxes or encumbrances on the title (for example, easements or caveats).
Most of these searches are standard in the conveyancing process but are often overlooked when buyers elect to do the conveyancing themselves.
It is important to understand the different roles that real estate agents and solicitors play in a residential real estate transaction.
A real estate agent, as the agent of the seller not the buyer, is responsible for obtaining the best possible price and contractual terms for the seller. The agent will receive a commission from the seller when the property is sold.
A solicitor will advise on the fairness of the proposed contract and whether or not to sign the contract as it stands. A solicitor may also suggest the inclusion of special conditions in the contract.
The REIQ always recommends that buyers contact the Queensland Law Society for details of qualified solicitors to conduct the conveyancing for their property purchase.
Pamela Bennett is chair of the <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;ved=0CD8QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reiq.com%2F&amp;ei=XiesUbi2D-6jigfV_YGYCw&amp;usg=AFQjCNHYDAxb-XTUgP3_VCgg96FpGRR9gw&amp;bvm=bv.47244034,d.aGc" target="_blank">Real Estate Institute of Queensland</a>.
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The ins and outs of conveyancing: Pamela Bennett

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The Real Estate Institute of Queensland recently sent a detailed submission into the split and review of the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000 (PAMD Act) to the Queensland government.
In our submission, we expressed strong support for the <a target="_blank" title="REIQ TV – PAMD Act split" href="https://reiqblog.com/2013/02/reiq-tv-pamd-act-split/">split of the PAMD Act</a> into industry-specific legislation.
Having consulted extensively with membership and the broader industry, the REIQ outlined a series of recommendations for legislative change.
Predominantly, the recommendations aimed towards increasing the professionalism of the industry, reducing regulatory and administrative burden, and simplifying processes associated with real estate transactions.
Some of the REIQ’s key recommendations were that the proposed amendment to abolish the PAMD 30c warning statement be implemented to eliminate the administrative burden and risks associated with this document.
Multiple appointment PAMD appointment forms (regardless of the nature of the services to be performed) be abolished and replaced with a single simplified appointment form containing only ‘key legislative criteria’.
This would simplify the appointment process and deliver time-saving benefits. It would also ensure agents are not deprived of their right to remuneration and reimbursement on the basis of minor and technical omissions which result in no real consumer detriment.
Also, appointment processes and procedures should be simplified. The current provisions about appointments are unreasonably onerous and put agents at risk of not being remunerated on the basis of technical and minor omissions.
The REIQ also recommended that a seller and landlord disclosure regime be implemented to establish required disclosures related to the sale and rental of property in Queensland.
At a minimum, we recommended the existing information and disclosure requirements relating to property sale contracts be incorporated into one single document.
Existing legislative provisions which apply to price representations and guides in relation to auction properties and properties to be sold without a price be clarified in the new legislation. The REIQ expressed the view that no price guides or price representations should be permissible when marketing and/or promoting residential property that is to be sold by auction or with no price.
The REIQ also recommended that the maximum 60-day statutory limit relating to sole and exclusive agency appointments be extended to 90 days.  The current limit is too short and reappointments are regularly required. This causes inconvenience for both the agent and consumer.  An extension of the limit to 90 days better reflects current market conditions.
The REIQ was extensively consulted by the state government during this legislative review process and we look forward to again working closely with the government as this new much-improved legislation starts to take shape.
I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Jarrod Bleijie, for the open and collaborative nature in which he and his department have so far handled the review of this key piece of real estate legislation.
Pamela Bennett is chair of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;ved=0CC4QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reiq.com%2F&amp;ei=-OqJUdqqGaKsiAem3YDYDA&amp;usg=AFQjCNHYDAxb-XTUgP3_VCgg96FpGRR9gw&amp;bvm=bv.46226182,d.aGc">Real Estate Institute of Queensland</a>.
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REIQ supports greater industry professionalism and reduced administrative burden: Pamela Bennett

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Continued professional development (CPD) should be mandatory for all real estate professionals.
Under COAG’s proposed national licensing model, CPD would no longer be guaranteed for real estate agents. Currently half the states and territories have mandatory CPD.
Agents need to know the various conduct laws for different jurisdictions, specific laws that are relevant to selling or managing a property and appropriate national legislation.
Continuing education ensures up-skilling and development of individuals. Abolishing mandatory CPD would leave the consumer at risk.
The proof is in the pudding. Since Western Australia introduced mandatory CPD in 2007, written complaints across all categories of real estate activity have dropped by around two-thirds.
The National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA) is proposing to abolish mandatory CPD but hase the power to require it be irregularly done at times of major changes to real estate laws.
REIA rejected the proposal put forward by NOLA at the Occupational Licensing Advisory Committee (OLAC) meeting.
The proposal shows a lack of knowledge of the profession and creates a bottleneck of centralised decision making. There are many more issues that an agent needs to be aware of.
Agents need to be across a great number of constantly changing laws regarding issues such as smoke detectors, swimming pools, GST implications, environmental protection guidelines, equal opportunity legislation, OH&amp;S, privacy and many more.
Pamela Bennett is president of the <a href="https://www.reia.com.au/" target="_blank">Real Estate Institute of Australia.</a>
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Continued professional development should be mandatory for all real estate agents: REIA

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The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) says consumers will suffer if Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) proposed changes to qualifications for Auctioneers under National Licensing, is allowed to go ahead.
Auctioneers don’t just call the numbers at the front of an auction. They’re not ‘trained actors’. They play a significant role in the sale of a property.
The COAG regulation impact statement (RIS) proposes that auctioneers only require three units of qualification. REIA is calling for a minimum of 12 units to be completed from the nationally accredited property services training package.
In many cases, auctioneers review the contract and disclosure statement prior to auction to ensure that any inclusions and exclusions are announced. They receive instructions from the vendor, and if the property is not sold under the hammer, they may be involved in negotiations to facilitate a post auction sale.
Under the RIS proposal, auctioneers miss out on vital learning including minimisation of consumer and agency risk and interpreting legislation.
In some states, auctioneers have the authority to sign the contract on behalf of the purchaser. These are important tasks, carrying high levels of responsibility and professionalism, when we are talking about someone’s home in which their life savings are tied up.
Why would the government dumb down the credentials of the person handling the sale of your biggest asset? It’s madness, the consumer would be at risk for minimal savings, with the RIS stating that the expected average cost saving of COAG’s proposal would be around $74, 000 per state/territory per annum.
The Real Estate Institute of Australia urges the government to support the highest levels of qualifications for all real estate professionals.
Pamela Bennett is president of the <a href="https://www.reia.com.au/" target="_blank">Real Estate Institute of Australia.</a>
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Consumers will suffer if auctioneer licensing requirements are changed: REIA

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The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) rejects outright claims made by Milton Cockburn of the Shopping Centre Council of Australia that it is trying to “torpedo” COAG’s national licensing plan for real estate professionals.
With all due respect, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/industry-news/dont-let-the-reias-self-interested-assertions-torpedo-important-agent-licensing-changes-milton-cockburn/2012091856640">Cockburn is misinformed, pure and simple.</a>  We do support national licensing, but we are determined to look after Australian property consumers by fighting for the highest possible standards across the board.
The REIA representatives involved in the Property Occupations Interim Advisory Committee (POIAC), prior to the release of the regulation impact statement (RIS) on national licensing, argued for diploma-level qualifications.  The rest of POIAC settled for lower qualifications.  The REIA argued for compulsory professional development to keep the profession up to date but again, the rest of POIAC did not.  The steering committee, compiled of state and Commonwealth regulators, not POIAC, made the final decision.
Diploma-level qualifications, currently in four states and territories, are desired by our members nationwide.  Real estate agents are proud of their profession and the important service they provide to the Australian public, and they want to grow their reputations, not go backwards.  Real estate institutes do not think it is “silly” to be highly qualified.
With regards to commercial property, agents are currently licensed, but the proposed regulations would strip that away.   This leaves the consumer completely vulnerable.  Quite literally, anyone could sell commercial property.  Yes, even a 16-year-old.
POIAC did support licensing of commercial property agents.  A hurdle of $100 million was suggested at the time, but again, the steering committee made the final decision to deregulate commercial property transactions.
Contrary to what some may think, most commercial property sales are under $500,000. In Victoria 51% are under $500,000, so we are not talking the big end of town.  We are talking about “mum and dad” investors who invest in commercial property, either directly or through superannuation funds, and they should have the security and peace-of-mind of having a licensed agent manage their transaction.
For example, the owner of a family sandwich bar in the food hall of a shopping centre wants to sell. In the absence of a licensing regime for commercial sales that provides the consumer with information as to who has the appropriate qualifications and insurance coverage to handle such a complex transaction, the vendor would be vulnerable to anyone who wants to deal in commercial transactions without any qualifications.  On top of this, both parties would take a huge financial risk with their life savings.
I’m quite stunned at how the consumer point of view has been left out of the calculations in the RIS and that the process has been driven by regulators who are not experts on the real estate profession. Their proposals, if implemented, will be detrimental to consumers. The RIS on national licensing states that deregulating commercial property will save a comparatively small $2.37 million.  What this figure does not take into account are consumer costs.
The REIA is also concerned with the proposed deregulation of rural property.  Not all rural property is like Cubbie Station.  In Victoria in 2011, 76% of farms were sold for under $500,000.
The Real Estate Institute of Australia will continue in its endeavours to achieve outcomes that will provide for a national licensing system that supports high standards and not those of the lowest common denominator.
Pamela Bennett is president of the <a href="https://www.reia.com.au/" target="_blank">Real Estate Institute of Australia.</a>
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Skilled agents key to consumer confidence in real estate

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The housing figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show there’s been no response to the interest rate cuts of May and June.
Housing finance figures for July 2012 show, in trend terms, that the number of finance commitments has remained flat after six consecutive months of decreases.
In trend terms, increases were recorded in Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, however all other states and territories recorded decreases. The largest decrease was in Queensland (down 1% in trend terms) while the largest increase was in Tasmania (up 1.9% in trend terms.
Increases were evident for the construction of new dwellings (up 1% per cent in trend terms) and the number of commitments for the purchase of new dwellings (up 1.8% in trend terms). The commitments for the purchase of established dwellings fell by 0.2% (in trend terms).
The number of first-home buyers as a percentage of total owner-occupied housing commitments increased to 19.2% in July 2012, compared with 18.5% in June 2012. The long-run average proportion is 20.2%.
The value of investment housing commitments was also flat, in trend terms, in July after four consecutive months of declines.
These housing finance data figures indicate the RBA should have reduced interest rates again in September, as the market has not responded to the two previous cuts. With inflation within the RBA’s target zone and a more subdued international outlook, the message for next month’s RBA meeting is abundantly clear.
Pamela Bennett is president of the <a href="https://www.reia.com.au/" target="_blank">Real Estate Institute of Australia.</a>
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RBA should have cut rates in September to boost housing market

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With the Treasury expected to collect about $3.8 billion from stamp duty this year, nationwide home buyers are in agreement on the call to streamline the greatly disputed tax. State-based stamp duties are widely recognised as a drain on our nation’s productivity and an inefficient and unstable source of revenue for each state.
Currently, home buyers are perplexed by the lack of uniformity in stamp duty rates across the country. On a $400,000 home, first-home buyers in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania are forking out more than $12,000 in charges while those in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory pay nothing at all. First-home buyers in the $700,000-plus bracket pay as little as $8,130 in NT compared with a hefty $34,860 charge for a standard purchase in NT. On the extreme end of the scale Victorian’s are forking out $41,530 for a property in this price range.
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To further complicate matters, we are seeing state governments pull back their concessions for first-home buyers. In Queensland, the government has just recently cut its $10,000 first-home buyers’ boost, the Northern Territory ended its $10,000 grant on new properties on New Year’s Eve last year, and South Australia is completely revoking its discount for buyers of established homes mid-2012.
Evidently, state governments are using the tax as a lever to adjust revenue levels. In late October 2011 the government cut back stamp duty payment deadlines from 90 to 30 days after settlement in a bid to bring forward revenue and help meet budget surplus targets for the year.
Further to this, given the level of activity in the housing sector has declined, removing concessions for first-home buyers is also likely to be an attempt to claw back revenue. If this is the case, it highlights the state’s dependence on a volatile and uncertain revenue base.
Stamp duty creates a barrier for those wanting to buy or sell property in a number of ways. The inconsistency of the tax across the country discriminates against those who move where the jobs are. It also discourages those who need to downsize, predominantly the elderly, which in turn affects first-home buyers looking to enter the market.
In the short term it is clear that the tax cannot simply be removed. However, in the interim, a range of reforms to make the current regime fairer could be introduced, including: the removal of GST on stamp duty (tax on tax) in non-residential transactions; limiting higher stamp duty rates for investors; and, most importantly, the indexation of duty rates so the proportion of tax paid does not increase.
We at the Real Estate Institute of Australia are calling for the removal of state-based property taxes and have been actively lobbying to key government bodies for increased harmonisation of the tax across the nation. As a result of our presentation at the 2011 October tax forum, Queensland and New South Wales governments have agreed to examine the harmonisation of payroll tax and possibly other taxes (stamp duty) and present a state tax reform plan to the federal government by the end of 2012.
Pamela Bennett is president of the <a href="https://www.reia.com.au/" target="_blank">Real Estate Institute of Australia.</a>
 
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Stamp duty hurting our national productivity

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The December quarter Consumer Price Index figures show that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s consumer price measures of inflation are within their target zone.
The analytical series of trimmed mean and weighted median increased by 0.6% and 0.5% respectively for the December quarter 2011, compared with 0.4% for both measures in the previous quarter.
The annual change in trimmed mean and weighted median is 2.6% for both measures for the December quarter, compared with 2.4% and 2.7% respectively for the September 2011 quarter
The latest figures are well within the RBA’s target zone of 2% to 3% and should provide a clear message to the RBA to reduce official interest rates at its February meeting.
The housing group showed a slowing down in the quarterly rate – from 1.9% in the September quarter 2011 to 0.4% in December quarter 2011 – the annual rate decreased from 4.2% for the 12 months to September 2011 and to 4% for the 12 months to December 2011.
The main contributor to the December quarter increase for the housing group was rents, which increased 1%.
For the year to December 2011 the biggest increases in the housing group were for electricity (12.2%), water and sewerage (8.6%) and gas and other household fuels (6.7%), with inflation within the RBA’s target zone. Given the latest outlook for the Australian and global economies it is appropriate to have a third consecutive cut in interest rates.
Pamela Bennett is president of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reia.com.au/">Real Estate Institute of Australia.</a>
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Inflation data should encourage RBA to cut rates again in February

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Joel Robinson

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

The long-planned transformation of Brisbane's historic Shafston Estate has taken another major step, with Capella Hotel Group announced as the luxury hospitality partner behind what will become Brisbane's first branded residences.

The project, to be known as Capella Residences Brisbane, is being delivered by Verso Projects at the landmark Kangaroo Point riverfront estate, with completion targeted for 2029.

The announcement follows a series of planning changes to the project over recent years. The site was originally approved in 2023 for a 15-level, 37-apartment development designed by Rothelowman for Burgundy Group before Verso Projects took over the 10,070 sqm riverfront holding and lodged revised plans with Kerry Hill Architects to increase the development to a 25-level tower with 51 apartments.

The latest announcement confirms Capella Hotel Group will bring its branded residential offering to the project, marking just the second Capella Residences development globally after Seoul, and the group's first branded residential project in Australia.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/23-castlebar-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Castlebar Street development</a> will centre around the restoration of the heritage-listed Shafston House, one of Brisbane's oldest residences, originally constructed in 1851 by Reverend Robert Creyke as a single-storey cottage known as Ravenscott.

<img alt="Capella" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b9f4ce5-638f-4d6b-8082-3ca7e4b75fca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-09%20at%207.20.41%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=f7aeqsW_DzOJI4FymWb3lD8NptSfsP7q" />

Capella said the project aligns with its focus on heritage-led developments, with the Brisbane estate combining the restored historic residence with a new luxury apartment tower and hospitality-inspired resident amenities.

Residents will have access to the Capella Living Room, a concierge-led communal space inspired by the group's luxury hotels, alongside landscaped gardens, six swimming pools, wellness and recreation facilities.

The broader estate will also include two riverfront homes, a six-berth private marina, porte cochère arrival experience, secure basement parking and a new section of public riverwalk along the Brisbane River frontage.

The heritage Postal Depot Building will also be retained and repurposed as a guest house, in line with the revised development plans.

The project represents another evolution for the site, which Kerry Hill Architects previously described as a rare opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's most significant heritage estates while creating a new benchmark for apartment living.

"The Shafston Estate provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's finest heritage precincts and to reinstate residential use as a unique site perched on the edge of Kangaroo Point," Kerry Hill Architects said in its Urban Context Report accompanying the planning submission.

"The project will celebrate excellence in sub-tropical residential design, setting a new benchmark for vertical living in Brisbane."

Verso Projects, which now has an $8.5 billion development pipeline spanning more than 6,000 dwellings across apartments, townhouses, retail and commercial projects, said the partnership with Capella would elevate the development beyond a traditional residential project.

"We feel honoured to be restoring Shafston Estate to its former glory, elevating it to new heights of luxury and excellence underpinned by Capella's distinctive service ethos and design philosophy, and making it a standout landmark in Brisbane," Verso Projects CEO Steve Laffey said.

"By partnering with Capella, globally recognised for its refined approach to luxury hospitality and deep respect for cultural and historical context, we will elevate this project beyond a residential offering into a world-class destination."

Capella Hotel Group President Roland Fasel said Brisbane's emergence as a global city made it the right location for the company's Australian residential debut.

"Brisbane is a city on the cusp of something remarkable, and Capella Residences is our commitment to being part of that story," Fasel said.

"The Capella residential experience is more than luxury. It is about a sense of belonging to a place with deep meaning."

Private appointments have now opened for the project, with a display suite expected to open in late 2026 ahead of the planned 2029 completion.

Capella to launch Brisbane's first branded residences at Shafston House, Kangaroo Point

Lewis Land's latest apartment release within its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan is targeting one of the Gold Coast's fastest-growing buyer groups, with almost a third of apartments at Solis priced below $1 million.

The seven-storey building at Biggera Waters will comprise 91 apartments, including 24 one-bedroom residences starting from $778,000, a price point Lewis Land says is aimed squarely at first home buyers struggling to enter the Gold Coast market.

<img alt="Harbour Shires" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e7486e37-22f6-4c92-b212-9b0622070b8f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=W8MJwJUCf6HkIyl_EVSksnd.QI6MZryY" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a> Head of Development Michael Long said the developer deliberately allocated a significant proportion of the project to more affordable apartment types.

"First home buyers have been priced out of many parts of the Gold Coast, and we saw a clear opportunity to address this and play our part in a longer-term housing solution," Long said.

"That's why 24 of the 91 apartments being delivered at Solis have been designed and priced for the city's next generation of homeowners, quality one-bedroom apartments, half of which include an additional multipurpose room to maximise space and flexibility.

"This approach places 30 per cent of apartments in Solis under $1 million, and with close proximity to Harbour Town's future light rail extension connecting residents to the city's major employment and knowledge hubs, it's a win for buyers looking to secure their first property."

<img alt="Sores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="550526d3-73ba-4710-9739-c5f4294a30ef" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.29%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=cQQdXHt9wS0UXwZEm5Py5bH_3kAmzyhu" />

Designed by BDA Architecture, Solis will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with residences ranging up to 232 sqm. Apartments feature generous balconies and contemporary finishes, while residents will have access to Harbour Shores' lagoon pool, clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga studio and sauna.

The focus on first home buyers resonated with purchaser Holly Humphreys, who said she and her boyfriend spent more than a year searching for their first property before shifting their attention from houses to apartments.

"We fell in love with the first house we bid on and got our hopes up, but after repeated knockbacks we learned not to get too attached," Humphreys said.

"We offered at the high end of price guides, but sales kept going even higher. That's where we really struggled and we needed to re-evaluate our budget and our expectations. Standalone houses were off the table, and we pivoted to apartments and townhouses."

Humphreys said it was encouraging to see developers recognising the growing demand from first home buyers.

"There's a growing number of young buyers looking to enter the market earlier because they understand that getting in now can make a real difference as prices continue to rise," she said.

"It's fantastic to see a developer recognise this and then actively take measures to deliver an apartment with us in mind."

Solis is the first development planned within the second stage of the Harbour Shores masterplan, with early works expected to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land targets first home buyers at latest Harbour Shores release, Solis

Luxury apartment developer Abadeen has recorded $19.25 million in apartment sales across two of its Lower North Shore developments in the lead-up to the end of the financial year, headlined by the sale of a $6.75 million penthouse at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/koyo-crows-nest-5-rodborough-avenue-crows-nest-nsw-2065">KOYO in Crows Nest.</a>

The transactions also included the sale of a newly completed three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences in Cremorne</a> for $6.35 million, with the residence selling shortly after the project's first public inspections following completion.

The sales come as completed, owner-occupier-focused apartments continue to attract strong demand across Sydney's Lower North Shore, particularly from buyers looking for certainty and immediate occupancy.

The penthouse at KOYO spans 491 sqm across a single level and was designed by architect Koichi Takada. The development is one of Abadeen's flagship boutique projects in Crows Nest.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=370093]

Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said buyer activity lifted noticeably in the lead-up to the end of the financial year.

"We saw a clear increase in enquiry levels, inspection numbers and buyer engagement across our completed projects leading into the end of the financial year," Brown said.

"Buyers have become far more decisive over the past six months. The combination of improving confidence, limited supply and the ability to physically inspect completed residences is creating strong competition for premium apartments in the best locations."

Brown says the&nbsp;response to Park Residences following completion has been particularly strong.

"Buyers want certainty and are responding positively to the opportunity to walk through a finished product, inspect the quality firsthand and move in immediately," Brown suggested.

"Projects such as Park Residences and KOYO demonstrate that when the product is exceptional and the location is irreplaceable, buyers are prepared to act quickly."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=370116]

Abadeen CEO Joe Tack said quality continued to differentiate projects in the current market.

"Today's buyers are incredibly discerning," Tack said.

"They are seeking larger floorplans, premium finishes, walkability, lifestyle amenity and confidence in the developer delivering the project. Well-designed boutique developments continue to outperform because they offer something genuinely difficult to replace.

"The enquiry we are seeing across our completed and recently completed Lower North Shore portfolio is very encouraging, and we expect this momentum to continue into spring."

The sales follow increased enquiry across Abadeen's Lower North Shore portfolio which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/northcote-collective-naremburn-2-northcote-street-naremburn-nsw-2065">Northcote Collective in Naremburn</a> which also completed recently.

KOYO penthouse headlines Abadeen's $19.25 million EOFY sales flurry

The City of Sydney has approved plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia Group</a> and Metrics Credit Partners’ $3.5 billion Castlereagh Place project in the heart of the Sydney CBD

The towers will be among the tallest in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw-2000">Sydney</a>'s CBD, with more floors than any other residential tower in the city.&nbsp;

The 6,000 sqm site was acquired by the joint venture partners in 2024. It is the largest amalgamated land parcel in the Sydney CBD and comprises eight individual sites fronting Castlereagh, Pitt and Liverpool Streets.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castlereagh-place-sydney-324-348-pitt-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Castlereagh Place</a> will transform an underutilised city block into a landmark mixed-use destination, anchored by two 82-storey towers comprising 607 luxury residences above an 8-level podium housing a 209-room luxury hotel. A 1,000 square metre civic park on ground level features a curated mix of food, beverage and retail.

The plans have been refined over the past year to rebalance the residential and hotel offering, and reconfigure the retail footprint to create a stronger, more dynamic dining experience.

A three-level flagship building on the prominent corner of Pitt and Liverpool Streets will be the gateway to the Castlereagh Place lifestyle precinct. Set to become a Sydney icon, the building is capable of housing multiple hospitality venues.

“Castlereagh Place is designed to be the City's next great urban oasis - an energetic mixed-use precinct that pulses with life, day and night,"&nbsp;said Joseph Kinsella, Group Director of Billbergia.

"It will bring the vibrancy of places like Barangaroo and Darling Quarter into a more accessible, central destination at the very heart of Sydney."

Kinsella said the project will build on&nbsp;Sydney’s growing laneway culture with the City’s largest network of new activated lanes - an expanded, next-generation take on precincts like Angel Place, Palings Lane and Ash Street in Wynyard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374401]

Castlereagh Place has been designed by architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">fjcstudio</a> in collaboration with Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design, joint winners of an international design competition in 2018.&nbsp;

Signature design elements from the original scheme remain unchanged, while the public domain has been significantly enhanced, delivering 60 per cent more open-to-sky space.

Pedestrian access will also be enhanced through new laneways linking Pitt, Liverpool and Castlereagh Streets, drawing people into a new civic park with outdoor seating, landscaping and integrated public art.

With activated laneways supported by strong hospitality offerings, Castlereagh Place is tipped to become a vibrant new dining destination in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

It marks the largest undertaking to date for the Billbergia and Metrics Credit Partners partnership. Together they are developing other underutilised Sydney sites into mixed-use precincts, including the $2.2 billion Concord Central and the $1.3 billion Chatswood Grand Residences.

Metrics Managing Partner and Group CEO Andrew Lockhart said Castlereagh Place is a landmark project that will redefine Sydney’s skyline.

"As the tallest residential high-rise development, the revitalised site will offer panoramic views across the CBD and surrounds. We are excited to partner with Billbergia to reinvigorate an underutilised site and create a sophisticated and contemporary mixed-use offering situated in the heart of Sydney.”

Total apartments within the towers have increased to 607 dwellings, with a focus on larger floorplans. Aligned to growing market demand, Castlereagh Place now comprises 299 three-plus-bedroom apartments, 198 two-bedroom units and 110 one-bedroom configurations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374402]

Resident amenities will include an exclusive residents club containing a gym, rooftop pool, dining rooms, co-working spaces, library, golf simulator, games room, cinema room, and access to an exclusive concierge service. There will be around 500 basement car spaces below the towers.

The development will also include a state-of-the-art wellness centre, set to feature a bathhouse with magnesium pools, hot/cold plunge pools and premium amenities.

&nbsp;

According to fjcstudio, the towers will feature distinctive yet elegant architectural design reflecting Sydney’s geometry and urban character, with a network of through-site links and intimate public spaces activating the streetscape.

"Castlereagh Place is a city-making project of significant scale and ambition," said Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudio.

"It will create a rich urban complex of public open spaces, landscaped gardens, and vibrant laneways. Defining these new public spaces and the important streetscape of Castlereagh Street is a sequence of fine-grained, diverse retail and hotel architecture designed in collaboration with Aileen Sage, Polly Harbison Design and Trias.

“Rising above the tree-lined, human-scale streetscape are two slender residential towers that will transform the city skyline and look towards the Harbour, Hyde Park, and the Royal Botanic Garden.”

Demolition and early construction works have commenced onsite at Castlereagh Place.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134477]

Pamela Bennett

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