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LJ Hooker's long-planned $400 million initial public offering may have got delayed further until September, with UK real estate agency Countrywide chairman Grenville Turner flying into Sydney for meetings with potential investors, according to a report in The Australian.
Citi, the lead manager to the IPO, scheduled back-to-back meetings with potential investors to explain the revised listing date, the business strategy and point out the differences between LJ Hooker's float and the December-listing of property agency McGrath Ltd, reported the Australian business column Dataroom. 
LJ Hooker's listing was subject to completion of its merger talks with Victorian real estate firm Barry Plant, as the combined, bigger entity would look to emulate Countrywide by housing both brands in the same corporate structure and yet operating independently, the report said.
The listing would be under the name Empireal and when it lists would have nearly 10 percent market share, making it the largest in the sector.
Countrywide and LJ Hooker entered into a partnership in 2012 to expand their reach. LJ Hooker, an iconic real estate firm launched by Sir Leslie Hooker in 1928, has more than 700 franchise offices across Australia.
Turner was drafted in as a special advisor by Janusz Hooker, the majority shareholder.
The report said Hooker, Turner and Empireal's chief executive designate and the current CEO of LJ Hooker, Grant Harrod, updated investors about the status of the merger talks.
The perceived slowdown in Australia's property market and McGrath's poor show are possibly weighing in on LJ Hooker's IPO.
McGrath, whose shares fell below their IPO pricing on its first day on the ASX, have lost more than a third of their value in three months. They were trading at $1.34 in mid-morning trade on April 13 on the ASX.
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LJ Hooker public float may be delayed further: The Australian 

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The inner suburbs always get plenty of press, but options lay beyond the hipster belt. 
Fringe suburbs present an affordable way into the market, especially if you are a first-time buyer and as long as you choose a prospect with the right fundamentals, you can expect your holding to show good long term growth, according to valuation firm Herron Todd White's property clock for April.
Given the growth in values achieved in the Sydney metropolitan area of late, the metamorphosis of older suburbs into modern living spaces that have been driven by location and buyer demand have changed the faces of many for the better. HTW focuses on suburbs within 20 to 25 kilometres of the CBD as the primary location for this shift.
Sydney South
Starting with the southern end of Sydney, we have seen Engadine and Kirrawee in the Sutherland Shire as two of the standout performers with significant growth and redevelopment changing these areas. The buzz has mainly come from the affordable price point for first-home buyers and upsizers.
In addition, the re-zoning for duplexes and new unit complexes has created an increase in current DA applications.
The Engadine shopping precinct has expanded over the past decade with the big three supermarket chains along with a number of restaurants and cafes drawing people to the suburb. Engadine is seen as ideal for buyers wanting to live within one of the few regions in Sydney bounded by national parks, close to Sydney’s southern beaches and with direct access to the CBD which is less than 50 minutes by train. The next five to 10 years in Engadine will see more development of high density units and duplex style dwellings. Engadine has seen median house prices increase from $600,000 in December 2012 to $885,000 in February 2016 with unit median prices increasing from $415,000 to $617,500 over this time period (source: realestate. com.au).
Property Observer found a few recently sold units around the median range on realestate.com.au.
<img src="/images/2016/04/13/image2-2.jpg" alt="" width="575" height="431">
1. A two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-engadine-121990510">11/6 Preston Avenue Engadine NSW 2233</a> (above) sold for $595,000 recently.
<img src="/images/2016/04/13/main-1.jpg" alt="" width="510" height="383">
2. Another recent sale was that of a three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-nsw-engadine-121423654">1/1084 Old Princes Highway Engadine</a> (above) NSW 2233 sold for $630,000.
On a larger scale, Kirrawee is seeing huge redevelopment with a new $8.5 million hotel development on a site on the Princes Highway which was once home to a service station and motor mechanic. The new hotel will be almost opposite the Brick Pit site which sits at the junction of the existing retail strip, industrial factories and residential development, only 200 meters from Kirrawee train station. This site, approved for approximately 750 residential apartments between six and 14 storeys with a large commercial and retail presence, will be constructed at a cost of approximately $500 million.
A similar large-scale development is already under construction at Woolooware Bay which neighbours the Cronulla Sharks Football Stadium. The former car park and playing fields will be transformed into approximately 600 apartments with resortlike facilities including pools, spas, massage room, rooftop theatre and BBQ area set amongst lush gardens. There will be a retail, cafe and dining precinct, with the entire development adjoining foreshore parklands. 
A few recent sales in Kirrawee are 
<img src="/images/2016/04/13/image4.jpg" alt="" width="569" height="427">
1. A two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-kirrawee-122032070">31/602 Princes Highway Kirrawee NSW 2232</a> (above) for $580,000
<img src="/images/2016/04/13/main.jpg" alt="" width="561" height="421">
2. A two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unit-nsw-kirrawee-121869534" target="_blank">20/494-496 President Avenue Kirrawee</a> fetched $545,000
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Sydney's fringe suburbs of Engadine and Kirrawee hold promise for FHBs: HTW

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A residential development expected to be Box Hill's tallest tower on completion was officially launched to the public on April 9, 2016, with 8 percent of stage one sold out.
Sky One will be a 35-storey mixed-use building comprising 419 apartments and retail by Golden Age Development Group. It will be located at 545 Station Street.
The interest from the public can be gauged by the fact that sales crossed $140 million, said a media release. 
"We are absolutely thrilled with the response to Sky One so far. The launch weekend was overwhelming success with 85% of stage one sold and an extremely strong level of interest from the local Box Hill market,” said marketing and sales director of Golden Age, Dandan Zhao.
Privately owned Golden Age is based in Melbourne and among its developments are the new five-star Sheraton Hotel in Melbourne, residential towers Victoria One, Collins House and Opera, and two new projects in Sydney.
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Off-the-plan Box Hill tower Sky One in Melbourne sees 85 percent sales at launch 

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The valuation firm Herron Todd White has issued its latest property clock for the industrial market - a simple broad brush means to suggest where property markets are - and what direction prices are moving in.
South West WA is alone at the top -- peak of the market, according to the April property clock. 
<div><a href="/images/2016/04/7/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-07%20at%202.52.57%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a></div>
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<div><img src="/images/2016/04/7/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-07%20at%202.52.57%20PM.png" alt="" width="808" height="554"></div>
 
Sydney is a market in decline, while Melbourne and Brisbane are approaching the peak.
Industrial is a great real estate leg-up for investors graduating from residential holdings into a commercial portfolio, according to HTW.
The sector has certainly presented affordable options in the past few years, but could it be due an upswing in 2016? The best way to buy well is to draw on local knowledge, say HTW. It’s not just broad markets that present the best opportunities. Variations between secondary to prime property play their part, as do different locations throughout the same town. 
 
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South West WA at the peak of industrial property market: HTW property clock 

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ASX-listed marketing services company Salmat has signed a six-year lease for office space in Melbourne's commercial CBD with the Lendlease-managed Australian Prime Property Fund Commercial (APPF Commercial). 
Salmat will occupy eight floors at 485 La Trobe Street, taking nearly 8,400 square metres in the South Tower.
Salmat will move into the building in January 2017 and has expansion rights over a further 3,300 square metres.
It will join other corporates at 485 La Trobe Street including Catholic Insurance, BP Elite and MV Anderson Accountants.
The 33,500 square metre, A-grade commercial complex was purchased by APPF Commercial in December 2013 and will undergo a refurbishment of the ground floor and end of trip facilities this year.
Salmat CEO Craig Dower said the decision followed 12 months of due diligence to find a suitable location.
“Maintaining a CBD presence, with accessibility to public transport from all surrounding areas will minimise the impact on our staff, clients and the business, as well as provide access to a pool of new staff to support our growth strategy,” said Dower.
Leon Kriewaldt of Tenancy Solutions represented Salmat, while Phillip Cullity of Savills advised Lendlease.
 
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Salmat signs lease deal for office space in Melbourne's La Trobe Street

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Canberra's Franklin’s recently saw sales of eight mixed-use commercial suites at 227 Flemington Road, minutes from the CBD.
The sale of the ground floor commercial spaces at the Aamira development were brokered through CBRE’s Mark Nicholls and Patrick Sammon on behalf of developer Taofei (Australia) International Pty Ltd.
The units, between 129sqm and 190sqm, sold at premium rates, said Nicholls, attributing it to the strong commercial demand for sites in the Franklin area.
“The majority of purchasers were owner-occupiers, however, a couple of units were purchased by investors. This demonstrates the increasing confidence buyers have in the long term investment potential of the Canberra commercial market, especially those situated on the proposed Capital Metro route.”
The units were offered to the market individually or combined, catering for a variety of commercial office, restaurant and retail businesses, added Sammon.
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Eight commercial suites sold at Aamira development in Canberra's Franklin

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The latest research from Melbourne Cityscope shows that commercial property sales have decreased in the past three months. 
Sales recorded in the quarter ending March 2016 totalled $800.9 million, a decrease from the $935.1 million in sales recorded in the three months to December 2015 and significantly lower from the $3.525 billion recorded in the three months to September 2015. 
This data brings the 12-month total to $6.108 billion from 323 sales, an increase compared with the previous 12-month total of $2.757 billion from 351 sales.
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The table below shows sales recorded for the past eight updates of Melbourne Cityscope.
<a href="/images/2016/04/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-11%20at%2012.37.42%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-11%20at%2012.37.42%20PM.png" alt="" width="552" height="313">
The most notable sales recorded for the March 2016 update of Melbourne Cityscope include:
<ul>
<li>The acquisition of the remaining 43 per cent interest by AMP Capital WOF of Bourke Place consisting of properties at 600 Bourke Street, a 55 level development on a 6,548 sqm site providing 65,427 sqm net lettable area, Bourke Place Studio at 577 Little Bourke Street, a six storey brick office building with a net lettable area of 2,362 sqm, 188-194 King Street, 184 King Street, a four storey office building and a paved vacant land at former Bourke Place for approximately $243 million through a deal brokered by Savills;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A 50 per cent acquisition of SX2 Tower also known as Southern Cross West Tower at 111-129 Bourke Street by Southern Cross West Investment TC Pty Ltd for $218 million in a deal brokered by CBRE and Colliers International;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>One Collins Street, consisting of several linked new and refurbished buildings ranging up to 17 storeys and is connected by a covered overhead walkway with property at 12-20 Flinders Lane, a 10 storey building with car parking on levels 1, 2 and 3 and offices on upper levels, were bought together for $125 million in a deal brokered by Knight Frank.</li>
</ul>
Properties for sale in the area covered by Melbourne Cityscope in March 2016 include: 
<ul>
<li>320-326 Queen Street a three storey Victorian rendered brick building occupied and owned by The Celtic Club and property at 316-318 Queen Street, a five-level brick and concrete office building including a basement with a combined site area of 676 sqm, are for sale and or as a redevelopment by international public tender closing May 6, 2016 through CBRE;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The Metropolitan on William Hotel at 263-267 William Street, a two storey older brick hotel building is for sale by auction on April 8, 2016 through CBRE and Killen Thomas. This property was last sold for $565,000 in 1993;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>185-187 Lonsdale Street, a three storey brick building is for sale with an asking price of $9.9 million through Savills and Burgess Rawson; and</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>51 Queen Street, an office building of 11 storeys plus mezzanine and basement, for sale through expressions of interest closing April 7, 2016 through Colliers International. This property was last sold for $16.388 million in 2012.</li>
</ul>
<a href="/images/2016/04/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-11%20at%2012.40.29%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-11%20at%2012.40.29%20PM.png" alt="" width="568" height="327" style="font-size: 12.16px; line-height: 1.3em;">
Leasing opportunities in the area covered by Melbourne Cityscope in March 2016 include: 
<ul>
<li>485 La Trobe Street, two office towers linked by a six storey glass atrium and lobby with a total net lettable area of 33,639 sqm has office space ranging from 1,334 sqm to 7,317 sqm for lease through Savills and JLL Melbourne;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Melbourne Chambers, an 11 storey office building at 235 Queen Street with a net lettable office area of 3,533 sqm, has naming rights and areas ranging from 300 sqm to 3,621 sqm for lease through Colliers International and MP Burke Commercial;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Collins Place consisting of Collins Tower of 51 storeys at 35 Collins Street and the ANZ Tower at 55 Collins Street of 47 storeys has office floor area ranging from 1,689 sqm to 3,393 sqm for lease through Colliers International; and</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>KTS at 350 Queen Street, a 21 storey building consisting of an octagonal office tower above five levels of car parking with a net lettable area of 22,411 sqm, has office space ranging from 300 sqm to 9,000 sqm for lease through CBRE and Savills.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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Melbourne commercial property sales fell in the last three months: CoreLogic RP Data Cityscope

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The tougher lending criteria being imposed by the major banks, particularly in regards to living expenses, is silly and irrelevant, the former CEO of the Australian Institute of Professional Brokers has argued.
The tougher rules are hurting prime borrowers, said founder and owner of Melbourne-based Universal Wealth Management Maria Rigoni, speaking to MPA's sister publication Australian Broker.
“Lending criteria is getting harder and harder so really good, credit-worthy borrowers are being declined loans on the most simple and silly of reasons.
“What is happening is people are finding it harder and harder to borrow or refinance. You might have all these cheaper options out there, but with the way that [the banks] are squeezing down how much people can borrow, consumers are being stuck in high interest rate loans and you can’t move.” Rigoni’s argument comes just after ANZ announced in a note to mortgage brokers that it would change the way minimum living expenses were calculated when it decides on home loans.
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Broker slams major banks over lending criteria

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Horsham, a regional city in the Wimmera wheat growing region in western Victoria, is the new entrant at the top of the April property clock for houses.
The valuation firm Herron Todd White has issued its latest property clock for the residential market - a simple broad brush means to suggest where property markets are in April - and what direction prices are moving in.
All the other four are from NSW, namely Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Newcastle and Central Coast and have retained their peak of market position from March as well. 
Horsham’s residential real estate market continues to provide a stable investment for both owner-occupiers and investors. The urbanisation of today’s population is bringing senior members of the community to central service hubs such as Horsham and generally increasing the larger centre’s ability to attract and retain the younger generation and continuing its population growth. In turn this brings about expanding outer built up fringe areas and increased prices for inner city property located in close proximity to shops and services.
As real estate in inner city Horsham continues to appreciate, more and more buyers are looking for cheaper alternatives. In larger centres such as Ballarat or Melbourne, this would see buyers moving further out of town into the suburbs and becoming more reliant on the local neighbourhood shopping centre. 
In Horsham, this phenomenon is generally different and sees families moving to smaller nearby town such as Murtoa and Dimboola that are located within a 30 minute drive of Horsham but maintain schools and local shops. House prices in these smaller towns are significantly lower than Horsham. As an example, Horsham’s current median house price sits at $290,000 while Dimboola’s median house price is a far more affordable $120,000. When weighing up size and affordability, regional towns are definitely an option.
Among the others, Gold Coast has climbed one notch from a rising market to approaching the peak. Sydney remains in the 'starting to decline' phase, while Mount Gambier and Townsville continue to stay at the bottom of the market.
<a href="/images/2016/04/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-07%20at%203.21.47%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/11/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-07%20at%203.21.47%20PM.png" alt="">
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Victoria's Horsham joins NSW regions at top of house clock: HTW

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Rental property technology company Property Connect Holdings Limited (ASX:PCH) has entered into an agreement with Florida-based SellState Partners Realty for its LiveOffer™ technology, an online system through which potential tenants can make offers on rental property.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) will see the two parties negotiate a binding contract under which SellState Partners will exclusively complete leasing transactions for several large portfolio owners in the US using Property Connect’s LiveOffer™.
SellState Partners manages leasing transactions for several hedge fund property owners and is targeting about 200,000 rentals through this partnership.
"We manage the leasing transactions for some of the largest hedge funds in the US, and having access to Property Connect's LiveOffer™ platform will transform how the industry manages the leasing process moving forward,” said SellState Partners franchise owner Matthew Krac. 
"It's a huge win for the owner, broker, manager and renter."  
The agreement will remain in place for six months with negotiations to determine the pricing, though Property Connect expects this will follow a similar structure to that outlined for multifamily property managers.
“This move into the single family home market comes ahead of schedule and immediately highlights the scope for LiveOffer™ across a number of sectors,” said Property Connect CEO Tim Manson.
“We look forward to further exploring these new opportunities while also continuing our pursuit of management groups in our focus market of multifamily apartment group.
LiveOffer™ provides the renter with the ability to easily adjust the rent paid, move-in date and lease term and assists leasing agents to secure market-driven terms on each property.
The product can be integrated into existing property management software and allows renters to place an offer on a property and see in real-time where they are placed against other applicants, creating a fair market value for rental properties.
Offers are instantly matched against preferences set by property managers and ranked accordingly.
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Property Connect signs MOU with SellState Partners Realty

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

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The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

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Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

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“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

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Prateek Chatterjee

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