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What advice do you have for a young investor or an investor just starting out?
Buying a property is the single biggest investment most people make in their lives, so it makes sense to take measures to ensure it’s done correctly.
My advice to investors, both new and experienced, is not to assume you know everything. Buying property can be incredibly complex, that’s because not all properties perform the same and there’s no set formula for identifying the standout properties.
Ensure you do your homework, which may include engaging a qualified property professional, such as a property valuer or property adviser, to analyze the historical performance of a property before you purchase it.
Seeking advice from a friend or family member may provide some comfort but despite their best intentions they don’t have the experience or qualifications to assess a property’s suitability to meet your goals. They are also unlikely to have the negotiation and bidding skills to secure the property via private treaty or in the heat of a competitive auction.
Read more of this interview <a href="/news">here</a>.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
 
 
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WBP Property Group Greville Pabst's  advice for young investors

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What has been your biggest investment success?
My greatest success with property investing comes from the purchase of a single fronted Federation brick house in the premier Melbourne suburb <a target="_blank" href="/news">Albert Park</a>.
Situated in one of the suburb’s best streets, between the beach and Albert Park Lake the property is situated on some of the city’s most expensive land. I purchased the property for $241,000 in 1995 and today it is estimated to be worth $1.5 million, in unrenovated condition. This represents an estimated compound growth of 10.29% per annum.
Read more of this interview <a href="/news">here</a>.
news@propertyobserver.com.au
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WBP Property Group Greville Pabst's biggest success

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The ANZ Bank has refunded $70 million to 235,000 home loan customers, with some errors dating as far back as 2003 and leading to the bank to review all its home loan, savings and small business accounts.  
“Part of our ongoing program of work at the moment is to make sure that all of our accounts are performing in accordance with the terms and conditions documents that are out there,” ANZ’s Australian head, Phil Chronican, says.  
“When you discover an issue of this nature, you want to be 100% sure that you haven’t got anything else of that nature in your business, so we’ve been reviewing all of our products.  
“We literally are going through every product, every terms and conditions booklet, and checking the systems against the products <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theage.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/anz-review-after-glitch-forces-70m-in-home-loan-refunds-20140129-31m3z" rel="nofollow">against the terms and conditions</a>.”
This article first appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.startupsmart.com.au/">SmartUpSmart.</a>
 
 
 
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ANZ refunds $70 million to home loan customers after major glitch

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<img src="/images/stories/2014/01/29/Greville-Pabst-profile.jpg" width="125" height="150" alt="Greville-Pabst-profile" style="float: right;">What is your current portfolio? 
In the last 30 years I’ve owned over 25 investment properties comprising residential houses and units, commercial industrial warehouses, mixed use retail and residential and commercial office space.
These properties have been located all around Melbourne including suburbs such as <a target="_blank" href="/news">South Yarra</a>, Albert Park, <a target="_parent" href="/news">St Kilda</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Melbourne</a> CBD, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Footscray</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Seddon</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Hampton</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Malvern</a>, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Yarraville</a> and more.
Included in my list of developments are five development projects, including the WBP Head Office located in North Melbourne and my own private residence located in Melbourne’s bayside.
 
My current portfolio comprises five properties including my bayside residence, a family farm south-west of Geelong in Bambra, Victoria; a Federation house in Albert Park, a one-bedroom flat in Elwood and an office building in North Melbourne.
My investment focus is now on securing quality residential property.
 
What has been your biggest investment success?
My greatest success with property investing comes from the purchase of a single fronted Federation brick house in the premier Melbourne suburb <a href="/news">Albert Park</a>.
Situated in one of the suburb’s best streets, between the beach and Albert Park Lake the property is situated on some of the city’s most expensive land. I purchased the property for $241,000 in 1995 and today it is estimated to be worth $1.5 million, in unrenovated condition. This represents an estimated compound growth of 10.29% per annum.
What has been your biggest investment mistake?
Over the years I’ve bought and sold many investment properties but my biggest investment mistake has been selling the best performing ones. While selling these properties facilitated life changes, including the funding of my current home, and investment in other areas, I recognise the importance of holding great performing property.
Another area in which I have met with difficulties is co-investing – that is, pooling funds with another party to purchase real estate. This can provide difficult for long-term investments due to changes in individual priorities and circumstances, which may provide pressure regarding the timing of a renovation or sale, among other things.
 
What advice do you have for a young investor or an investor just starting out?
Buying a property is the single biggest investment most people make in their lives, so it makes sense to take measures to ensure it’s done correctly.
My advice to investors, both new and experienced, is not to assume you know everything. Buying property can be incredibly complex, that’s because not all properties perform the same and there’s no set formula for identifying the standout properties.
Ensure you do your homework, which may include engaging a qualified property professional, such as a property valuer or property adviser, to analyze the historical performance of a property before you purchase it.
Seeking advice from a friend or family member may provide some comfort but despite their best intentions they don’t have the experience or qualifications to assess a property’s suitability to meet your goals. They are also unlikely to have the negotiation and bidding skills to secure the property via private treaty or in the heat of a competitive auction.
Greville Pabst is CEO of <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CEAQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbpproperty.com%2F&amp;ei=Jb4hUevODOyamQX6mIGYDQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNH0u8Ji9ymluq8AKARfB-KjHZ-aFA&amp;sig2=DNsIKQR7tQj4PtYuiJOHPA&amp;bvm=bv.42553238,d.dGY">WBP Property Group.</a>
 
<hr>
 RELATED ARTICLES
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/expert-view-suburb-spotlight-on-brunswick/2014012367278">Expert view: Suburb spotlight on Brunswick</a> by Greville Pabst
<a href="/news">The advantages of a SMSF</a> by Greville Pabst
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Interview with an expert: WBP Property's Greville Pabst

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We all have a dream house. Some of us live in ours, while others will just have to browse online and daydream until the day they may get the opportunity to either build it or buy it.
Where is your dream home and what does it look like? Here are the dream homes, across the world, from Twitter in our Tweet of the Day.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Dream house!! <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/BbTXxqXzBz">pic.twitter.com/BbTXxqXzBz</a>
— Djakomo (@djakomoo) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/djakomoo/statuses/425755940747362304">January 21, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Dream house. <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/zd53xfHKGc">pic.twitter.com/zd53xfHKGc</a>
— EliGil19 (@Sconnie_Guy19) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/Sconnie_Guy19/statuses/425306689382793216">January 20, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Dream house. <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/jInO9t3V3m">pic.twitter.com/jInO9t3V3m</a>
— Pictures of Luxury (@LUXURYPlCTURES) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/LUXURYPlCTURES/statuses/425598918442098688">January 21, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Unreal dream house. <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/8BsGVZRLLv">pic.twitter.com/8BsGVZRLLv</a>
— ? What Money Buys ? (@BiIIionaires) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/BiIIionaires/statuses/425027219539656704">January 19, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
I'm completely serious when I say I want the dream house from 13 going on 30 <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23pink&amp;src=hash">#pink</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/jqF5QT8Z3m">pic.twitter.com/jqF5QT8Z3m</a>
— Ellie Clark (@sparky_clarky3) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/sparky_clarky3/statuses/423145066849263616">January 14, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Dream house <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/zKJV6HvTRo">pic.twitter.com/zKJV6HvTRo</a>
— J Wiggs (@JWiggsMusic) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/JWiggsMusic/statuses/422078201452851201">January 11, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
Tweet us your 'dream house' via @propertyobs.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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The dream houses we all want

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The Property Observer team spends more time than most looking at real estate listings, and finding either bizarre rentals (such as this latest one, sent to us on Twitter, that has <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/a-toilet-in-the-kitchen-a-strange-unit-layout/2014012067267?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=newsplus" target="_blank">a toilet in the kitchen</a>, or this one that was <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/queensland/advertising-your-property-to-drug-dealers-this-owner-is-doing-just-that/2013111266323" target="_blank">advertised to South Australian drug dealers</a>) or disturbing photographs.
We've collected the following photographs from real estate listings into an ongoing collection of strange Australian real estate marketing attempts. Send your weird and wonderful photographs to <a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a> and we will add them to the collection below.
Here are some of our current highlights:
The 'interesting' lighting effects
<img width="470" height="353" src="/images/stories/2014/01/21/2.jpg" alt="2">
<img width="470" height="353" src="/images/stories/2014/01/21/5.jpg" alt="5">
Apocalypse now?
<img width="470" height="353" src="/images/stories/2014/01/21/bardon_dec_12_sky_end_of_the_world.jpg" alt="bardon_dec_12_sky_end_of_the_world">
Mirror, mirror
<img width="470" height="353" src="/images/stories/2014/01/21/mirror_mirror_jan_21_one.jpg" alt="mirror_mirror_jan_21_one">
Do you come with the house?
<img width="470" height="353" src="/images/stories/2014/01/21/model_dec_3_one_901_480_Riversdale_Road_Hawthorn_East_Vic_3123.jpg" alt="model_dec_3_one_901_480_Riversdale_Road_Hawthorn_East_Vic_3123">
<img width="470" height="353" src="/images/stories/2014/01/21/model_dec_3_two_901_480_Riversdale_Road_Hawthorn_East_Vic_3123.jpg" alt="model_dec_3_two_901_480_Riversdale_Road_Hawthorn_East_Vic_3123">
<img width="470" height="353" alt="image21" src="/images/stories/2013/11/21/image21.jpg">
<img width="470" height="353" src="/images/stories/2014/01/21/wtasons_bay_dec_11_funny.jpg" alt="wtasons_bay_dec_11_funny">
Your move
<img width="470" height="353" src="/images/stories/2013/11/21/unique_nov_21_seven.jpg" alt="unique_nov_21_seven">
You might also be interested in our other articles about <a href="?option=com_googlesearch_cse&amp;q=photography" target="_blank">real estate photography, and some of the creative ways that properties are marketed</a>.
<a href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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The strangest real estate photographs: Add yours to the collection

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Barangaroo has become a topic of excitement for many, particularly those seeing the development slowly build in Sydney. If you've taken the ferry into the city from the Western Sydney direction recently, it's likely you'll have seen the incredibly quick progress being made on the construction site. And, if you haven't, well then there are these Tweets.
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
Beautiful views of Darling Harbour from the Barangaroo construction site public toilets! <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/2ChjKXHn">https://t.co/2ChjKXHn</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sydney&amp;src=hash">#sydney</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23toilet&amp;src=hash">#toilet</a>
— Toilography (@toilography) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/toilography/statuses/196569185512456192">April 29, 2012</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
Lightning strikes over Sydney, Australia! We teamed up with <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Barangaroo">@Barangaroo</a> to share these views <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/wuT7aTgLK7">https://t.co/wuT7aTgLK7</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/J3IAL45mvJ">pic.twitter.com/J3IAL45mvJ</a>
— EarthCam (@EarthCam) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/EarthCam/statuses/414047816655204352">December 20, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
Smokey views across <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Barangaroo">@barangaroo</a> today. <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/yEWY9shTMz">pic.twitter.com/yEWY9shTMz</a>
— Richard Evans (@balletbloke) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/balletbloke/statuses/377307205743034368">September 10, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
In 2012, we reported about apartment developments that would<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/every-apartments-has-harbour-views-as-lend-lease-unveils-two-barangaroo-apartment-blocks/2012112057997"> take full advantage of the Darling Harbour views</a>.
<a target="_blank" href="mailto:news@propertyobserver.com.au">news@propertyobserver.com.au</a>
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A slightly different view of Barangaroo

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Australia is the world capital for property speculation. Australians play property like Monopoly: buying, selling, demolishing, rebuilding, extending, renovating, always with the promise of appreciation on resale. The contribution to GDP of real estate transactions alone is the highest in the world, and three times higher than that in the US.
Around one in seven Australian taxpayers owns one or more investment properties, aided by generous tax concessions. Australia has one of the highest levels of household debt in the OECD due to borrowings for property purchases.
This amounts to what is effectively an infinite demand for property in Australia, exacerbated by a growing global investor market. The resulting competition at sale is the main reason for Australia’s rapidly declining housing affordability. While some (but by no means all) of this activity is creating new dwellings for rent, the rents are increasing too.
Renters last
Renters are the losers in the property game. Not only do they struggle with high rents but tenant protection in Australia is among the weakest in the developed world. This is not coincidental: Australia’s 1.8 million and counting property investors support and are supported by tenancy legislation heavily weighted in favour of landlords. This produces a fundamental lack of security in rental housing.
Australia stands in stark contrast to North American and European countries, which have a range of much stronger tenant protections including rent control and security. As these are nuanced and vary from state to state in all these countries, as well as in Australia, broad comparisons are difficult to make. But a few key points can draw the picture.
In Victoria, rents can be increased every six months with no limit on the amount (though a tenant can appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal if the amount exceeds similar properties in the same area). In Germany, which is around average for tenant protection in Europe, rent increases are capped at 20% every three years. Landlords who overcharge can be fined.
In Victoria, 60 days is the standard amount of notice required for a tenant to vacate. In Germany the notice requirements vary according to how long the tenant has lived there: three months is the minimum for someone who has lived in the property for less than five years. Six months notice is required for a tenancy between five and eight years; nine months for longer than eight years.
Elderly long term tenants are protected: a landlord has to make a very strong case for their eviction, and is required to pay compensation and/or assist with their relocation.
In Victoria, tenants can be evicted so a property can be sold with vacant possession, which may or may not bring a bit more on the sale price. If the place is bought by another investor the property returns to the rental market some months after the original tenants had to find a new home. In Germany this is illegal: tenanted properties are sold with their tenant in place.
This strong legislation is possible partly because of the role of large landholding institutions in Germany that treat their housing assets as long-term secure investments that provide a steady return. The resulting long leases mean tenants can consider their rented property their home and fit it out accordingly. The tenancy protections supporting this arrangement act as a disincentive to speculators, which in turn reduces demand for investment properties and therefore competition at sale.
When people prefer to rent
The historical and cultural contexts in Australia and Europe are profoundly different of course, but it is useful to reflect on the institutional and legal practices that enable renting one’s home to be the norm.
In contrast to Australia, where land and housing are treated as commodities, the combination of large landholders and strong tenant protections in Europe creates a self-reinforcing cycle that maintains house prices and rents at relatively stable and affordable levels. The resulting security means Europe doesn’t have anything like the stigma against renters that can be found in Australia.
Australia is changing, however. The prohibitive cost of housing for purchase, desire to delay or avoid the burden of housing debt, and simultaneous growth of a footloose, casualised workforce – whether by circumstance or choice – is creating generations of people who prefer to rent.
As cultural attitudes change, the institutions should follow. The potential role of Australian superannuation funds in investing in housing has been avoided for too long: for decades trillions of dollars of workers’ hard-earned have been distributed over a range of investments without alleviating Australia’s crisis of housing affordability.
The super funds are finally reconsidering this position, and so too should Australia’s legal practices adapt. Legislative changes should be made to facilitate significant super fund investment in secure and affordable rental housing, followed by strengthened tenancy protections.
If these changes were coupled with reduction of the tax incentives to small property investors, the market would shift dramatically. But this would require Australian voters to curb their enthusiasm for the property game. What are the chances of that?
 
<hr>
 Kate Shaw is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow in Urban Geography and Planning. Her current research focuses on urban renewal in the 21st Century.
 
This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/renting-for-life-housing-shift-requires-rethink-of-renters-rights-20538" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
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Renters are the losers in the property game: Time to rid the stigma: Academic

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We recently pulled together the most beautiful properties from across the country to ask you to vote on your favourites. So which won the Reader's Choice vote? We share your selections below.
 
ACT
<a href="https://manuka.ljhooker.com.au/FHRFMF" target="_blank">20 Tennyson Crescent, Forrest</a> This large property, on 2,480 square metres, has high ceilings, polished timber floors, and is basically a very elegant home. With five-bedrooms and three-bathrooms, and up for negotiation, it has a number of comforting inclusions.
With a walk-in pantry, two pyrolytic ovens and two dishwashers, it is certainly fit for a lover of cooking. It also has an outdoor kitchen with a stainless steel barbecue and granite benchtops.
It has a saltwater swimming pool with glass fencing, a poolside entertainment deck, a garden studio and a full sized tennis court, making it suitable for outdoor lovers as well. It has a landscaped garden with roses and exotic plants... and a computerised watering system.
It has a library, a conservatory sunroom, a gym and a rumpus room as well as a large double garage.
It last sold in 2003 for $1,862,500, according to RP Data.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/12/17/for]}
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NSW
<a href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/549366/" target="_blank">2/11 Gladswood Gardens, Double Bay</a>
This waterfront beauty at circa 1860 sandstone Gladswood House has traditional architecture combined with contemporary design. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment does actually feel more like a house than anything else.
With three car parks and in a cul-de-sac in Double Bay, it has views of the harbour, and comes with a $4.9 million price tag.
With fireplaces, timber panelling, mosaic tiled ensuite, herringbone parquetry floors and plantation shutters, it's a beautiful residence.
It has a gorgeous balcony, which we can see from the photos, and is one of the most amazing apartments we have seen.
Originally, the house was called Seaford House, before being re-named Glenyarrah and then, finally, taking the title Gladswood House. It was previously on the market from 2008 to 2010, according to RP Data, without achieving a sale.
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NT
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nt-parap-115156107">1 Jensen Street, Parap</a>
Asking for $2.1 million, this five-bedroom, three-bathroom house is a blend of South East Asian, Inner City, and 'Outback Station' styles. Having won an HIA 2012 Custom Built home over $1 million award, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vantagehomes.com.au/portfolio/jensen-street-parap/">built by Vantage homes</a>, it's on a 1,270 square metre block.
It has merbau timber flooring, an alfresco lounge, security gates, intercoms, and a detached self-contained guest suite.
It saw the block sell in 2009 for $600,000.
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QLD
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-isle-of-capri-qld-4217/185857" target="_blank">57 The Corso, Isle Of Capri</a>
With six-bedrooms, six-bathrooms and six lock up garage spaces, this property on the Gold Coast is on 2,197 square metres of land in ‘exotic gardens’.
With hand cut sandstone and Travertine floors, a butler’s pantry, a cold room, a billiards den in a private wing, a theatre, a gym, a Lanai bar, maid’s quarters, a wine cellar, a sauna and heated spa and a lift so you don’t need to walk to get to any of these extras, it certainly has most of the aspects you’d want. It also has a fixed jetty.
The pictures have a heavy holiday feel to them, with design obviously focused around creating the outdoor/indoor feel. It was listed in mid-November.
Any buyer wanting to land this property can expect it to be a multi-million dollar undertaking, with RP Data’s land value section noting $4,100,000 for June 2013.
McGrath notes council rates at $17,666 per annum and water rates at $1,804 per annum.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/12/04/isl]}
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SA
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-sa-medindie-115594939" target="_blank">7 Myrtles Court, Medindie</a>
This circa 1890 home 'The Myrtles' is a six-bedroom, four-bathroom home on 2,201 square metres of grounds.
The house itself, approximately 878 square metres, includes a great hall, a presidential study, a billiards room, home theatre, powder room, three connecting wine cellars and a separate au pair wing.
Outside includes a tennis court, heated pool and spa, and outdoor kitchen/barbecue area and secure garages for four cars.
It has been the set for film and television productions, including Golden Fiddles, Shine and McLeod's Daughters.
It last sold in 2007 for $3,900,000, having previously been bought in 2006 for $5,200,000.
The property was formerly home to Myles and Cathy Jayne Pearce who clashed with real estate identity Neil Jenman in the past over investigations into their business dealings.
In 2007, in a mortgagee in possession sale, not a single bid was made on the property despite a crowd of 200 showing up,<a href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/myrtles-auction-not-one-bid/story-e6frea83-1111113261218" target="_blank">reported Adelaide Now</a>. 
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TAS
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-tas-taroona-112874195">Address withheld, Taroona</a>
Sadly, the address for this Victorian Italinate mansion has been withheld on this property, however it's too beautiful to not include on the list.
Established in 1893, and built of sandstone, it sits on 6,396 square metres and is named 'Winmarleigh'.
Having been designed by the Tasmanian architect George Fagg, and constructed by owner/builder H.W. Stabb, the listing explains that it's the first time it has been on the market since its purchase by the Chief Justice in 1939.
Including an articulated verandah and vast gardens, the five-bedroom, two-bathroom home includes eight original fireplaces, it also has 14-foot ceilings and a servant's bell system.
Chief Justice John Demetrius Morris and his wife lived in this house and "loved to entertain" notes the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
"As administrator on occasion, he also received at Government House. He mixed equally well with conservative families, intellectual leaders and trade-union officials. He dressed well, had a natural charm and social ease, spoke learnedly and talked with wit," it <a target="_blank" href="https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/morris-sir-john-demetrius-11172">notes of Morris</a>. He was titled Chief Justice in 1940 aged 38, and from 1944 was appointed Chancellor of the University of Tasmania and Chairman of the State Library Board.
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WA
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-applecross-113693011">51 Canning Beach Road Applecross</a>
With open homes this weekend, this riverfront home has five-bedrooms and four-bathrooms (as well as a powder room), and panoramic views.
An outdoor BBQ entertainment area and a below ground swimming pool complement the views.
Inside, there is a games room and four of the bedrooms have ensuites, the home also comes with a lockup storage area, four-car garage, home office and temperature controlled wine cellar. The Zorzi/Grandwood property is 716.65 square metres with 515.18 square metres of "internal living" and on 949 square metres of land.
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VIC
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jelliscraig.com.au/property/TEMPLESTOWE-11a-Read-Street/6254435/#.UpZtTicUZ8E">11a Read Street</a>, Templestowe 
With four-bedrooms and six-bathrooms, it's being called the finest offering in Templestowe. With city views, and a french-chateau style, it's a very lavish.
For the type of buyer who has an au pair (and wants them to have their own quarters), and is desirous of a games room (with a bar and cellar), a fully fitted gym with sunken spa and sauna, and fountains, it's certainly not your everyday property.
On 4,005 square metres, and with a solar pool, it's absolutely gorgeous with a frontage that makes you stare. 
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2013/11/28/tem]}
 
 
 
 
 
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The country's most beautiful homes: The winners

<html><body>Australian Property Monitors (APM) has released a list of auction results in Brisbane for the weekend of December 14. <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.homepriceguide.com.au/saturday_auction_results/Brisbane.pdf" style="font-size: 14px;">Click here</a> for the auction results, and click on each street address to see the property's marketing.</body></html>

APM's Brisbane auction results for December 14 weekend

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.

Joel Robinson

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

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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.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

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.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“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.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

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