<html><body>
It looks like it was good times for some in Sydney this weekend, with Sydney buyer's agency Finders Keepers securing a 4-bedroom 2.5-bathroom property prior to auction.
They tweeted out this jubilant picture and tweet of their success.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gotta love closing a deal the night before the auction <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23happyclients&amp;src=hash">#happyclients</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23buyersagent&amp;src=hash">#buyersagent</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/zPoawQ6mPJ">pic.twitter.com/zPoawQ6mPJ</a>
— Finders Keepers (@BuyersAgentSyd) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/BuyersAgentSyd/statuses/381901151437733888">September 22, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
</body></html>

po-LsXgBTHBmX

Jubilation at buying prior to auction

<html><body>
Aussie Home Loans has recently tweeted out about thinking outside of the box with an Ikea hack. 
For the uninitiated, this is where you get IKEA furniture and use it in a way it wasn't necessarily intended to be used in. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Fancy an IKEA hack? Think outside of the box and turn a shelf into a bench seat! <a href="https://t.co/6Ay9kKJxsm" target="_blank">https://t.co/6Ay9kKJxsm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23IKEA&amp;src=hash" target="_blank">#IKEA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23IKEAhack&amp;src=hash" target="_blank">#IKEAhack</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23DIY&amp;src=hash" target="_blank">#DIY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23furniture&amp;src=hash" target="_blank">#furniture</a>
— Aussie (@Aussie) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/Aussie/statuses/380523011537129472" target="_blank">September 19, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
The results can be amazing, and there's even <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ikeahackers.net">a website for it</a>.
Aussie later tweeted at Property Observer to say this is their favourite IKEA hack... <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ikeahackers.net/2012/08/dachshund-dog-ramp?showComment=1344925215332">the Dachshund Dog Ramp</a>!
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JennieDuke">@JennieDuke</a> have you found a favourite hack? So far ours is <a target="_blank" href="https://t.co/1UCK69ptwS">https://t.co/1UCK69ptwS</a> having a Dachshund, you need to think creatively :)
— Aussie (@Aussie) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/Aussie/statuses/380529507179827200">September 19, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
</body></html>

Ikea hacking furniture

<html><body>
Which price bracket are you looking to purchase your next residential property investment within?
 
<img alt="poll-results-sept-23" height="320" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/09/23/poll-results-sept-23.jpg">
</body></html>

Which price bracket are you looking to purchase your next residential property investment within?

<html><body>
South Australian family-owned financial services business, Bernie Lewis, tweets out about what is important to Adelaide buyers.
His tweet is based on a report by McCrindle Research.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Living close to schools is important for home buyers in <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Adelaide&amp;src=hash" target="_parent">#Adelaide</a> followed by closeness to work &amp; transport <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23property&amp;src=hash" target="_blank">#property</a> <a href="https://t.co/BsWvE2hbbb" target="_blank">https://t.co/BsWvE2hbbb</a>
— Bernie Lewis (@bernielewis) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/bernielewis/statuses/380235496456073217" target="_blank">September 18, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
</body></html>

What Adelaide buyers want

<html><body>
As property enthusiasts, it's no surprise we come across some design and building elements that just make us wince.
Of course, we all have different tastes, but there are some fairly unanimous dislikes for the modern property buyer.
Here, Property Observer has compiled some of our most irritating things to look at in a property. For renovators, this might even be the list of things to look at changing.
Vote for your most hated, and send us photos and comments to Jennifer Duke  if you've got more that 'get your goat'.
If you disagree, also send in your comments - each to their own.
{module Which of these styles do you dislike the most?}
If you're looking for something more upbeat, then have a look at these <a target="_blank" href="/news">eight quirky design features</a> that observer Cameron McEvoy thinks urban renters are seeking out.
</body></html>

The ugliest designs of the past, which of these styles do you dislike the most?

<html><body>
Our tweet of the day today comes from Right Property Group who hosted a seminar in Sydney last night.
We previously reported on the Melbourne Right Property Group seminar and the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/insights-into-investing-right-property-group/2013091565032" target="_blank">tricks of the trade they shared with the Victorian investors in attendance</a>. However, the turn out was definitely not as big as that seen in Sydney, potentially attesting to the uplift of interest in the Sydney market currently.
</body></html>

Sydney market attracting bumper property seminar attendance

<html><body>
While Australia's housing bubble is currently a big source of conversation in our own comments, it's interesting to see the fears from overseas as well.
The current big topic of conversation is the housing price bubble being feared in the UK at the moment.
In fact, it even made the frontpage of UK newspaper The Guardian, and was tweeted out across their network. 
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/guardian"><img alt="tweet_sept_17" height="679" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/09/17/tweet_sept_17.png"></a>
"Growing confidence in the outlook for the housing market has been a key component of the economic upturn that led Osborne, to claim in a speech on Monday that the UK is turning a corner," The Guardian reports in the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/sep/11/record-number-estate-agents-housing?CMP=twt_gu" target="_blank">linked story</a>.
"Cable's remarks also fuelled fears that the economic recovery could simply be based on a consumer boom and a housing bubble. He made his political reputation by criticising the Labour government's economic boom for being based on a bubble and has often warned the recovery must be sustained."
</body></html>

The UK's housing bubble fears

<html><body>
Last week, we put up a news story that found out the different tips and techniques that can help you sell your home if you're struggling to do so. 
We spoke to real estate agents, property photographers and property stylists to gather their opinions on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/the-reasons-why-your-property-isn-t-selling/2013091365025?utm_source=po&amp;utm_medium=aida&amp;utm_campaign=latestnews">why your property might not be selling, and how you can improve the chances of a sale</a>.
We also had an article about top tips on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-real-estate-agent-charles-tarbey/2013091564991">getting the most out of a real estate agent</a> from Century 21's Charles Tarbey.
When we looked at our Twitter feed, Just Think Real Estate added that they also used videos to help shift a property when necessary, such as the video below.
{qtube vid:=1XxjqTPReRA&amp;feature=youtu.be}
 
<img alt="poll-results-sept-18" height="198" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/09/18/poll-results-sept-18.jpg"> 
Have you had a video created for your property before, or have you bought a property that had a video attached?
</body></html>

Would property video listings make you more likely to choose an agent?

<html><body>
Renovating is a big pastime for property enthusiasts, investors and home owners across the country.
Here at Property Observer we previously published a <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/the-10-best-diy-renovation-tips-from-the-experts/2013062662548" target="_blank">top 10 list of renovation tips from the experts</a>.
Now we're going to ask you what was useful for you, and which tip you thought was the best.
Which of the following tips is most useful to you?
{module Which renovation tip is the most useful?}
If there are any specific renovation tips you're keen to see Property Observer cover, email your thoughts to <a href="mailto:%20jduke@propertyobserver.com.au" target="_blank">jduke@propertyobserver.com.au</a>. We're always keen to hear your thoughts.
</body></html>

Which renovation tip is the most useful?

<html><body>
Bernadette Janson from the School of Renovating (@renovatingsc) tweets out asking whether this picture is your style or not.
<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/renovatingsc"><img alt="TWEET_OF_THE_DAY_sept_16" height="574" width="470" src="/images/stories/2013/09/16/TWEET_OF_THE_DAY_sept_16.png"></a>
Janson says that contrast gives the room expression, and here at Property Observer we're big fans of the dark/light look.
Do you agree? How have you gone about styling and decorating your property?
</body></html>

Style your home with contrast

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

<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.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

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>.

Property Observer

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News