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Sir Richard Branson's Noosa getaway, Makepeace Island, is a popular holiday destination for cashed-up travelers and boldface names.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/november30makepeace]}
The island, which can be rented for $3,800 plus $550 per adult (and$375 per child) per night during the high season, has very little availability left for summer 2013, according to spokeswoman Kirsty Aitken. 
The Virgin boss, along with Virgin Blue executives Brett Godfrey and former colleague Rob Sherrard, bought the heart-shaped island for $2.86 million in 2007. He opened it to the holiday market in mid-2011.
There is a main house, three two-bedroom villas and a four-bedroom guest house. It has a boathouse, lagoon pool and a 15-person spa. There are no partial bookings, with guests enjoying the entirety of the island. 
Guests travel to and from the island by riverboat, and it contains a host of facilities, such as an outdoor cinema and a full-sized tennis court, to keep them occupied.
When he announced that Makepeace island would be available to rent, Branson said: "When neither Brett nor myself are visiting Makepeace, we will make the island and its facilities available for others to enjoy the tranquillity of what is a very special place.”
 
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<img height="155" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/hayman.jpg" alt="hayman">
Iconic fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg – famous for the wrap dress – has personally designed the DFV Penthouse on Hayman Island, which could be yours for $5,000 a night. 
The private island in the Great Barrier Reef is owned and operated by Mulpha Australia Limited, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World organisation.
<img height="154" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/hayman2.jpg" alt="hayman2">
The 160-square-metre penthouse has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a wrap balcony that offers views over Hayman beach and the Coral Sea.
Von Furstenberg has adorned the apartment with her signature fabrics and DVF rugs and accessories.
A selection of her personal photography is also on show.
The penthouse can accommodate four guests, and a full butler service is included in the $5,000 rental fee.
Von Furstenberg first entered the fashion world in 1972 and is the inventor of the famous wrap dress for women.
She is currently the president for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
“It is such a special destination, and I hope my design will enhance the beauty of the island and give the people staying in the DVF Penthouse a memorable moment,” says Von Furstenberg.
“Diane Von Furstenberg has always been held in such high esteem and we are delighted she has chosen to bring her incredible style, elegance and creativity to this new premium accommodation on Hayman,” says Hayman managing director Lloyd Donaldson.
Those nwith long memories remember the big makeover the island got back in the mid-1980s when a $300 million project commenced to transform the island into a luxury black-tie destination.
Mulpha Australia Limited acquired Hayman Island in 2004.
In 2010, Hayman Island rolled out a selection of private residences for purchase as part of an ongoing strategic investment.
The residences are the first private ownership ever offered at Hayman.
Head of Hotel Investment for Mulpha Australia and managing director of Hayman, Llyod Donaldson, said the decision to offer premium residential property on the island was due to longstanding interest from frequent visitors.
The island will feature a series of three- and four-bedroom residences, ranging from 500 square metres to 750 squares metres, which were designed by international resort architect Kerry Hill.
 
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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/dec19barford]}
If you'd rather holiday in Bellevue Hill than in Noosa or Hayman Island, you could try Barford, the palatial seven-bedroom property belonging to the Joye family, who note that their celebrity guests can relax, as "there is no opportunity for paparazzi to moor outside Barford".
The 4,039-square-metre estate was commissioned by Sir Warwick Fairfax, who was its first occupant, in 1929. It was included in the Register of National Estate in 1992.
The Georgian property is approximately $40,000 a week to rent, and it comes with the Joyes' staff. It is only let to families.
The estate includes a separate three-bedroom house, as well as a synthetic grass tennis court, gymnasium, and heated pool. The numerous entertaining zones no doubt came in handy when the couple threw a wedding reception for their son, Fairfax contributor Christopher, and former singer/model/actor Nicky Love.
The Joyes bought the property in late 1986 for nearly $10 million. 
The Joyes recently sold another trophy property, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/palm-beach-trophy-home-kaluas-record-setting-price-revealed-at-%2422-million/2012071655601">Kalua at Palm Beach</a>, to the retired Sydney car dealer Laurie Sutton for a record-setting $22 million. 
 
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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/dec20melaleuka]}
Located on the Palm Beach, New South Wales dress circle, the Chisholm family pavilion-style bungalow has been put into the rental pool this summer at $35,000 a week peak season.
Melaleuka, which contains five bedrooms and six limestone bathrooms, is built around a central pool and garden.
There's a self-contained guest wing.
Boasting views up to the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, the 2,561-square-metre property was bought in 1994 for $3.1 million.
It was listed in November 2008 with price hopes of around $18 million but was taken off the market in March 2010.
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.stayz.com.au/119052">Melaleuka is located at 36 Ocean Road</a>, and is available to rent for $5,000 a night or $10,000 for a Friday or Saturday.
The minimum stay is one night.
It was 1994 when the then Pratten family's bungalow was sold for $3.1 million to the Chisholm family.
 
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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/dec20beachrock]}
Located at the north end of Avalon beach in Sydney, the Beach Rock comes with $25,000 a peak season weekly rental, but a two-week minimum stay.
Located in the western wing is a spa room with a heated eight-person spa pool and beachfront gardens lead down to Avalon beach.
Located on Marine Parade Avalon, the 1,821-square-metre property last sold in 2008 for $8.16 million. The house is a getaway suitable for large groups of up to 10 people.
Situated on a double block, the house is divided into two separate accommodation wings – including the east and western wing – connected with a central living area.
The western wing has two bedrooms and the eastern wing boasts three bedrooms, all with water views. 
 
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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/dec21angel]}
Another dream holiday destination, provided you don't need to be close to the beach, is<a target="_blank" href="https://www.contemporaryhotels.com.au/angelwing-gallery"> Angel Wing, a four-bedroom cottage in Hampton</a>, NSW, deep in the Blue Mountains near the Jenolan Caves and promising those that stay views of the neighbouring cliffs as the "glow scarlet at nightfall".
The sleek wing-shaped property was designed by renowned architect Peter Stutchbury with a skylight a prominent feature creating a dramatic effect and play on light.
When available for rent its at $1,100 per night for two to four nights and $1,000 for longer stays.
 
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<img height="314" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/oceanblue.jpg" alt="oceanblue">
For those seeking to live like a former prime minister over their holidays there's the Rudd family's five-bedroom holiday home at Castaways Beach home near Noosa.
The Rudds paid $3.1 million in 2011 to acquire the contemporary home on the beach front in the Noosa Dunes Estate.
If you're looking to rent it during peak season, the asking rate is $3,100 per week with nightly tariff of $550 per night if you stay a minimum of five nights, rising to $6,800 per week during peak season.
It could be worth it, though, with the opportunity to enjoy uninterrupted ocean views from the large deck, described as the "perfect place to host those hot summer night BBQs", with the swimming pool also inviting.
The holiday home is let by Zinc Properties Noosa.
 
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<img height="351" width="470" src="/images/stories/2012/12/castra.jpg" alt="castra">
This prestige summer beach retreat is just 10 minutes from the heart of the Sydney CBD in Double Bay, the cosmopolitian suburb.
It was listed with a $10,000 weekly asking price, as a two-month Christmas summer holiday letting.
The Laing &amp; Simmons Double Bay website suggested someone secured the Castra Place pad, which fronts onto a relatively quiet beach on Sydney Harbour.
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Makepeace Island and seven other amazing holiday rental getaways

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/12/devspotlight_thebay]}

It’s rare to see urban renewal in any established tightly held bayside suburb in Melbourne, but in Sandringham new pockets of paradise are popping up in the most unexpected areas. The Bay in Sandringham is one such new development, with more than 50% of the units already sold.
“Astute investors are seeing the value in this project and are further encouraged by bayside’s rich history of continued capital growth and rentability,” director Jack Brukarz, CEO of Motion Property, says.
“The combination of design, quality and terrific location will ensure the development will prove its capital growth over time.”
Financial considerations of income generation and capital gains throughout the life of the investment are specifically at play. A buyer can capitalise on the high rental yield in the development, which also has the potential for maximum capital growth, given its position, design and timing.
Managing director of Goal Property Group Daniel Birner says the development is bucking the trend in the market thanks to its unique design and attributes.
“We researched and thought deeply about what type of product to bring to the market and knew we wanted to create an offering that stood out from our competitors.”
Birner has enlisted the eminent services of Melbourne’s award-winning Bruce Henderson Architects. The elegant, modern design of the The Bay, 18 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, is balanced by the amenity and lifestyle in Sandringham.
In this brilliant location, residents will benefit from easy access to the city’s best beaches, an abundance of private and public sand-belt golf courses, Southland Shopping Centre, boutique stores and the railway station in picturesque Sandringham Village. The development is perfect for the investor, with one-bedroom units with car space and storage cage beginning at $349,000 and apartments with two bedrooms and two bathrooms with car and storage starting from $480,000.
Construction is expected to commence February 2013.
The Bay display suite is located on site at 218 Bay Street, Sandringham, and is open Thursday to Sunday 11am- 2pm. For more information, contact Motion Property’s Glenn Campbell 0414 899 240 or Nandita Bangera 0431 826 839.
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The Bay Sandringham

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Looking for some beachside or poolside reading over the holidays to get you ready to dive into the property market in 2013? Here are some property investment books to get you started.
<img width="100" src="/images/stories/2012/12/yardneybook.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: left;">Michael Yardney <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/be-wary-of-investing-in-holiday-properties-michael-yardney/2012122058591">warns property investors to be wary of investing in holiday properties</a> in the new edition of his book <a target="_blank" href="https://thebookonpropertyinvestment.com/">How to Grow a Multi Million Dollar Property Portfolio – in your spare time. </a>
 
 
 
 
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.successtakescharacter.com/"><img height="136" width="100" src="/images/stories/2012/12/jenmanbook.jpg" alt="jenmanbook" style="margin: 6px; float: left;"></a>Neil Jenman<a target="_self" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/trends/the-10-ways-to-negotiate-a-better-deal-in-property-neil-jenman/2012122058603/Page-4"> provides tips as to how to negotiate </a>the best deal in property in his new book <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.successtakescharacter.com/">Success Takes Character: Winning and Losing in the Game of Life</a>.
 
 
 
 
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/12/wargentbook.jpg" style="margin: 5px; float: left;" width="100">Pete Wargent provides advice on<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/trends/how-you-can-retire-young-through-property-investment-pete-wargent/2012112757853/Page-1"> how you can retire young </a>through property investment in his book <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com.au/">Get a Financial Grip – a simple plan for financial freedom.</a>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<img height="155" width="100" src="/images/stories/2012/12/insiders.jpg" alt="insiders" style="margin: 5px; float: left;">Patrick Bright addresses one of the trickiest questions in property – <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/how-to-determine-a-property-s-true-value-patrick-bright/2012121258406/Page-1">how do you determine a property's value?</a> – in the new edition of his book <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.propertybooks.com.au/the_insider's_guide_to_buying_real_estate" style="font-size: 14px;">The Insider’s Guide to Buying Real Estate</a>.
 
 
 
 
 
<img height="157" width="100" src="/images/stories/2012/12/simple.jpg" alt="simple" style="margin: 5px; float: left;">And Leah Calnan advises <a target="_blank" href="/news">landlords who are selling a rented property</a> to be upfront with their tenants in her new book <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://majorstreet.com.au/simple-and-successful-property-management/">Simple and Successful Property Management</a>.
 
 
 
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Summer reading: From property investment tips to managing tenants

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Last week, the combined capital city auction clearance rate was recorded at 50.2%, up from 47.8% the previous week. At the same time last year, the clearance rate for the combined capital cities was recorded at 45.7%. Similar to the trend seen with clearance rates, the volume of auctions that were held across the capital cities was also higher, when compared with last year, with 2,155 auctions held last week, compared with 1,557 at the same time last year.
In Melbourne last week, the clearance rate was recorded at 56.6%, up from 52.5% the previous week. There were just under 1,000 auctions held in Melbourne over the week. Sydney’s auction clearance rate remained unchanged last week, at 51.5%, while auction volumes across the city decreased slightly from 777 the previous week to 729 last week.
There are 474 auctions scheduled across the capital cities over the next week. It is expected that the auction market will remain quiet over the Christmas and New Year period, with volumes slowly beginning to increase in late January.
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Auction clearance rates continue to rise, with the maket to remain quiet over Christmas: RP Data

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Although the official 2012 residential property auction season came to an end over the weekend, now could be the time to negotiate your way into your 2013 dream home.
As we countdown to Christmas and then the new year, the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA) says opportunities in the property market could actually ripen, with those closing their cheque books too soon potentially missing out on a unique purchasing opportunity.
Last Christmas Eve in NSW there were 100 sales. They ranged from $77,000 at Cowra to $5.5 million in Bronte when Toni Collette and her musician husband, David Galafassi secured their desired Sydney base.
PIPA says the Christmas season can bring greater room for negotiation and price discounts for both investors and homebuyers, as there’s less buyer competition in the market. Finding a solicitor might make things trying during the break, though. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/seven-smart-selling-and-buying-tips-for-christmas-house-hunting-or-early-bird-2013-listing/2012112758054">But the economist Christopher Joye bought his Sydney house on a past Christmas Eve, maintaining it was a good time to crunch the cheaper deal given the vendors had the property still for sale after an unsuccessful early December auction</a>.
At Saturday auctions in Sydney, the auction clearance rate hit 71%, according to Australian Property Monitors from the 44 reported auctions. 
A clearance rate of 65% was recorded in Melbourne from the 148 auctions reported to the REIV.
“Astute property buyers and investors are still active in the property market over the Christmas and New Year break because they know some great buying opportunities can come up,” says chair of PIPA Ben Kingsley.
“Most vendors will want to start the New Year with their property transactions completed which means they are often more motivated to close a deal.”
Kingsley suggests investors and homebuyers should retrace their steps through the property market and review properties that caught their eye earlier in the season.
“Originally, these properties may have been out of your price range, but if they’ve failed to sell, the vendor may well be willing to negotiate,” says Kingsley.
REIV say their busiest month is March, with 11,500 sales in 2011.
Based on the 2011 results, REIV are expecting 6,000 sales in January for Victoria.
Almost half the sales of the busiest month, REIV says a significant reason for this is the near total lack of auctions in January.
Sydney similiarly has few January city auctions, but  Australian Property Monitor's senior economist, Dr Andrew Wilson, suggests this year saw the emergence as a "summer selling season."
"Certainly the trend has been for more (December) summer auctions over the last three years."
He puts this year's highest number of December auctions down to sellers being encouraged by around nine weeks of weekend auction clearance rates above 60%.
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Property buying opportunities could ripen in the festive season: PIPA

<html><body>Australian Property Monitors (APM) has released a list of results from 414 auctions in Sydney for the weekend of December 15. The clearance rate was 57.2%. <a href="https://www.homepriceguide.com.au/saturday_auction_results/Sydney.pdf" target="_blank"> Click here</a> for the auction results, and click on each street address to see the property's marketing.</body></html>

APM's 414  Sydney auction results show 57.2% clearance rate

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The combined capital city auction clearance rate was recorded at 51.6% last week, up from 47.1% the previous week. Across the capital cities, there were 2,175 auctions last week, while at the same time last year, there were 2,057 auctions and the clearance rate was recorded at 44.9%.
Melbourne’s auction clearance rate was recorded at a strong 57.8% last week, up from 53% the previous week. There were just fewer than 1,000 auctions across the city over the week, up slightly from 986 the week prior. At the same time last year, Melbourne’s auction clearance rate was recorded at 45.5%. In Sydney, auction volumes were slightly lower last week, when 774 auctions were held across the city, down from 791 the week prior. The clearance rate increased from 45.8% the week prior to 54.4% last week.
It is expected that there will be around 2,100 capital city auctions next week in another busy week prior to the slowdown over the Christmas and New Year period.
Click to enlarge
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Auction clearance rates pick up in lead-up to Christmas and New Year period: RP Data

<html><body>Australian Property Monitors (APM) has released a list of results from 459 auctions in Sydney for the weekend of December 8. The clearance rate was 61.7%. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.homepriceguide.com.au/saturday_auction_results/Sydney.pdf"> Click here</a> for the auction results, and click on each street address to see the property's marketing.</body></html>

APM's 459  Sydney auction results show 61.7% clearance rate

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Looking for the perfect gift idea or stocking stuffer for a property investor in your life? Here are our 12 suggestions:
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/1.gif">
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/propbooks.jpg">
A helpful guide to buying, selling or managing property. Examples include<a href="https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/buying-property-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-australian" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/buying-property-for-dummies-cheat-sheet-australian" target="_blank">Buying Property for Dummies</a>, <a href="https://au.dummies.com/store/product/Selling-Your-Home-For-Dummies-Australian-Edition.productCd-0730377156" target="_blank">Selling Property for Dummies</a> and <a href="https://majorstreet.com.au/simple-and-successful-property-management/" target="_blank">Simple and Successful Property Management</a>.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/2.gif">
<a href="https://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_irwin-10-pocket-tool-belt-11atc4904_P5821485.aspx?filter=categoryname--Tool+Boxes" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/toolbelt.jpg"></a>
A toolbox or <a href="https://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_irwin-10-pocket-tool-belt-11atc4904_P5821485.aspx?filter=categoryname--Tool+Boxes" target="_blank">tool belt.</a> Whether the investor wants to do an entire DIY makeover or just spruce up a property between tenants, good tools and a can-do attitude can save thousands. 
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/3.gif">
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/calendar4.jpg">
 A calendar with the dates of the Home Buyer and Investor Shows during 2013. The show will hit Perth from March 23-24, Brisbane on June 1-2, Sydney from July 19 to July 21 and Melbourne on August 23-25.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/4.gif">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/hotspottingterry.jpg"></a>
A year's subscription to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">Hotspotting.com.au</a> to identify the next property hotspot. A subscription includes reports, a weekly newsletter and insights from Australia's premier property hotspot expert, Terry Ryder.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/5.gif">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cafepress.com/mf/32304591/landlord-by-day_long-sleeve-tshirt"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/shirt.jpg"></a>
A landlord <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cafepress.com/+worlds_greatest_landlord_rectangle_magnet_10_pac,191781256">magnet</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cafepress.com/mf/32304591/landlord-by-day_long-sleeve-tshirt">shirt </a>or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cafepress.com/+landlords_rock_teddy_bear,34803704">teddy bear</a>, all available from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cafepress.com/+landlord+gifts">Cafe Press.</a>
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/6.gif">
<a href="https://www.gamehouse.com/download-games/buildalot" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/buildalot.jpg"></a>
<a href="https://www.gamehouse.com/download-games/buildalot" target="_blank">Build-a-Lot,</a> a real estate computer game where you can flip houses for quick cash or invest for the long term. 
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/7.gif">
<a href="https://www.melbournecitymission.org.au/" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/citymission.jpg"></a>
A donation to a homelessness charity, such as <a href="https://www.melbournecitymission.org.au/" target="_blank">Melbourne Citymission</a> or <a target="_blank" href="https://www.huttstcentre.org.au/">Hutt St Cetnre in Adelaide</a>. Christmas is a time to think of those less fortunate, and a donation in someone's name will be much appreciated. 
 
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/8.gif">
<a href="https://www.dhub.org/designer-suburbs/" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/designer.jpg" width="470"></a>
 The new <a href="https://www.dhub.org/designer-suburbs/" target="_blank">Designer Suburbs: Architects and Affordable Homes in Australia </a>book about houses by Petitt &amp; Sevitt and similar project builders of the 1960s and '70s. It's written by Judith O'Callaghan and Charles Pickett, who is curator of design and built environment at the <place><placename>Powerhouse</placename><placetype>Museum. <a href="https://www.powerhousemuseum.com/publications/publications_item.php?id=266" target="_blank">Its a $50 book</a>.</placetype></place>
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/9.gif">
<a href="https://www.lisathegingerbreadhouselady.com/" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/gingerbreadhouse.jpg"></a>
A gingerbread house. Wouldn't this be the sweetest investment? <a href="https://www.lisathegingerbreadhouselady.com/" target="_blank">Lisa the Gingerbread Lady</a> makes them for delivery and pick-up in Melbourne, or you can try <a target="_blank" href="https://thatgingerbreadplace.com.au/faqs">That Gingerbread Place</a> in Sydney
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/10.gif">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gamesparadise.com.au/monopoly-sydney-edition-sydney-monopoly"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/sydneymonopoly.jpg"></a>
 The<a href="https://www.gamesparadise.com.au/monopoly-sydney-edition-sydney-monopoly" target="_blank"> Sydney Monopoly game</a>. Who wouldn't want to buy and sell the priciest real estate in the Harbour City? 
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/11.gif">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/St-Benedict-Statue-home-protection/dp/B001EK53DO" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/stbenedict.jpg"></a>
 A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/St-Benedict-Statue-home-protection/dp/B001EK53DO">Saint Benedict Home Protection Kit</a>, given Saint Benedict is known as the protector of hearth and home.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/12.gif">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261014979249?hlp=false#ht_1421wt_906" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/crystalball4.jpg"></a>
A <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261014979249?hlp=false#ht_1421wt_906" target="_blank">crystal ball.</a> Wouldn't every property investor like one of these to predict what the market will do next year?
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The 12 Christmas gift ideas for property investors

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The real estate market always slows down during the Christmas/New Year holiday break, especially after a tough and exhausting year.
But estate agents should always be ready for new or repeat business, as even if you're not around, you just never know who is and what they might want to buy.
Mobile phone and iPad devices have assisted showcase property listing accessibility right from the formal Christmas Eve office closure well past the New Year's Eve fireworks.
Securing transaction without interfering with family holiday plans is achievable, especially as most agents now have executive assistants who can doing some of the legwork.
Even if its not happening, the holiday slowdown can be used for getting the mind and devices organised for the new year.
There's also an opportunity to take advantage of social and networking opportunities so that as the sales year heads towards the Easter break you've got some fresh prospects.
Teresa Boardman, a real estate broker in St. Paul, Minnesota, and founder of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.stpaulrealestateblog.com/">St. Paul Real Estate blog</a>, says when business is slow you can not let it slow you down.
Her top tips are:
1. Attend holiday social events.
2. Schedule lunches, evening drinks or coffee with as many friends, neighbors, past clients, vendors and competitors as possible.
3. Revisit this year's business plan and fix it up all nice and pretty for the next year -- complete with measurable goals, tasks and a budget.
4. Write blog posts about getting a home ready to sell, how to price a home, and how to choose a real estate agent. Link to the posts from social media accounts like Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and Twitter to generate more traffic. Hot (cold) weather usually means a decrease in foot traffic and an increase in website traffic. People start doing their homework online months before they contact an agent.
5. Read a book or two. Create and keep a reading list all year long of business books and books with ideas or practical advice.
6. Make five phone calls each day Monday through Friday during the month of December, excluding the holidays. Call friends and past clients and wish them a happy New Year. That doesn't sound like much, but it is huge.
7. Take pictures of local businesses and parks all decked out for the holidays and share them on the internet on social networks and blogs. There is gold in those photographs, and good karma, too. They start conversations, and help promote local businesses and neighborhoods.
8. Buy items for my business like computer, phones or software to take advantage of seasonal discounts and tax deductions.
9. Use any spare time to tweak online profiles, websites and blogs and get rid of accounts that are not being used. Get rid of clutter on the computer, in the cloud and around the office.
10. Walk at least a mile every day. Walking burns calories, is free, clears the mind, and relieves stress. It is also a way to get from one place to another.
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The 10 tips for estate agents to come out of the Christmas/New Year holiday break with bounce 

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

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.

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

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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.

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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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