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A large mortgagee home in Queensland’s Tanah Merah has been listed to sale.
Offers over $699,000 are being considered for the property. 
Situated on Barokee Drive, the home features six-bedrooms and three-bathrooms, split over a four-bedroom home with an adjoining two-bedroom Granny Flat. 
The the address comprises a total of 3187 square metres.
Other features include a three-bay shed and undercover parking for seven cars. 
The property last traded in 2012, for $520,000. 
The median price for a house in Tanah Merah is $450,000.
The listing is held by Elders’ Doona Anichitoeai. 
 
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Tanah Merah mortgagee home comes onto market

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A mortgagee home in Port Pirie has been listed for sale with an asking price of $219,000.
The home - on Stevens Street - features three bedrooms, one bathroom, a double-car garage, rear pergola area, and a private rainwater tank. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/6/17/reformatted%20mortgagee.png" alt="">
It last traded in 2005, when it sold for $152,500.  
Port Pirie's median house price is $97,474.
The listing is held by Kane Lavis, from Lavis Real Estate.
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Port Pirie mortgagee home listed for sale

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A Thornlie mortgagee home has hit the market with an asking price of $409,000. 
The West-Australian home, located on Mercer Place<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-thornlie-133726170" style="font-size: 12.16px;">,</a> has four bedrooms, one bathroom, and a lock up garage. 
The 681 square metre block also features a below ground pool and level lawn. 
It last traded in 2009, when it sold for $359,000 after only five days on the market.
The median house price in Thornlie is $356,758.
Rick Rispoli, from LJ Hooker Thornlie, has the listing.  
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Thornlie mortgagee home listed with $409,000 price tag

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A mortgagee home in Bairnsdale has been listed for sale. 
An asking price of $225,000 has been provided with the listing. 
Located on<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-bairnsdale-133747766"> </a>Main Street, the home features three bedrooms, and one bathroom.
It is positioned on a 752 square metre block.
The median house price for Bairnsdale is $295,804.
Laura Gardiner, from Elders’ Bairnsdale, has the listing. 
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Bairnsdale mortgagee home listed for $225,000

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The REIV is expecting about 540 auctions in 212 suburbs, across Victoria and primarily Melbourne this week.
The top auction locations this week are Glen Waverley with 18 scheduled auctions, Bentleigh East (13) and Reservoir with 11 listings.
Sydney’s preliminary weekend success rate sat at 69.5 per cent, after 449 auctions, 46 withdrawals and 259 reported results.
It outdid Melbourne where Domain reported a 57 per cent clearance rate on Saturday from 272 reported results. There were 410 properties scheduled for auction, 37 of which were withdrawn.
Melbourne has the top reported result when $4.12 million was paid at a Marshall White auction of 33 Bangarra Road, Canterbury.
The five-bedroom, Federation-style home sold for $470,000 above the reserve as three bidders fought it out.
The property last sold for $521,000 in 1998.
This week, 1,226 capital city auctions are currently being tracked by CoreLogic, increasing from the 1,181 auctions held last week at final results. One year ago, a higher 1,484 auctions took place across the capital cities.
It's Melbourne tally was expecting to see a rise in activity this week, with 542 homes scheduled for auction across the city, up from the 471 auctions held last week, although down on the 635 one year ago.
Activity is set to remain relatively steady across Sydney this week, with 532 scheduled auctions, down from the 545 homes taken to auction last week and only slightly lower than the 558 last year.
The smaller auction markets are all set to see  fewer auctions held week on week, with the exception of Brisbane where scheduled volumes are higher.
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Melbourne auction volumes jump this weekend

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The Australian Competition &amp; Consumer Commission (ACCC) will not oppose Australian Finance Group Ltd's proposed acquisition of Connective Group Pty Ltd.
As mortgage aggregators, both AFG and Connective act as intermediaries between mortgage brokers and lenders, such as banks. 
In their statement of issues in February, the ACCC identified a number of preliminary concerns with the proposed acquisition that will create the largest mortgage aggregator in Australia. 
After completing a second round of enquiries, ACCC chair Rod Sims says: "After our extensive public review of the acquisition and our consultation with a wide range of interested parties, we believe the combined AFG-Connective is likely to continue to face robust competition.”
“Mortgage brokers will still have a range of other aggregators, should they become dissatisfied with the combined AFG-Connective’s pricing or service. Lenders will likewise have a range of aggregators through which they can access potential consumers,” Mr Sims said.
The combined AFG-Connective is likely to have the incentive to retain lenders on their panel who are popular with consumers to attract brokers. 
The ACCC ultimately found that substantial lessening of competition was not likely. 
Other established aggregators, including Finsure and the aggregators owned by the National Australia Bank, are likely to continue to provide strong competition.
Further information is available at <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/public-registers/mergers-registers/public-informal-merger-reviews/australian-finance-group-ltd-connective-group-pty-ltd">Australian Finance Group Ltd - Connective Group Pty Ltd</a>.
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ACCC does not oppose AFG-Connective mortgage aggregator deal

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EXPERT OBSERVER
High-intent renters are still very active on realestate.com.au, despite a softening market and relatively high supply.
The REA Insights Weekly Demand Index is a weekly metric that looks at the volume of high-intent renter activity on the realestate.com.au website and app and tracks that activity over time.
Specifically, it looks at how users are behaving when they interact with live rental listings.
The characteristics of serious renter activity includes but is not limited to; the number of visits to a listing, looking at the photos for a listing multiple times, saving the property, sharing the property and/or making an enquiry with the agent.
Who is it useful for?
For renters looking for new rental accommodation the index gives a good indication of the level of competition they can expect when they look at and apply for properties. Higher renter activity on a listing would suggest greater competition for that property or property type. In this index we’ve aggregated the high-intent rental activity and analysed it by state.
For owners of rental properties the index indicates the likelihood that they will be able to rent out their property.
Why REA Group is well placed to tell this story
Realestate.com.au is Australia’s number one property portal. In April 11.9 million Australians visited the platform* creating an unparalleled view of consumer demand for Australian property. This vast onsite activity sends millions of signals of intent that allow the experts at REA Insights to model behavioural demand.
What is the latest data actually showing?
The latest data shows that the number of highly-engaged rental listing interactions on realestate.com.au increased by 2.7 per cent last week. That means that serious renter activity has now increased for 10 of the past 11 weeks (falling the previous week) and is up 102.9 per cent from its low in March. The 2.7 per cent weekly increase did not completely offset the -4.3 per cent fall the previous week.
One of the likely drivers of such high volumes of serious renter activity is the fact that the number of new rental properties becoming available is shrinking. With less stock, those serious about renting are required to narrow their focus and are more likely to be highly-engaged with what’s available online.
The data indicates that it isn’t just search volumes that are climbing, we are also seeing a significant increase in the volume of people searching that are in the late stage of their rental decision.
All states recorded an increase in the volume of high-intent rental activity last week except for Western Australia and Tasmania, which fell slightly.
Since the recent low related to COVID-19 serious renter activity has more than doubled in New South Wales (110.2%), Victoria (133.8%) and Australian Capital Territory (140.1%). The smallest gains have occurred in Tasmania (45.2%) and Northern Territory (48.5%).
What about compared to last year?
Nationally, serious renter activity is up 70.5 per cent higher on last year.
The heightened rental activity is being felt in all states and territories with the largest annual increases in Australian Capital Territory (102.0%) and New South Wales (84.3%), while South Australia (20.8%) and Western Australia (41.5%) recorded the smallest increases.
While a lot of people are showing high-intent in their rental searches it remains to be seen whether they will actually move, especially considering there is a rental moratorium in place.
The rental market remains challenged with international borders closed, first-home buyer demand being pulled forward the government’s HomeBuyer initiative and people under the age of 30 being much more likely to have lost their jobs through COVID-19.
While a lot of people are actively looking at rental accommodation it may not be until later in the year when we actually see them moving into new rental accommodation.
CAMERON KUSHER is the Director of Economic Research for the REA Group
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High-intent renters are still very active on realestate.com.au: Cameron Kusher

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The May unemployment rate increased by 85,700 people to 927,600, taking the unemployment rate up to 7.1 per cent, today's ABS figures showed.
It was now at an 18 year high.
The ACT has the lowest unemployment rate at 4.1 per cent.
New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania are the only other states under the national unemployment rate.
New South Wales has the lowest at 6.4 per cent, up from 6.3 per cent in April, and Victoria 6.9 per cent, up from six per cent in April. Tasmania's unemployment rate is 6.4 per cent.
Western Australia's unemployment rate is the highest at 8.1 per cent, then Queensland and South Australia and 7.9 per cent.
The Northern Territory has a unemployment rate of 7.4 per cent. 
In April it sat at 6.4 per cent, and 5.2 per cent in March before COVID-19 took over.
Seasonally adjusted employment decreased by 227,700 people between April and May.
Bjorn Jarvis, head of labour statistics at the ABS, said, "The drop in employment, of close to a quarter of a million people, added to the 600,000 in April, brings the total fall to 835,000 people since March." “In two months, the percentage of people aged 15 and over employed in Australia decreased from around 62.5 per cent to around 58.7 per cent.” As in April, the size of the increase in the unemployment rate in May was reduced by larger than usual numbers of employed and unemployed people leaving the labour force. 
This was reflected in a further fall in the participation rate, down 0.7 percentage points to 62.9 per cent. 
The last time the participation rate was below 63 per cent was in January 2001. Monthly hours worked fell 0.7 per cent in May, to be down 10.2 per cent since March (with the April fall revised up to 9.5 per cent). "The ABS estimates that a combined group of around 2.3 million people - around 1 in 5 employed people - were affected by either job loss between April and May or had less hours than usual for economic reasons in May," Mr Jarvis said.
Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy now expects unemployment to reach eight per cent by September, when previously Josh Frydenberg said that the treasury expected in April the jobless rate would peak at 10 per cent in the June quarter before recovering.
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Unemployment reaches new high over 7%: ABS

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A Claremont home has just been listed with a price guide of low-to-mid $4 million.
The Riley Road residence is situated in the river precinct and was completely restored and extended six year ago. 
It features six-bedrooms and five-bathroom house.
The home is known as Cooringa, and was built 1897.
It is situated on a 1025 square metre block.
It also features a cellar, pool, and fully equipped stand alone granny flat.
Tonia McNeilly, from Ray White Cottesloe, has the listing.
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Cooringa, Claremont home listed with $4 million plus hopes

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Sydney’s outlook on housing dipped further in May, despite the easing of pandemic restrictions, according to the UDIA Urbis Home Purchaser Sentiment Survey.
The poll - carried out between May 7 and 12 - found that the proportion of residents feeling ‘very positive’ about the property market dropped six percentage points (to 21 per cent) compared with this time last year.
Overall, homeowners had a more pessimistic outlook than renters.
The proportion of homeowners who were positive about the market fell seven percentage points to 54 per cent over the year.
This was compared with just a two-percentage point drop among renters (down to 50%).
"The report shows a downward shift in sentiment since the last survey, with increased pessimism around purchasing property in the next 12 months," associate director of Urbis Kylie Newcombe said.
"The softening in sentiment was, however, relatively moderate, suggesting cautious optimism by prospective purchasers in the medium-term fundamentals of the Sydney property market.
Almost half of all Sydney residents also believe that house prices will drop in the next six months – more than double the number from a year ago.
Just over one in four believe prices will drop over the next 12 months – a seven percentage points rise compared with a year ago.
The city, and Sydney's east, saw the residents who were the most negative about the prospect of home prices, with 55 per cent expecting prices to drop over the next six months.
More than two-thirds said they were unlikely to buy a property in the next 12 months – a seven percentage points increase from July last year.
And 72 per cent said they were unlikely to buy in the next six months.
In more bad news for apartment developers, 61 per cent said they preferred free-standing houses compared with units or apartments.
However, the report noted that "it is not possible to conclude a relationship between COVID-19 and preferences.”
There was also a strong support for stamp duty reform as a tool to improve confidence among home owners and some renters.
Fifty-four per cent of renters said policies targeting first home buyers would have a positive effect on their confidence.
Given a choice, Sydney residents would like to live in Parramatta, Castle Hill, Chatswood, Blacktown and Balmain.
The poll surveyed 531 Sydney residents.
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Sydney housing sentiment slumps further in May: UDIA Urbis Home Purchaser Sentiment Survey

Longstanding Gold Coast and Canberra developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/morris-property-group">Morris Property Group</a> is continuing to roll on with its Glitter Strip apartment pipeline, seeking to return to Mermaid Beach with a new 68-apartment development.

Morris, founded by Barry Morris in 1978 and one of the Gold Coast’s most prolific apartment developers over the past two decades, has filed plans for a 12-storey mixed-use building at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/36-seabeach-avenue-mermaid-beach-qld-4218">34-36 Seabeach Avenue</a>, on the prized eastern side of the Gold Coast Highway.

The 1,227 sqm site occupies a prominent corner position at Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway, opposite the Mermaid Plaza retail and office precinct and around 140 metres walking distance from the future Mermaid Beach South light rail station.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fraser-partners-0">Fraser &amp; Partners</a> has designed the project, which will comprise 68 apartments across a mix of 48 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom residences.

The building will rise 12 storeys, reaching a maximum height of 36 metres, with the apartments accounting for a total of 156 bedrooms. The development application also seeks approval for short-term accommodation across the 68 apartments, while two office tenancies are proposed at ground level.

The plans show 108 car spaces across the development, with parking accommodated at ground level and within a three-level basement accessed from Seabeach Avenue.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c2175c99-12fd-4a3c-9be1-89bbf258a90d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%202.59.41%E2%80%AFPM_0.png?VersionId=iNLzWcE6gaAE76rafhEXfHve.4g4Se0p" />

Resident amenity will be concentrated on level two, where Fraser &amp; Partners has designed a recreation deck with a swimming pool, 90 sqm pool terrace, outdoor barbecue area and gym.

The broader communal offering will also incorporate landscaped spaces, with the planning documents noting the amenity has been designed to provide areas for recreation, social interaction and outdoor living.

The proposal would continue the transformation of the Gold Coast Highway corridor through Mermaid Beach ahead of the arrival of the light rail.

The site is zoned Neighbourhood Centre and sits within the Mermaid Beach/Broadbeach Light Rail Corridor neighbourhood plan. While the prescribed building height is 24 metres, the site is identified within an Urban Neighbourhood context providing for a 50 per cent height uplift to 36 metres.

Planning documents describe the stretch of the Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Nobby Beach as increasingly characterised by medium and high-rise development, with the proposed Morris tower joining projects including Ventura, The Alfred, Oceans and Otto.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="911f193f-e381-4a55-be08-58be87fcf978" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%202.59.48%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=oxVvLJaY.SOXEdXrIcogfyEXDfvCmmpM" />

The development would mark Morris Property Group's latest investment in Mermaid Beach, where it has already delivered two apartment projects.

Otto, at 1 Bondi Avenue on the western side of the Gold Coast Highway, comprises 70 apartments across nine storeys. The project was completed in 2019 and includes a residents' gym, recreation deck and swimming pool.

Morris also developed Oceans at 46 Ocean Street, a nine-storey, 70-apartment build-to-rent development completed in 2019. Oceans was the group's first build-to-rent project and incorporates commercial space at ground level.

The two existing Morris projects sit further north along the same Gold Coast Highway corridor as the proposed Seabeach Avenue development. Fraser &amp; Partners' planning analysis specifically identifies both Otto and Oceans among the established built-form precedents surrounding the site.

<img alt="Seabeach Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="14925119-7b71-4812-8149-340317512c7c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-20%20at%203.00.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=aEJqYuw_nTCjcin17BSD0piB1EFotTlj" />

Mermaid Beach represents only part of Morris' considerable Gold Coast footprint.

The family-owned developer has been particularly active in neighbouring Broadbeach, delivering projects including Sierra Grand, Eclipse, Synergy, Qube, Koko, Opus and Malo, while its current pipeline includes Maison and the two-tower Crest development.

Further south, Morris has also developed a string of projects in Burleigh Heads, including Element, Boardwalk and Sandbar, while Essentia expanded its footprint north into Surfers Paradise.

The Seabeach Avenue application has been lodged by PMM Broadbeach Pty Ltd and seeks a development permit for a Material Change of Use for multiple dwellings, short-term accommodation and office uses. Zone Planning Group prepared the planning application, with Fraser &amp; Partners commissioned as architect.

The project comes as the developer continues to expand its Gold Coast pipeline while retaining a significant presence in Canberra. Morris now has more than $2.5 billion of development in its national pipeline and has delivered more than 7,000 homes during its near five-decade history

Joel Robinson

First look: Morris Property Group returns to Mermaid Beach with new Seabeach Avenue apartment development

<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3hvFB2uWTRfEyEcpTSnnK9" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fortis" target="_blank">Fortis</a>&nbsp;is continuing its stronghold on Sydn​ey’s eastern suburbs apartment market, launching&nbsp;in September&nbsp;its latest boutique&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/double-bay-nsw-2028&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0GI5S9-wNeiLUnM-d1uYkw" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/double-bay-nsw-2028" target="_blank">Double Bay</a>&nbsp;development,&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-william-double-bay-55-william-street-double-bay-nsw-2028&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1787272340808000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2YNouJQcFjiTTgVHbgDLA-" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-william-double-bay-55-william-street-double-bay-nsw-2028" target="_blank">55 William</a>.

55 William presents&nbsp;just eight north-facing&nbsp;two-bedroom, three-bedroom and full-floor&nbsp;residences to the market, priced from $4.5 million.

The upcoming launch comes just weeks after Fortis secured approval for the $80 million development, its third eastern suburbs approval in two months. Construction is already underway, with completion targeted for 2028.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376250]

55 William adds to a growing concentration of Fortis projects in and around Double Bay, a market the developer has become increasingly active in over recent years.

Fortis previously completed the nine-residence Marmont on New South Head Road, while it is currently developing a mixed-use residential and retail project at 12 Cross Street. Its wider Double Bay footprint also extends into commercial and retail development.

The developer's broader Sydney residential pipeline is particularly concentrated across the eastern suburbs, with projects spanning Doub​le Bay, Ro​se Bay, Wo​ollahra, Dar​ling Point, Poi​nt Piper and Eli​zabeth Bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376253]

At 55 William, Fortis has again turned to MHN Design Union, the architecture practice behind several of its eastern suburbs projects, while London-based 1508 London has been appointed to handle the interiors and Wyer &amp; Co the landscaping.

The six-level building will comprise a combination of two and three-bedroom apartments, including a garden residence, full-floor apartments, a sub-penthouse and penthouse. Each residence will have secure basement parking and private outdoor space.

A rooftop terrace for all residents, along with select apartments, enjoys views across Double Bay Harbour and toward the Sydney skyline.

Ceiling heights will reach up to three metres&nbsp;in select residences, while the kitchens will feature natural stone and integrated Gaggenau appliances.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The boutique nature of the project reflects the type of stock Fortis has increasingly targeted across Sydney's eastern suburbs, where larger apartments and smaller buildings are being pitched primarily toward local owner-occupiers and downsizers.

Fortis Group General Manager Ed Eve said the developer continues to see demand from buyers wanting to remain in the eastern suburbs but move into newer, lower-maintenance housing.

“We're seeing continued demand from local owner-occupiers and downsizers looking for high-quality homes that allow them to remain in the eastern suburbs, close to the lifestyle and community they know,” Eve said.

55 William is also one of the early projects to respond directly to the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms. Fortis had previously secured approval for just two townhouses on the 599 sqm site before revising the scheme to eight apartments following the planning changes.

Situated one street back from Double Bay's water's edge, the project enjoys an enviable harbourside setting within walking distance of Double Bay Village and the ferry wharf.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152579 project_image_fid=376252]

Fortis has increasingly made the eastern suburbs a major focus of its Sydney pipeline. Beyond Double Bay, it recently completed the 14-residence Piper in Point Piper and has projects underway or planned across Rose Bay, Woollahra and Darling Point.

The developer recently secured approval for Verano in Rose Bay, a six-level development comprising 21 two, three and four-bedroom apartments, also designed by MHNDU.

55 William&nbsp;is soon to be release to the market with VIP appointments commencing early September,&nbsp;with residences priced from $4.5 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152579]

Fortis continues eastern suburbs push with 55 William launch

UAE-based developer Arada has unveiled plans for a $2 billion twin-tower apartment development in Broadbeach, marking its first move into Queensland as it continues its rapid expansion across Australia.

Arada will develop 952 apartments across two towers on a prominent site opposite the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the project targeted for completion ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The project represents Arada's largest commitment to the Australian market since arriving in the country in 2024 and significantly expands a local pipeline that has now grown to eight projects and more than 5,000 homes.

It will also be the first major Queensland project delivered by Roberts Co since the tier-one contractor was acquired by Arada Group in 2025.

Plus Studio has designed the Broadbeach development, which will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two towers connected by a landscaped podium.

A significant resident amenity offering will include lagoon and lap pools, a gym, sauna and steam room, alongside a mist room, infrared room and salt scrub facilities. Communal terraces, private dining areas, a library, residents' lounge and work-from-home spaces are also planned. Around 1,200 sqm of retail and hospitality space will occupy the ground floor.

The site puts Arada in one of the Gold Coast's most active apartment markets, directly opposite the convention centre and within walking distance of Pacific Fair, The Star Gold Coast and Broadbeach's dining and retail precinct.

It also has immediate access to the Gold Coast light rail network and sits just a few blocks from the beach.

Arada Group Chief Executive Ahmed Alkhoshaibi said Broadbeach represented an opportunity for the developer to expand beyond its initial NSW pipeline.

“Broadbeach is a world-class address that gives us the canvas to create a community of exceptional design and lifestyle quality that genuinely enriches the daily lives of the people who call it home,” Alkhoshaibi said.

“This is our first development outside New South Wales, and it reflects our growing ambition to grow in key urban markets around the country.”

Alkhoshaibi said bringing Roberts Co into the project would give Arada greater control over the development and construction process.

“Delivering this project through Roberts Co, our own tier-one construction business, means we can bring the quality, pace and accountability that our buyers expect.”

The move into Broadbeach comes as Arada accelerates its Australian expansion following its entry into the market two years ago. The developer has assembled a pipeline of eight projects comprising more than 5,000 homes, while the acquisition of Roberts Co last year gave the group its own Australian construction capability.

Globally, Arada has a development portfolio valued at $50 billion comprising more than 55,000 homes across the UAE, United Kingdom and Australia.

The Gold Coast is emerging as the next major market for the developer, with strong population growth and infrastructure spending ahead of the 2032 Games continuing to underpin significant apartment development across the coastal strip.

Arada plots $2 billion Broadbeach towers in major Queensland move

Sydney’s downsizer market is changing, with a growing cohort of buyers prioritising the right home over simply finding a smaller one.

Coronation Property Head of Sales Cam Porter says the traditional idea of downsizing does not necessarily reflect what many buyers are now looking for, particularly those moving from established family homes across Sydney.

Instead, he says they are increasingly becoming “right-sizers”, seeking lower-maintenance homes without sacrificing the space, amenity or quality they have become accustomed to.

“We are increasingly seeing buyers who are not motivated by the idea of simply moving into a smaller property,” Porter says.

“They are right-sizers. They want a home that is easier to manage and better connected, but they still expect generosity, quality and a floorplan that supports the way they live.”

It is a subtle but important distinction in a market where apartment developers are increasingly targeting established owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377495]

For many of these buyers, moving from a house to an apartment is not driven by a desire to dramatically reduce their living space. Instead, the appeal is in removing some of the maintenance associated with a larger home while retaining generous living areas, storage and enough flexibility to accommodate family and friends.

Coronation’s sales team is seeing buyers place particular importance on natural light, practical storage and additional rooms that can be used as guest bedrooms, home offices or secondary living spaces.

Kitchens and dining areas are also playing an increasingly important role, particularly for buyers who regularly entertain or have children and grandchildren visit.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377494]

“These buyers still want their home to feel generous,” Porter says.

“They may want less maintenance, but they are not looking for less life.”

The challenge for the broader housing market is providing enough of the right stock to encourage that move.

While much of the discussion around Sydney’s housing shortage has centred on the number of homes being delivered, Porter says the diversity of those homes is equally important.

Older homeowners can remain in large family houses for longer when they cannot find an appropriate alternative in the neighbourhoods where they have built their lives.

“The decision is rarely as simple as wanting fewer bedrooms,” Porter says.

“People are weighing up their connection to a neighbourhood, the space they need for family, the quality of the home and whether it will continue to work for them over the long term.”

It also has implications beyond the downsizer market. Providing suitable apartments for smaller households can free up established houses for families who need the additional bedrooms and land, creating greater movement through the housing market.

<h2>Lillian targets the next stage of apartment buyer</h2>

It is a buyer Coronation is targeting at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lillian-erskineville-9-metters-street-erskineville-nsw-2043">Lillian</a>, its new collection of apartments, terraces and penthouses at Erskineville Village.

Designed by Silvester Fuller, Lillian has been shaped around larger living spaces, natural light and flexible floorplans, alongside landscaped areas, wellness amenity and communal spaces for residents.

The development will form part of Coronation’s broader Erskineville Village precinct, which will combine new homes with green space, retail, hospitality and new pedestrian connections.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135149 project_image_fid=377688]

McPherson Park will sit at the centre of the precinct, creating a significant new green space alongside the project’s retail and hospitality offering.

For Porter, the opportunity is to give buyers another housing option without forcing them to leave the part of Sydney they already know.

“People should be able to change the type of home they live in without having to change their entire life,” he says.

“For many buyers, Lillian offers the opportunity to remain connected to the Inner West and the city, while gaining access to a more convenient, walkable and considered way of living.”

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Coronation will explore the changing <a href="https://lillianresidences.com.au/news/lillian-x-space-x-downsizers-event-27-august/">right-sizer market at an event on August 27</a>, bringing together experts across property, design and lifestyle.

Held in partnership with SPACE, Poliform and Downsizer.com.au, the event will include a property market outlook from economist Michael Blythe alongside discussion around the considerations facing buyers planning their next move.

Attendees will also be able to learn more about the residences and amenity planned at Lillian Erskineville.

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From downsizing to right-sizing: What Sydney buyers want from their next home

Family-owned builder and developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/omaya">Omaya</a> is bringing its 27-storey The Maybelle development to market, with the 229-apartment tower rising alongside Ismay Reserve near North Strathfield.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-maybelle-21-parramatta-road-homebush-nsw-2140">The Maybelle</a> will comprise one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with its height providing elevated outlooks towards the Sydney skyline and Harbour Bridge, while other residences will look across neighbouring Ismay Reserve.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/squillace-architects">Squillace Architects</a>, the tower combines its parkside setting with proximity to the established retail, dining and transport amenity around North Strathfield.

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Residences will feature open-plan living spaces and a choice of two interior schemes, while communal amenity is spread across two elevated levels of the building.

Level 8 will be home to the Garden Pavilion, a full-floor resident space incorporating communal entertaining and breakout areas, seating and recreation spaces. Further up the tower, a landscaped Sky Terrace on Level 14 will provide another communal area with panoramic views towards the Harbour Bridge and Sydney skyline.

At ground level, the development sits directly alongside Ismay Reserve, where lawns, walking paths, children's play areas, picnic spaces and recreational facilities extend the green space available immediately around the project.

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The Maybelle is also within walking distance of North Strathfield and the Bakehouse Quarter, which provides a mix of cafés, restaurants, shops and everyday services.

Existing rail and bus services provide connections across Sydney, while the future North Strathfield Metro and access to the M4 will add to the transport options available around the precinct. Walking and cycling routes also extend via Powells Creek towards Sydney Olympic Park and its sporting, entertainment and parkland precincts.

Families are also well positioned for access to a broad selection of established schools and education options across Strathfield and the surrounding Inner West.

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Omaya has operated in Sydney for more than 35 years, managing projects from acquisition and design through to construction and delivery. The family-owned company is both developer and builder of The Maybelle.

Apartments start from $560,000, with the development protected by 10-year Latent Defects Insurance.

Construction is well underway, with completion expected by the end of 2026 and move-in anticipated from Q1 2027.

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