<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

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The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

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Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.

From late 2025, eligible first home buyers in New South Wales will have access to a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing affordability: the Help to Buy Scheme.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

The program introduces a shared equity model intended to reduce the upfront cost of entering the property market, particularly in high-demand urban areas such as Sydney.

The scheme operates under a shared ownership structure in which the federal government takes an equity stake of up to 40 per cent for new homes, or 30 per cent for existing dwellings. This arrangement allows eligible buyers to significantly reduce their loan size and avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required. The government’s contribution is not a loan but a co-ownership stake in the property. As such, there is no interest or rent charged on its portion.

Because the government’s equity combined with the buyer’s deposit typically meets or exceeds the 20 per cent threshold, LMI does not apply. The remaining balance, generally between 60 and 70 per cent of the property’s value, is financed through a standard home loan with a participating lender.

The government's equity in the property remains in place until the buyer chooses to repay it voluntarily or until the property is sold. Buyers can buy back the government’s share over time, in increments of at least five per cent, depending on their financial situation.

There is no fixed repayment timeline, but the amount to be repaid will be based on the property's market value at the time of repayment, not the original purchase price.

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:

<ul>
	<li>Be an Australian citizen at least 18 years of age.</li>
	<li>Be a first-home buyer who does not currently own property.</li>
	<li>Intend to live in the property as their primary residence.</li>
	<li>Earn less than $100,000 per year for individuals, or $160,000 for couples.</li>
	<li>Purchase a property within the regional price caps, currently $950,000 in Sydney, though this is expected to rise to approximately $1.3 million ahead of the program’s launch.</li>
</ul>

While the Help to Buy Scheme does not solve affordability challenges across the board, it does offer a more accessible pathway for a defined segment of the market, particularly younger buyers with moderate incomes who have been priced out of traditional lending routes.

The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.

Under the new model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required

Help to Buy Scheme: What first home buyers in NSW need to know

The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) is a government initiative designed to help eligible first-time home buyers by offering financial assistance towards the purchase or construction of a new home.

While the FHOG is a nationwide program, it is administered separately by each state and territory, meaning the eligibility criteria, grant amounts, and property requirements can vary depending on your location. This means that the amount available and the conditions attached to the grant will differ, so it is important to check the specific guidelines for your state or territory.

It’s important to note that the FHOG is just one of several incentives available to first home buyers. In most states and territories, the grant is not linked to stamp duty exemptions or concessions, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The FHOG is typically a one-off payment, reducing the overall cost of purchasing or building a new home before any stamp duty concessions are applied.

Below, we provide a breakdown of the First Home Owner Grants available across Australia, outlining the specific details for each state and territory.

<h2>New South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $600,000. For land purchases and owner-builders, the threshold extends to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000, with concessions available for properties up to $1 million.

<h2>Victoria South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides a $10,000 grant for first-home buyers purchasing or building new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Offers full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $750,000.

<h2>Queensland First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. The FHOG applies to new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Provides additional concessions for properties valued up to $800,000.

<h2>Western Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

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First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $750,000 in the southern regions and up to $1 million in the northern regions.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Available for homes valued up to $600,000 for transactions entered into on or after 9 May 2024.

<h2>Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, offering full stamp duty concessions for eligible buyers.

<h2>South Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides up to $15,000 for new homes, including houses, apartments, and townhouses. As of 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap for eligibility.

Stamp Duty Relief: Available for new homes and vacant land purchases.

<h2>Tasmania First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes and off the plan purchases.

Stamp Duty Exemption: Between 18 February 2024 and 30 June 2026, first home buyers of established homes valued up to $750,000 receive a full exemption on property transfer duty.

<h2>Northern Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: The Northern Territory provides a $10,000 grant for new homes only. Additional government grants and concessions are available for first home buyers.

Stamp Duty Exemption: The only stamp duty exemption available to property buyers is the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE).

Eligibility criteria and application processes differ across states. Prospective buyers should refer to their respective state revenue offices for full details on grant availability, conditions, and additional concessions.

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable architecture and environmentally conscious design, systems and ratings in place can help determine the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Australia.

Australia has multiple building rating systems that evaluate energy efficiency and sustainability in existing and new building designs.

Some systems assess individual building components, while others provide an overall rating for the entire structure.

A rating system ensures that homes are comfortable and energy-efficient, whether you are buying, renovating, or building.

NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a common way for new homes to meet energy efficiency requirements.

As new developments continue to shape the urban environment, understanding NatHERS ratings becomes essential for developers and homeowners. This article delves into the concept of NatHERS ratings, their significance, and how they contribute to creating energy-efficient homes.

<h2>What is NatHERS?</h2>

NatHERS is a national initiative implemented by the Australian government to promote energy efficiency in residential buildings. The scheme aims to provide a standardised method for assessing the thermal performance of homes, considering factors such as insulation, orientation, ventilation, and building materials.&nbsp;

NatHERS ratings are the most common way new homes meet the National Construction Code's (NCC's) minimum energy efficiency requirements.&nbsp;

NatHERS assessments provide thermal and whole-home ratings for new homes, townhouses, and apartments.

The rating helps evaluate the energy performance of buildings, guides homeowners and developers to make informed decisions about the energy efficiency of their properties, and encourages the construction of more sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective homes.

<h2>How NatHERS Ratings Work</h2>

NatHERS ratings are determined through four accredited software tools (AccuRate, BERS Pro, FirstRate5, HERO) using a calculation engine CSIRO developed to predict building temperature based on various factors.

The tools can model complex effects of building mass, insulation, window size, and other elements.

The outcome is a star rating that reflects the building's overall thermal efficiency, indicating how well it can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without excessive reliance on heating or cooling systems.

The star rating scale ranges from 0 to 10, with a 6-star rating being the minimum requirement for compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).&nbsp;

Achieving a higher star rating demonstrates a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, as the building is better equipped to minimise its environmental impact and reduce long-term energy costs.

Anyone can use NatHERS tools, but accredited assessors can provide certified ratings and professional advice.

<h2>Benefits of Higher NatHERS Ratings</h2>

Energy Efficiency: Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings are more energy-efficient, requiring less heating and cooling energy. This reduces the structure's carbon footprint and lowers occupants' energy bills.

Cost Savings: Homes with higher NatHERS ratings are generally more energy-efficient, resulting in reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling. This translates to lower energy bills for homeowners, making sustainable living environmentally friendly and economically viable in the long run.

Environmental Impact: Lower energy consumption directly translates to a reduced environmental impact. Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings contribute to the overall goal of mitigating climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling systems.

Improved Comfort: Buildings with high NatHERS ratings offer better thermal comfort to occupants. Proper insulation, well-designed ventilation, and optimal orientation maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature, providing occupants with a more enjoyable and healthier space.

Market Value and Desirability: Higher NatHERS ratings can enhance the market value of a property. As energy efficiency becomes a more significant consideration for homebuyers, a well-rated building may attract a premium price and stand out in the real estate market.

Compliance with Building Codes: NatHERS ratings are a vital component of the National Construction Code (NCC), and compliance with these ratings is often a mandatory requirement for new developments. Local councils and planning authorities may set minimum energy efficiency standards that must be met to obtain development approval.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is a crucial initiative shaping the future of energy-efficient, resilient, and cost-effective homes. With its recent upgrades, NatHERS has evolved into a world-leading tool for the building sector, supporting the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Staff Writer

What is a NatHERS rating in new off the plan apartment developments?

Mixed-use developments have gained significant popularity across Australia in recent years due to their unique blend of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Unlike traditional single-purpose developments, mixed-use projects offer a harmonious integration of various functions within a single locale.

Residential units seamlessly coexist with commercial establishments, retail outlets, dining venues, entertainment hubs, and recreational facilities, with the combination not only enhances convenience but also fosters a vibrant lifestyle and a sense of community.

<h3>Convenience and accessibility</h3>

Mixed-use developments are designed with convenience in mind. They often integrate residential units with commercial spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, and recreational facilities, creating a self-contained community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114215 project_image_fid=204874]

The proximity allows residents to enjoy the convenience of having essential amenities and services within walking distance. Whether it's grabbing a cup of coffee, going grocery shopping, or accessing healthcare services, everything is conveniently located, saving residents time and effort.

<h3>Vibrant lifestyle and community</h3>

One of the major advantages of mixed-use developments is the vibrant lifestyle they offer. With a diverse range of amenities and communal spaces, residents have ample opportunities to interact, socialise, and build a sense of community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107714 project_image_fid=214122]

The presence of parks, community centres, and shared spaces fosters a lively atmosphere, encouraging residents to engage in various activities and events. The vibrant lifestyle within these developments creates a unique sense of belonging and camaraderie among the residents.

<h3>Potential for higher rental yields and property value appreciation</h3>

Mixed-use developments tend to attract a broad range of tenants and buyers due to their versatile nature. This high demand can result in higher rental yields for investors and potentially lead to property value appreciation over time.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212887]

The integration of commercial and retail spaces attracts businesses, which can provide a stable rental income stream. Additionally, the popularity of mixed-use developments often drives up property values, making them a potentially lucrative investment in the long term.

<h3>Enhanced security and maintenance</h3>

Mixed-use developments typically have comprehensive security measures in place. With controlled access points, CCTV surveillance, and professional security staff, residents can enjoy enhanced safety and peace of mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]

Additionally, these developments often have dedicated maintenance teams responsible for the upkeep of common areas, landscaping, and infrastructure. This ensures that the overall appearance and functionality of the development are well-maintained, creating a pleasant living environment for residents.

<h3>Live-work-play balance</h3>

One of the key attractions of mixed-use developments is the ability to achieve a desirable live-work-play balance. The integration of residential and commercial spaces allows residents to live closer to their workplaces, reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance.

The proximity to various amenities and recreational facilities encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. Residents can easily access fitness centres, parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, all within the same development, leading to a more fulfilling and convenient way of life.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

The top five reasons to buy in a mixed-use development

When buying a property, everyone needs to be aware of the additional costs that come as part of the buying process.

Often the largest outlay, after the deposit which goes to the bank, is stamp duty.

<h2 style="line-height: 1.38;">What is Stamp Duty?</h2>

Stamp duty is an extra tax to pay the government when you buy land, a property, and other certain assets.

It happens when the legal ownership is transferred. It can also be known as property transfer duty or transfer duty.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C32BWkB5--c" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<h2>Who pays Stamp Duty?</h2>

In some circumstances, you may get an exemption. For some states, you won’t have to pay for stamp duty if you are a first home buyer or a pensioner for houses under a particular price. There are also stamp duty concessions, where you may be entitled to a discount.

<h2>How much does Stamp Duty cost?</h2>

Each state has different rules which affect how much you need to pay. These rules can affect the rate you pay, and the timeframe you will need to pay in. Before you buy land or a property, make sure you check the up-to-date information for your state’s stamp duty.

You can use a free stamp duty calculator online to see approximately how much you’ll need to pay. Find out if you’re eligible for an exemption by enquiring on a project via Urban!

Overall, the stamp duty you need to pay will depend on:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1">How much your land/property is worth</li>
	<li aria-level="1">Where your land/property is located</li>
	<li aria-level="1">What type of land/property it is</li>
</ul>

Want to find out more? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanAustralia?utm_source=YouTube&amp;utm_medium=Video&amp;utm_campaign=Subscribe&amp;utm_id=Subscribe">Subscribe to our YouTube channel</a> for more property videos.

Ellen Walker

Off-the-plan property explained: What is stamp duty?

National Australia Bank (NAB) has brought forward the timing of the first RBA cash rate cut by three months.

NAB is now expecting a cut in February, in line with ANZ and Westpac, having initially thought a cut wouldn't come until May.

Commonwealth Bank, the nation's largest lender, still thinks the first cut will come in December.

NAB changed its call following the August monthly inflation figures that were released at the end of September, showing it had dropped to 2.7 per cent.

"The risk has been skewed to a first cut earlier in 2025, and today’s change acknowledges the balance of risks has likely shifted sufficiently for the RBA to feel comfortable cutting a little sooner than we earlier expected," NAB noted in its latest update.

They added that the cadence of the cuts may be faster than its central profile.

"Domestic inflation pressures are cooling, but only gradually, and we continue to expect the conditions for a cut will not be in place this year.

NAB believes the easing cycle will end at 3.1 per cent by early 2026, which is five cuts from the current 4.35 per cent cash rate.&nbsp;

CBA also thinks 3.1 per cent will mark the end of the cutting cycle, while Westpac is forecasting 3.35 per cent, and ANZ is the most pessimistic at 3.6 per cent, which would be just three interest rate cuts.

<h2>What would a rate cut in February look like for borrowers?</h2>

According to&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn%3Du001.IVvjJ-2BPT0A8C3VxtqKc6e3bj5hBuw27WFEYqovsYs7kPsgFulYrdOzeP8gI7CybJOya3_RgrM7qq-2BfK-2FtAHeRBLv5Qrb-2Bii5fzjLeKcP4w-2FkNgJPXygpiRhVUan3WV3QEggcf617UC8Z60RjQJZAqx7PiO7FtVJQSn0D46Zc3iTVP0kAhTTzG51cPpa5hrqz1OkSA-2BiXAxUajQ686MTtiseWBIdMdknd83aB7cOVgXlVTeHCGf3-2BcMHwfvI8TYlkUovqEhn4dj0KXf2eJGpb9-2BBv20hPXdLlPP9yD7DvFFDBM5yrTqxvcCiMfAsW1onD-2FcriL628eYdhNQE7bwzYrxcOYnmaYfRhGl-2FEHQ6eK2uQcLxs6Cbu6Dx0bYvpi5A6enmxMWU5TkcRYrP6Z8GbXZYtc5qSoKu6eWFBQR9K7fsjXwHMmby3D3X6Yx-2BxcDcdRruTG&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727774368149000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2vK2ujS77CHs9VRvSSXzLC" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.IVvjJ-2BPT0A8C3VxtqKc6e3bj5hBuw27WFEYqovsYs7kPsgFulYrdOzeP8gI7CybJOya3_RgrM7qq-2BfK-2FtAHeRBLv5Qrb-2Bii5fzjLeKcP4w-2FkNgJPXygpiRhVUan3WV3QEggcf617UC8Z60RjQJZAqx7PiO7FtVJQSn0D46Zc3iTVP0kAhTTzG51cPpa5hrqz1OkSA-2BiXAxUajQ686MTtiseWBIdMdknd83aB7cOVgXlVTeHCGf3-2BcMHwfvI8TYlkUovqEhn4dj0KXf2eJGpb9-2BBv20hPXdLlPP9yD7DvFFDBM5yrTqxvcCiMfAsW1onD-2FcriL628eYdhNQE7bwzYrxcOYnmaYfRhGl-2FEHQ6eK2uQcLxs6Cbu6Dx0bYvpi5A6enmxMWU5TkcRYrP6Z8GbXZYtc5qSoKu6eWFBQR9K7fsjXwHMmby3D3X6Yx-2BxcDcdRruTG" target="_blank">Canstar</a>, if there is a cut in February, a borrower with a $600,000 loan today and 25 years remaining would see their monthly repayments drop by $92.&nbsp;

<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="3">
			Impact of 0.25% pt cut in February 2025
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Current loan size
			</td>
			<td>
			Drop in monthly repayment
			</td>
			<td>
			New monthly repayment
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			$600,000
			</td>
			<td>
			-$92
			</td>
			<td>
			$3,907
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			$750,000
			</td>
			<td>
			-$114
			</td>
			<td>
			$4,884
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			$1M
			</td>
			<td>
			-$153
			</td>
			<td>
			$6,512
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td colspan="3">
			Source:&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn%3Du001.xWMOP9hChsvn-2BC9O-2FebBihXIZ4cEzbiuENdxm-2Bx3-2FYEEgYMhZlKWNj5Zzy1YZ56RuASD_RgrM7qq-2BfK-2FtAHeRBLv5Qrb-2Bii5fzjLeKcP4w-2FkNgJPXygpiRhVUan3WV3QEggcf617UC8Z60RjQJZAqx7PiO7FtVJQSn0D46Zc3iTVP0kAhTTzG51cPpa5hrqz1OkSA-2BiXAxUajQ686MTtiseWBIdMdknd83aB7cOVgXlVTeHCGf3-2BcMHwfvI8TYlkUovqEhn4dj0KXf2eJGpb9-2BBv20v2akwr6-2BqLyRrlEgkJ4J-2BCCyY0x189xEHZA4Ylf8c7ChBqNIkhmftZzoFuZKFn43pw3oJVg2o1gumrpdA-2B7MB-2FBtmL2rFCI-2FXORATQHySCLVOMg7Vywv-2BqnnQUAtDz6XkvpwxdHFXh70VwKazzhJsICilEYOvP4ju0sIfi5g6TL&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1727774368149000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2qVnp6oqATgqDUi2Frm22q" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.xWMOP9hChsvn-2BC9O-2FebBihXIZ4cEzbiuENdxm-2Bx3-2FYEEgYMhZlKWNj5Zzy1YZ56RuASD_RgrM7qq-2BfK-2FtAHeRBLv5Qrb-2Bii5fzjLeKcP4w-2FkNgJPXygpiRhVUan3WV3QEggcf617UC8Z60RjQJZAqx7PiO7FtVJQSn0D46Zc3iTVP0kAhTTzG51cPpa5hrqz1OkSA-2BiXAxUajQ686MTtiseWBIdMdknd83aB7cOVgXlVTeHCGf3-2BcMHwfvI8TYlkUovqEhn4dj0KXf2eJGpb9-2BBv20v2akwr6-2BqLyRrlEgkJ4J-2BCCyY0x189xEHZA4Ylf8c7ChBqNIkhmftZzoFuZKFn43pw3oJVg2o1gumrpdA-2B7MB-2FBtmL2rFCI-2FXORATQHySCLVOMg7Vywv-2BqnnQUAtDz6XkvpwxdHFXh70VwKazzhJsICilEYOvP4ju0sIfi5g6TL" target="_blank">www.canstar.com.au</a>. Starting rate is the RBA existing average owner-occupier variable rate of 6.36%. Assumes banks pass the cash rate cut on in full the month after the meeting.
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

Canstar Data Insights Director, Sally Tindall, says if core inflation continues to track in the right direction, or unemployment starts to accelerate significantly, we could well see a cash rate cut as early as February of next year.

“All four big banks now believe the RBA will be ready to cut the cash rate in just over four months’ time, if not before, in the case of CBA.

“However, the outlook for both inflation and unemployment is still highly uncertain. A couple of wobbly sets of inflation data could see the RBA holding for longer, particularly if unemployment remains relatively steady."

&nbsp;

Commonwealth Bank, the nation's largest lender, still thinks the first cut will come in December.

NAB bring forward first RBA cut to February 2025

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Business owners have traditionally endured a premium pricing on their overdrafts even when the security they put up is the lowest risk short of government bonds: residential property.
This has created the situation where a tradie or a retailer is paying 6.7% for the mortgage on their family home, yet they are paying 9% on their business overdraft.
So the banks are virtually de-risking the overdraft they write for their business customer but then re-pricing the facility so it boasts a greater margin than is charged on the security itself. In the case of the overdraft, almost twice the margin charged on your mortgage.
There are many reasons given by the banks for this practice. They say business overdrafts involve higher administration costs, that the loan amounts are too small, and that business owners have greater income volatility than employees.
However, the technology now exists to reduce the admin costs of business lending; and the volatility of business owner income is precisely why they need working capital.
So, in reality, the ‘business premium’ is a penalty on the business owner for not being an employee.
I have a problem with this. Firstly, the security is the security. If the security you take on a business is residential property, then that is the security. And residential property risk is valued by the market at 6.7%, not 9%.
I’m also troubled by the mentality where a bank says it has more concern about a business owner who has been trading successfully for 20 years than it does with a person who has had a job for 13 months.
It’s particularly troubling when you consider how penalised some sectors are. Construction is consistently the most popular sector for Australia’s 2.1 million businesses. Mostly, this means tradies.
These people experience tight cashflows because they carry overheads on shorter cycles than they can bill a client. Your average tradie has to pay employees, buy materials, run vehicles and pay insurance on shorter cycles than they are paid. Yet they can also generate large annual incomes through early starts, long hours and working weekends.
To carry this, they need working capital – an overdraft, typically – and they pay a premium rate even though they put up their home as security.
This is unfair and makes no economic sense: small business accounts for 95% of all Australian businesses and employs more than half of the work force.
When you look at how a national economy could operate more efficiently, premium charges for business finance are a logical start. Especially if there’s no reason for the premium in most cases.
I believe there is room for change in the method and the pricing of business debt. Powerful technologies, new funding arrangements and an innovative product will give business owners more choice.
However, as in any competitive market, the lender can only offer a product at a certain price: then it’s up to the borrower to make the decision.
Mark Bouris is executive chairman of <a href="https://www.ybr.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Yellow Brick Road</a>, a financial services company offering home loans, financial planning, accounting and tax, and insurance.
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mbouris-tauSvXGAM2

'Business premium' bank loan pricing unfair, epecially with residential property as security

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By the smallest majority, economists polled by Bloomberg are still tipping the RBA to leave the cash rate on hold when it meets for the last time this year on December 4.
Of the 25 economists polled this week, 13 expect the cash rate to remain at 3.25% with 12 expecting it to fall to 3%.
ANZ chief economist Warren Hogan (the only of the major bank economists to correctly tip a rate hold on Melbourne Cup Day) and Westpac’s Bill Evans expect the RBA to cut the cash rate on December 4 while the Commonwealth Bank’s Michael Blythe and NAB’s Alan Oster favour the RBA pausing until at least February next year.
Economists will get a better sense of the RBA's thinking on the December rate decision when the minutes of the November 6 monetary policy meetingare released on Tuesday (December 20) while on the same day RBA governor Glenn Stevens will deliver a speech to CEDA (The Committee for Economic Development of Australia) with the topic not yet known.
“The board minutes are always worth a look, but comments are likely to be similar to those in the latest statement on monetary policy,” says CommSec chief economist Craig James.
“The speech by the Reserve Bank governor should provide more interest. At this time there is no topic set for the speech, but if the governor wants to send a message – perhaps on the Aussie dollar, wage growth or views on the global economy – this will be the opportunity,” he says.
James, who was not part of the economists surveyed by Bloomberg. He is expecting the RBA to hold rates in December, but still maintain an easing bias and to cut early in 2013.
Looking beyond December – should the RBA hold the cash rate - consensus among economists is for one more rate cut in 2013 with the second quarter of the year (April to June) the most likely period the cash rate could fall. However there is wide divergence in individual economists’ rate expectations.
For the first quarter of 2013, there are six economists tipping the cash rate to fall to  2.75% including Brian Redican from Macquarie Bank, Stephen Koukoulas from Market Economics alongside economist from 4 Cast Ltd, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan and Merrill Lynch.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Economists remain divided on December 4 RBA cash rate cut: Bloomberg

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The resurgence of mortgage brokers after the GFC has been confirmed in the latest Mortgage Professional Australia (MPA) Top 100, which ranks the brokers that have written the highest value of loans over the past financial year.
In 2012 the combined sales of loans arranged by Australia’s Top 100 brokers was a cumulative $6.7 billion, compared with three years of sub-$6 billion sales following the GFC in 2008.
While Aussie brokers did not place in the top 10, a remarkable one out of every four brokers (26) on this year’s Top 100 list operate under the John Symond-founded brand, compared with just 15 in 2009, the year following the GFC.
This was also the second year in a row that Aussie placed more brokers in the Top 100 than other broking firm, ranking ahead of AFG, a non-branded aggregator where brokers operate under their own brand names, which had 19 brokers in the Top 100.
The Ray White-owned Loan Market Group was well represented, with six brokers in the top 100, with <a target="_blank" href="https://daniel-esposito.loanmarket.com.au/">Daniel Esposito of Loan Market Manningham</a> in <a target="_blank" href="/news">Bulleen</a>, Melbourne, ranking 14th overall ($86 million in loans).
Two brokers from Mark Bouris’s Yellow Brick Road ranked in the top 10 (<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ybr.com.au/branches/VIC/Frankston.cfm">Ross Laurenson, Yellow Brick Road, Frankston</a> ranked 28th with $72 million in loans) while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.esmartmove.com.au/">Smartmove Professional Mortgage Advisers</a> had three brokers in the 100.
James Symond, nephew of John Symond and an executive director at Aussie, says the 2012 results "underpin Aussie’s commitment to the thorough training, development and ongoing company support to every broker who works with the Aussie brand.”
Aussie became the first branded mortgage broker to require all its brokers to obtain a diploma in financial services, with the aim of raising the professional bar.
In addition to the diploma requirement, Aussie brokers must also obtain membership of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia  and are supported with additional training, coaching and marketing support.
The success of Aussie’s broking model is also testament to the foresight of John Symond, who shifted the business from a non-bank lender in 2002, when it offered its own home loans, to a mortgage broking model offering a range of home loans.
The top-ranking Aussie broker was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.aussie.com.au/find-broker/aussie-mortgage-broker.htm?BrokerID=402012">Glenn English based in Carnegie, Melbourne</a>, who managed to write 220 loans with a value of $82.6 million, ranking him 18th overall.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The post-GFC resurgence recorded in the Top 10o results was confirmed in the most recent JP Morgan Australian Mortgage Industry report (volume 16), which noted that about 45% of all loans are arranged through brokers, approaching pre-GFC levels. NAB in particular engages more with the broker channel to grow its mortgage book.
However, the same JP Morgan report notes that profitability has not risen in tune with brokers' growing share of the distribution pie – currently sitting at about two-thirds of pre-GFC levels  – while "participants continuing to exit the market as a consequence”.
According the most recent MISC (Market Intelligence Strategy Centre) report on the broker market, the number of broking firms and aggregators has shrunk to 119, the lowest recorded number of active broker firms since MISC began measuring this figure in 2001.
National regulation of the mortgage broking industry in 2010 raised the compliance costs and professional standards of the industry, with many part-time brokers quitting the industry alongside other full-time brokers struggling to earn a living as a result of the GFC slowdown. 
This compliance burden was highlighted in the responses of brokers that ranked in the top 10, <a href="https://www.mortgagesolutionsaustralia.com.au/">with Colin Lamb of Mortgage Solutions Australia</a> (10th with $102 million worth of loans) saying “tighter legislation” was the biggest challenge facing the industry, which “we embrace and are proactive about, including in our systems and approach”.
Other challenges noted by top 10 brokers include competition generated by the banks through their different channels.
“On one hand [banks] understand that 50% of their business comes from brokers, and on the other hand, they create models like UBank that undercut and undermine everything they’ve tried to create in the broker channel,” says <a target="_blank" href="https://www.brokernews.com.au/mpa/article/rael-bricker-businessman-and-broker-126229.aspx">Rael Bricker from House+Homeloans in Perth</a>, who ranked fourth with $141 million in loans.
Other concerns were the ageing workforce, education of brokers and finding new staff.
Within in these industry dynamics, the Top 100 reveals those brokers that have risen to (or remain at) the top. Brokers who appeared in the 2009 list and in the 2012 list include ACT broker <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiffenandco.com/gerard_t">Gerald Tiffen from Tiffen &amp; Co and the Mortgage Detective</a> (ninth this year and ninth in 2009) and <a href="https://www.intelligentfinance.com.au/" target="_blank">Justin Doobov from Bondi Junction-based Intelligent Finance </a>(fifth in 2012 and eighth in 2009)
Top spot for the second year running went to another Melbourne mortgage broker, Mark Davis from the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.alic.com.au/">Australian Lending &amp; Investment Centre</a> (ALIC), who settled $169.6 million in 2012 writing an astonishing 474 loans in 12 months – more than a loan day.
ALIC has picked up a host of industry awards over the last few years, with Davis putting his success down to “continuing to change what I do daily and challenge my own processes as well as banking processes.”
“If you keep evolving with the customer and what their needs are, you stay ahead of the race.”
Mortgage broking remains a male-dominated profession at the upper echelons of the profession, with only 13 brokers in the Top 100 – almost the same number since 2009.
However, women have ranked highly in the past, with <a href="https://www.mortgagechoice.com.au/wendy.higgins">Mortgage Choice’ Wendy Higgins</a> from <a href="/news">Glenelg East</a> in Adelaide ranking number one in the MPA Top 100 in 2009 and 2010.
This year’s top-ranking woman broker is a stalwart of the industry, <a href="https://www.mortgagesuccess.com.au/">Katrina Rowlands of Mortgage Success in Wollongong</a> who ranked eighth, writing 343 loans worth $106.5 million. Rowlands has ranked in the Top 100 every year since its inception in 2005 and says she has sustained her business by “continuing to focus on the client’s best outcome”.
“I continue to believe I can make a difference. That’s the secret; knowing you can make a difference and taking control of the process to make that difference. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had a bank say that their turnaround times have changed to four or five days, and I’ve had to say, 'That may be OK, but not for my clients'."
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John Symond’s Aussie mortgage brokers rise to the top as industry resurgence gathers pace among Top 100

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/1.gif">
Are you licensed to recommend credit? All mortgage brokers are required to hold an ASIC credit licence (ACL) or operate as a credit representative under a licence holder. Ask to see evidence and do you or own checking on the ASIC website using its “professional registers” search engine.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/2.gif">
Are you a member of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) or Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA)? Industry body membership is not mandatory, but all reputable brokers should be a member of one of these organisations. Membership requires higher education benchmarks and other professional and ethical requirements.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/3.gif">
What lenders are on your lending panel? A broker’s lending panel is the lenders they are accredited with to recommend loans. Get a list of a broker's lenders and do some research. Most reputable brokers would offer a mix of banks, non-banks and mutual lenders. Be wary of broker who only has a few unknown lenders  as the broker may have failed to gain accreditation with some of the bigger lenders.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/4.gif">
How many lenders are you likely to recommend? Most mortgage brokers will have at least a dozen lenders on their “panel” and sometimes as many as 30. However, they are unlikely to be able to recommend loans from all these lenders, so you should find out which lenders they are most familiar with and ensure you are comfortable with this selection.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/5.gif">
How long have you been a mortgage broker for and how many loans have you written? It’s important to gauge the level of experience of your broker. If he's a rookie, his knowledge may be limited and you may feel more comfortable with someone who has more experience. It's also worth asking how business is going and if he's been busy.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/6.gif">
Which is your favourite lender and why? Brokers are required by lawyer not to recommend unsuitable loans to borrowers. Many, though, will have a lender they recommend more than others, and you should find out why. Valid answers could range from lowest rates and fees to excellent customer service. Brokers are paid by commission and other incentives (such as volume of business), so make sure you’re not just making up the numbers for them.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/7.gif">
How do you make your recommendations? Many brokers will input your information into some kind of software program to come up with a list of suggested lenders and loans. However, it is also the duty of a mortgage broker to consider your holistic financial needs and your personal circumstances. A broker should have good product and market knowledge and good people skills and should not just rely on their computer software to come up with recommendations.
 
<hr>
 
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/8.gif">
Can I speak to one or two of your clients? This is a great way to assess a broker's performance for yourself and whether previous clients were satisfied with the service they received. You can also check a broker's website for testimonials and do a Google search to see if her name pops up in relation to a dispute or if they have made the news for the wrong reasons.
 
<hr>
 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/9.gif">
Do you charge a fee? Most brokers are free as they are paid by lenders, but some do charge upfront fees for their mortgage advice. A broker should disclose these fees upfront, but it’s worth checking. And if they do charge any fees these should be for additional services above and beyond determining a suitable loan for your needs.
 
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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/10.gif">
What service do you provide post settlement? A broker should provide continuing service to her client after the loan has settled. Brokers who “set and forget” will leave you high and dry if you run into problems. Most lenders pay brokers a monthly trail commission as an incentive to provide good post-settlement customer service, but even if they don’t a good broker relies on word-of-mouth referrals and recommendations to grow her  business.
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The 10 questions you should ask to ensure you choose a reputable mortgage broker 

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The value of home loans taken out by owner occupiers rose by a better than expected 1.5% over September to $13.9 billion, according to the latest ABS housing finance figures.
This was the second consecutive monthly rise in the value of owner occupier commitments following a 1.3% rise in August.
In July the value of owner occupier commitments slumped 1.4%.
The number of loans to owner occupiers rose 0.9% to 46,395 in September following a 1.8% rise in August - economists polled by Bloomberg had tipped a 1% rise over September.
Housing finance commitments by investors increased by 8.6% to $7.3 billion following a small 0.8% fall in August and a 2.7% drop in July.
The total value of dwelling commitments – owner occupiers and investors – rose 3.8% to $21.2 billion.
Westpac noted that gains were reported across the eastern states - Queensland (0.6%), NSW (1.6%) and Victoria(2.3%). This was offset by a dip in WA and a fall in SA.
"FHBs share of finance increased, rising to 19.3%. Further gains are in prospect," says Westpac.
The rise in September suggests -as mentioned by the RBA - that previous rate cuts are starting to flow through into the economy.
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Owner-occupier mortgage lending up 1.5% in September as first-home buyers reach 19.3%: ABS

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The smallest majority of economists tip the RBA to leave the cash rate unchanged on December 4, according to the latest Bloomberg survey.
Out of the 25 economists surveyed today, 13 tip the cash rate to remain at 3.25%, while 12 expect it to fall  3.00%.
The major banks are neatly divided, with ANZ and Westpac tipping a rate cut and Commonwealth Bank and NAB expecting the RBA to hold firm.
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans says it’s the bank’s view that “lower interest rates will be required to ensure that the non-mining sector plays its part in compensating for the more modest contribution from mining”.
“The decision for December seems to be very much live.
“It must be tempting for the board to increase the chances of the uplift in growth from non-mining by easing rates further,” says Evans.
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Economists and major banks divided on December rate cut: Bloomberg

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Macquarie Bank, the new mortgage funding partner of Mark Bouris’s Yellow Brick Road franchise business, has more than doubled its investor loan book over the first nine months of the year, Property Observer analysis of APRA banking figures shows.
Macquarie Bank’s investor loan book has soared from $846 million at the end of 2011 to almost $2 billion – nine month growth of 119%.
In June Property Observer reported that Macquarie’s investor home loan book <a href="/news">was up 33%</a> on the first four months of the year, with a spokesperson saying the bank had been ramping up its lending since returning to the mortgage market in 2010.
Macquarie Bank, the financial services arm of Macquarie Group, is now competing strongly with the major banks for new investor loans, with NAB (the smallest of the major banks in terms of new investor mortgage lending) originating $1.26 billion in new investor loans over the first nine months of the year, compared with Macquarie Bank’s $1.04 billion.
<a href="/news">Macquarie </a>is currently offering a one-year discount of 100 basis points on all its variable rate home loans, with a competitive rate of 5.65%.
It also offers a self-managed super fund loan tailored at property investors who are investing by borrowing against their DIY super funds at a rate of 6.65%.
The figures also show strong growth among the customer-owned mutual institutions with the ME Bank’s investor loan book up 33% over the first nine months of the year to $1.6 billion and Heritage Bank growing its investor loan by 14% to $1.4 billion.
In absolute terms, Westpac is the bank of choice for property investors, originating more than $6 billion in new loans over the first nine months of the year, well ahead of the Commonwealth Bank/Bankwest with $4.4 billion in new mortgages.
Investor lending for the first nine months of 2012 (Jan - Sept)
<table width="360" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="114">
Lender
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
Loan book Sept 12($m)
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
Loan book Dec 11 ($m)
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
Investor loans growth %
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Macquarie Bank Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
1,916
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
876
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
118.72
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Members Equity Bank Pty Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
1,556
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
1,168
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
33.16
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Heritage Bank Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
1,356
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
1,187
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
14.25
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
9,434
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
8,553
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
10.29
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Citigroup Pty Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
2,638
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
2,401
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
9.89
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Bank of Western Australia Ltd
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
10,897
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
9,943
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
9.59
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Suncorp-Metway Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
8,901
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
8,179
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
8.83
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Bank of Queensland Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
10,355
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
9,672
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
7.06
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
47,104
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
44,549
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
5.74
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Westpac
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
124,548
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
118,380
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
5.21
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
83,377
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
79,926
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
4.32
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
HSBC Bank Australia Limited
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
3,970
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
3,843
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
3.29
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
NAB
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
52,969
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
51,710
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
2.44
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap width="114">
ING Bank (Australia)
</td>
<td nowrap width="85">
9,624
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="76">
9,469
</td>
<td valign="bottom" nowrap width="85">
1.64
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Source: APRA
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Macquarie Bank doubles loans to investors in first nine months of 2012: APRA figures

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ANZ has left its standard variable rate unchanged at 6.6% per annum following its November interest rate review.
The decision follows the RBA leaving the cash rate unchanged at 3.25% on Melbourne Cup Day (November 6).
Since January, the bank has being carrying out monthly independent interest rate review on the second Friday of every month on the basis that "bank funding costs are now largely unrelated to movements in the Reserve Bank’s official cash rate. 
It's the seventh month in a row that the bank has not adjusted its variable mortgage rates independently of an RBA announcement since moving out of the step with the RBA in January.
On April 13 the bank lifted variable mortgage rates by 0.06 percentage points after the RBA left rates unchanged at its April 4 meeting.
“Despite intense competition for business deposits” the bank says its variable small business lending rates will also remain unchanged.
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ANZ leaves variable mortgage rates unchanged in independent review

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PRDnationwide estate agents will give home buyers the chance of discussing their mortgage needs with online non-bank lender eMoney following the signing of a referral partnership agreement between the two businesses.
PRDnationwide operates 120 franchise offices, all of which will have the option to refer on clients to eMoney.
Real estate firm tie-ups with lenders and mortgage brokers have become a fairly common feature of the industry over the past decade.
McGrath Estate Agents set up mortgage broker Oxygen Home Loans in 2004 to provide home loan services to clients. Oxygen Home Loans sub-aggregates under AFG. It was named major brokerage of the year at the 2012 Australian Broker Awards in August.
Ray White acquired mortgage broker Loan Market Group in 2009, which has 600 mortgage brokers across Australian and New Zealand and writes around $600 million in loans per month.
Century 21 has its own mortgage broker franchise, Century 21 Home Loans, as does Raine &amp; Horne with its broker offering Raine &amp; Horne Financial Services.
Under the arrangement with PRDnationwide, eMoney receives major bank wholesale funding and currently offers a standard variable rate home loan rate of 5.65% and a three-year fixed rate home loan from 5.25%. Lower rates are available for borrowers who can stump up a 25% deposit.
It consistently offers among the lowest variable and fixed-rate offerings in the market and says it is able to do so because it does not have the added cost of expensive overheads due to its online business model.
Tony Brasier, chairman and managing director of PRDnationwide, says the firm had a number of pre-requisites in its search for a home loan partner.
“The first was an online solution. We wanted to ensure our potential clients were referred to efficiently with a guaranteed response.
“The second was access to innovative and competitive financial products, and the third was to find a financial company that was honest with an exemplary reputation in the marketplace; eMoney ticked all the boxes for us,” he says.
Commenting on the tie-up with PRDnationwide, Neil Manuel, general manager of eMoney, says buyers will benefit through PRDnationwide’s expertise in the property market and eMoney’s competitively low variable home loan rate.
“It is important for buyers to shop around before they commit to a home loan and if a buyer is looking to purchase a home through a PRDnationwide franchise, they should speak to their agent and arrange a phone call with an eMoney consultant before signing on the dotted line with their current lender,” says Manuel.
“A simple phone call to get a better rate can potentially save thousands of dollars in future interest repayments.”
Manual says choosing an eMoney home loan at a variable rate of 5.5% could save a buyer up to $221 a month in repayments on a $300,000 mortgage over 25 years.
“That’s a saving of over $2,600 in mortgage repayments a year, and rather than giving your hard-earned cash to the bank, this spare coin could be used to take your family on a holiday,” he says.
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PRDnationwide sets up home loan referral partnership with online lender eMoney

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Wealth management company <a href="/news">Yellow Brick Road and Macquarie Bank</a> have foreshadowed some sort of relationship that will provide a “much-needed alternative for Australian consumers”, with the first step being a new mortgage product.
Challenges to the big four banks' dominance of the mortgage market are welcome (even though this writer has shares in those banks, and also in Macquarie). But there is a lot more information needed before the positive spike in YBR’s share price following the announcement could be seen as warranted.
While as an academic researcher I do not believe it appropriate to generally comment on business strategies of specific companies, I don’t think my social conscience can let this one pass.
Take the following description in YBR’s <a href="https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20121107/pdf/42b1g692g3vrs6.pdf">two-page announcement</a> to the Australian Securities Exchange. It reads:
<blockquote>
“Yellow Brick Road’s opening move is a 1.15% discount off the base rate of 6.65% for the first 12 months on residential home loan products.
After that, a discount off the base rate of up to 0.86% is guaranteed for the life of the loan… All successful applicants will get the discounted rate irrespective of their status."
</blockquote>
Now, it may just be a drafting error, but “up to 0.86%” is not the same as “of 0.86%”. “Up to” could include zero! But even more relevant is the question of how the base rate is determined.
It may be 6.65% today, but what will it be in a year’s time? A quick search of the YBR website provided no information to answer this question – even among the list of FAQs provided. A discount on a base rate that might exceed the standard rates offered by other lenders would be a “Clayton’s discount” (for those who can remember the ads for “the drink you have when you’re not having a drink”).
Now, it maybe that the tie-up between YBR and Macquarie will enable funds to be raised at a rate to finance mortgages which means that the YBR base rate is competitive with loan rates of the big four and other lenders – although how is not clear. But more fundamental (or maybe it’s semantic) is the issue of what is meant by a base rate which no one pays? All successful applicants, it is stated, get the discounted rate.
I can imagine the possibility that a relationship between a wealth management company such as YBR and Macquarie Bank could yield potential economies and efficiencies. And I look forward to more information to assess that.
But a two-page news release with the sort of information contained is really no news at all – even if it was listed on the ASX announcements as being a “price-sensitive” announcement.
Kevin Davis is research director at <a href="https://www.australiancentre.com.au/" target="_blank">Australian Centre for Financial Studies</a>
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.edu.au/" target="_blank">The Conversation.</a>
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