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

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

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

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

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>

&nbsp;

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>

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Ellen Walker

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

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The Sydney rental market tightened noticeably over October, with the vacancy rate falling 0.6 percentage points to 1.9%, according to the latest Real Estate Institute of NSW (REINSW) vacancy rate survey.
It was the second consecutive month that the Sydney vacancy rate has tightened after the middle and outer suburbs reached a balanced market position of 3% in August.
The vacancy rate is tightest in the inner-city suburbs (within five kilometres of the CBD), where the vacancy rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to just 1.6%.
However, the rental market is also tight in the middle suburbs (2.1%) and outer suburbs (2.2%) of Sydney, which recorded greater falls of 0.7 and 0.8 percentage points respectively, indicating a growing number of people seeking more affordable rental accommodation further out of the city.
In contrast the vacancy rate eased in the major regional rental markets – the Hunter and the Illawarra – though both still favour landlords over tenants.
Click to enlarge
<a href="/images/stories/2012/11/reinswnov20.gif" rel="shadowbox" title="Click to enlarge"><img src="/images/stories/2012/11/reinswnov20thumb.gif"></a>
The Newcastle vacancy rate rose slightly from 1.4% to 1.6% but remains as tight as the inner-Sydney market.
The rental situation in Wollongong eased markedly over October from 2.1% to 2.6% but is still well below the 3.4% vacancy rate in August.
REINSW president Christian Payne says that despite recent increases in some areas, “tenants will find it difficult to secure a property in the foreseeable future”.
“The government needs to incentivise investment in this critical area as a way to tackle the rental crisis that is now entrenched in NSW. “Action is required to stimulate investment in the residential property market. Until we see such action, there will be continue to be growing numbers of people competing for a smaller number of properties.”
Across NSW, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Coffs Harbour</a> had the highest vacancy rate in NSW at 3.6%, but did experience a fall of 0.1 percentage point fall over October. The vacancy rate almost doubled in rural Murrumbidgee<a target="_blank" href="/news"> </a>from 0.8% to 1.4%, but it remains the area in NSW with the lowest vacancy rate.
The results are based on survey responses covering 137,532 residential rental properties.
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Sydney has entrenched tight rental market crisis but vacancy rate eases in Hunter and Illawarra: REINSW

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Victorian construction industry unions are threatening to quit industry super fund Cbus over its ties with construction giant Grocon.
The unions threatening action include the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), which is currently locked in a $10.5 million legal battle with Grocon over its blockade of a number of Melbourne projects in August.
The other union named by the Australian Financial Review is the Electrical Trades Union.
The threats from the unions came just ahead of the Victorian Supreme Court today dismissing the CFMEU's application for a stay of Grocon's damages case against the union and ordered that CFMEU pay Grocon's court costs for the application at the determination of the proceeding.
"Grocon is pleased that its rights to seek a fair reckoning for the CFMEU’s blockades in August and September 2012 remain unhindered," says Grocon spokespeson Michael Zorbas.
The unions have called for a meeting with Cbus chairman (and former Victorian premier) Steve Bracks and Cbus chief executive David Atkin to seek an explanation of the superfund’s ties with Grocon and its ethical standards and policies.
Cbus is the industry super fund for the building and construction industry, but according to the AFR, the unions are considering Brisbane-based BUSSQ Building Super as an alternative.
BUSSQ has around $2 billion in member super funds under management compared, with the $18 billion managed by Cbus.
The CFMEU is represented on the Cbus board with three seats: Rita Mallia,  president, CFMEU Construction and General Division (NSW divisional branch), Dave Noonan, national secretary, CFMEU Construction and Frank O’Grady, assistant national secretary of the CFMEU.
Cbus has a $2 billion property development arm – Cbus Property – which invests large building projects, some of which are being built by Grocon, according to the AFR.
None of the current major commercial projects listed on Cbus Property appear to involve Grocon and the most recent annual report does not include a mention of the building group.
Grocon built the ultra-modern 1 Bligh Street office tower in the Sydney CBD, which was jointly developed and is jointly owned by Cbus Property and Dexus.
Tensions between the CFMEU and Grocon continue to simmer.
The November issue of CFMEU’s Hardchat Express mentions that it won a “significant backpay” for Grocon employees and subcontractors on a project in Footscray after the Victorian Building Industry Disputes Panel found that employees should have been paid $4.10 per hour rather than $3.70 per hour.
The newsletter also mentions that the CFMEU “remains in dispute with Grocon over safety and workplace reps".
“These incidents show how vital it is that the Union continues to fight until  workers on Grocon sites have full safety rights.”
 
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Victorian construction unions threaten to pull super funds from Cbus over ties with Grocon

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After more than 30 years in the workforce, Greg Ellis proclaims this indictment on leadership and management: “I have only ever enjoyed two management teams I have worked in.”
Ellis, who is chief executive of listed online company Realestate.com.au, adds: “The sad thing is that I don’t think my experience would be atypical. My personal view is that the current company management structures are not designed to allow the average person to prosper and grow.”
For this reason, and for commercial returns, Ellis has overhauled the management structure of Realestate.com.au in the 4 ½ years since he took over the top job from the company’s founder, Simon Baker.
Realestate.com.au, which lists houses, offices and new developments for sale, employs 700 people across Australia, Italy, Luxemburg, Hong Kong and China, where it includes the 70 staff of a “co-sourcing” company, for whom it is not legally responsible, as part of the team.
Realestate.com.au’s market capitalisation is $2.3 billion. Despite a housing market that has struggled for the past four years, revenue at REA has increased 16% to 277.6 million, and net profit grew a massive 29% to $86.8 million.
Ellis says this is not because Realestate.com.au dominates the market and real estate agents have no other choice but to place ads with his company. “It think the online real estate market is more competitive than [the real estate] print market ever was. There is Domain, various industry sites, On-The-House, which is a new site, Google, Facebook – a proliferation of social, search, national and regional sites,” he says.
The reason for REA’s success is that the company understands its customers – real estate agents – and how their motivations differ from property buyers and sellers.
And the reason it understands its customers is because Ellis overhauled the management structure and tied every element of how the company operates to commercial outcomes.
Management overhaul
Management at Realestate.com.au no longer bears any relation to the typical management structures of companies, Ellis says, with a move away from a focus on top-down leadership, aggressive leadership styles, and disconnection with the customer and market.
Ellis is walking the walk of management theory in its purest form, and staking his success in the company on adopting a leadership style that academics praise and top leaders shun.
It’s all based on a <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.human-synergistics.com.au/TransformingCultureAndLeadership/Circumplex.aspx" target="_blank">psychological profiling tool</a> that Ellis says is “rock solid”, which ranks various human behaviours.
Pointing to a circular diagram which plots the behaviour of more than 400,000 surveyed Australian employees, Ellis reveals a worrying result: most Australian managers are doing precisely the things – being aggressive and pushy (represented in red on the chart) – that illicit the worst kind of  behaviour from staff in response – passive behaviours (represented in green), such as constantly seeking approval, relying on convention, dependent and avoiding risk.
Every leader wants a different kind of behaviour: focused, achieving, self-actualising, encouraging and collegial. Ellis says: “You’ll see a correlation between these things. If you have a high “red” management team, you will have a high “green” staff. It is a humanistic consequence,” he says. “But if you have a culture that mirrored the blue qualities, the chance of economic success would be really high.”
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
The path to blue
When Ellis walked through the door at Realestate.com.au, he found a company lacking in line management skills.
“It’s a problem at a lot of digital companies, not just in REA,” he says. “The people involved in digital are functional experts – product managers, IT, sales – but not very good at line management for a commercial outcomes. They are usually under 40 years old, they have only had two or three jobs, and it takes a long time to learn how to manage people and make a profit.”
“I had a choice. I could either employ line managers and teach them IT, or teach people here to function as managers.” Neither is an easy task, but Ellis decided it was easier to teach line management than to bring managers up to speed with IT expertise.
The company spends a lot on training and development of its executives to improve their leadership skills. “It is managerial lack of understanding of how to manage people that is the first problem,” Ellis says. “The second problem is that way the company is organised.”
Companies usually structure themselves in three ways. They have a profit and loss, a series of businesses that have nothing to do with each other, and may even compete with each other, under the same ownership structure. Alternately, companies create a series of functional divisions – sales, service, product development – that do not relate each other. Finally, companies arrange their management into a succession of sub-committees that have no authority, and push down decisions that have nothing to do with the market.
“Whoever invented the matrix structure caused the greatest human dissatisfaction in the industrial age,” says Ellis. “Add a lack of understanding of human beings and structure yourself in a way that causes human beings to become frustrated, annoyed and competitive, can you honestly sit there and scratch your head and say, ‘I don’t know why we are so bad’.”
The shift
For the past 2 ½ years, the company has been shifting across to the new structure, one in which each of the company’s three divisions – residential, commercial and development – is led by a team of functional line managers that report directly to the eight members of Ellis’ executive team.
Doesn’t that mean overlap between what one sales line manager is doing in residential and what another is doing in commercial? Not according to Ellis. “If there is a duplication, then by definition, those markets are not different markets,” he says.
There is no CEO or managing director for each of the three businesses. “We are now running our business where executive management sits across the top, and we have permanent multi-functional teams in each of our business units. They are set up to run with sales, product managers, IT people, working collaboratively in permanent teams around our line of businesses. The decision-making is pushed to the teams. They understand our strategy and our budget. They know how much money they can spend, and they are set up in 90-days blocks and can check with management team to make sure they are on track.”
Although each team reports to the executive, it is more important that the teams work together, Ellis says. Once a quarter, all three teams get together to keep communication between the business clear.
So far, the new structure involves only IT, marketing and sales. By July next year, it will include every discipline, including finance and human resources.
Measuring results
Ellis says REA’s impressive financial results are proof that the new system is working, but if the results falter, his commitment to the change will not. “That would just mean looking at why our results are down,” he says.
Staff engagement is up, with the company achieving a top-20 ranking from management consultancy TowerWatson in a recent survey of 400 global companies. Ellis says staff turnover is lower than the industry average for IT companies and for sales staff (typically 15%).
In addition, customers are happier too, with real estate agents surveyed independently giving Realestate.com.au 8.5 out of 10, up from seven out of 10 a year ago.
The big leadership challenge for Ellis is “deprogramming” executives who come from outside the company. “You have people with the wrong management framework; they are taught to be dictatorial and directive.”
But executives are quick to catch on. “You understand how human beings work, set them up for success, and regularly encourage them to speak and act in that way. Money and success do not make you happy. What makes people feel happy is being part of a community, attached to the company’s purpose.”
This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.leadingcompany.com.au/" target="_blank">LeadingCompany</a>.
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cknowlton-QnEa6ntUYP

How Greg Ellis has prioritised real estate agent satisfaction and overhauled Realestate.com.au

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The decluttering of the Princeton, Double Bay penthouse of the late interior design doyen Leslie Walford has perhaps given price clarity.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/09/oct3penthouse]}
It was listed for sale last month with $4.5 million-plus hopes through Christies International agent Ken Jacobs, but now the apartment comes with a $4.95 million asking price.
The contents of the Walford apartment were sold at weekend auction through Mossgreen. The sales tally suggest around $540,000 was grossed, including the buyer's premium, from about 400 household items.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford1.jpg">
The items represented five decades of accumulation by the noteworthy decorator to old Sydney money – and some later arrivistes.
They were listed by Walford's partner, Colin Davies.
<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.kenjacobs.com.au/570519/">The penthouse </a>with 279-square-metre garden terracing sits atop the 1939 Art Deco building with northerly views across the harbour to Manly.
The interiors showcased the tastes of Walford, who retired just five years ago after an international career spanning five decades.
It was built with polished timber floorboards, high vaulted ceilings, ornate cornices, curved bay windows and french doors.
The initial Double Bay purchase cost $125,000 in 1975 from Sabrina Van der Linden.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford4.jpg">
The apartment, which comes with 500 square metres of space, was consolidated with another purchase in 1978 from the photographer Ann Riddell.
More Princeton penthouse photos on page 2
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Born to parents who celebrated with two bottles of 1918 Bollinger, after his 1927 birth, Walford was sent off at the age of 11 to England. (The champers bottles, below, remain unsold with a $100-150 estimate.)  
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford3.jpg">
After time in the British Army, he studied interior design in Paris. He had self-deprecating pretensions, often joking he was conceived at the Ritz. Then hastening to add it was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.photosau.com.au/BlueMountains/scripts/ExtSearch.asp?SearchTerm=004039">Ritz Leura, Blue Mountains guesthouse </a> rather than the Paris hotel one he loved so much.
His penthouse apartment ceiling was painted with a bamboo and foliage pattern and suspended from this was a large Fortuny silk lantern from Venice.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/09/oct3penthouse2]}
"This traditional Chinoiserie effect is rather lovely in European decorating," Walford once told then SMH Sydney Magazine home decor columnist Margie Blok.
She was among the auction crowd that watched the Fortuny fabric tiered ceiling light (below) fetch $3,172. 
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/walford2.jpg">
Among the dearest items was a pair of Louis XV carved walnut fauteuil, signed Blanchard, French 18th-century armchairs that fetched $26,840.
A pair of Italian Blackamoor figures of two Nubian men, 19th-century, sold for $23,180.
A 19th-century French white porcelain and gilt bronze mounted elephant and pagoda form clock century fetched $7,320.
One of the cheapies appeared to be the Ross Watson painting, James II and youth, 1986 oil on canvas which fetched $3,416. His works are in significant private collections including Sir Elton John, James Wolfensohn and the British peer Lord Cholmondeley. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rosswatson.com/index">Watson</a> was a 1990 Moet &amp; Chandon finalist.
The Historic Houses Trust (HHT) has become the home of some papers from the archive of the late Leslie Walford.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Interior designer Leslie Walford penthouse contents gross about $540,000 

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Glenholme, the 1870s grand Victorian Ballarat residence, whose asking price was reduced from $2.5 million to $2.25 million, has been sold, possibly at a historic house record for the district.
It's been with the Cuthbert family since 1901, first occupied by accountant John Cuthbert, the son of Henry Cuthbert, who’d arrived in Australia in 1854 and lived in nearby Beaufort House.
Hidden behind a white paling fence within a meandering garden, the grand six-bedroom Victorian house at 111 Webster Street, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Lake Wendouree</a> is wrapped in wisteria.
There are three reception rooms comprising the salon with white marble fireplace and bay window, the sitting room, which features hand-made copper-plated bookshelves and a black marble fireplace, and the stately dining room with open fireplace and gas heating.
Exotic trees, shrubs and old-fashioned flowers create a romantic National Trust-classified garden – which is possibly one of Victoria's finest intact examples of a late Victorian suburban garden, according to the garden historian Peter Watts, who said in 1980 that it was of national significance.
It was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/national-garden-treasure-glenholme-the-1870s-grand-victorian-ballarat-residence-listed-with-record-%2425-million-asking-price/2012062955347">listed through Tony Douglass and Tim Valpied of Hocking Stuart Ballarat</a>, who have kept the sale price undisclosed since its October 31 sale.
The suburban villa was built for the merchant John Joseph Goller, a convenient distance from his warehouse in Lydiard Street North. The family had Gollers Wholesale Wine &amp; Spirit Merchants, which was established in 1855.
Ballarat’s most expensive historic home sale is currently on Wendouree Parade, which fetched $2.23 million in 2010. Set back from the road and the banks of Lake Wendouree, the 1888 house had been altered moderately in the 1930s. With four-metre-high ceilings, detailed plaster and paint work, arched doorways and stone fireplaces, the 424-square-metre six-bedroom house had been listed with $2.7 million-plus hopes in 2009.
The $2.23 million purchase was bought from the Deam family by Ballarat estate agent and farmer Stewart Gull, who played for South Melbourne and Melbourne in the 1970s, and his wife, Sue.
Property Observer is aware of a $2.4 million sale in March this year of the Invermay mansion Whistlers Run. It was a five-bedroom modern mansion, previously home to local businessman Gavin James.
Whistlers Run was marketed as a semi-rural retreat, with a 10-car garage, saltwater swimming pool, six bathrooms, three living areas and floor-to-ceiling windows with views to Ararat and Mt Langi Ghiran. Its tallowwood floorboards are reclaimed from the seats at the Melbourne Cricket Club Members Stand.


<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Property Observer is also aware of a higher sale on Lake Wendouree when $2,825,000 was paid in late 2007 for a house with 53 square metres of living space, an indoor pool and a tennis court on a large block.
Earlier this week another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/alfred-street-lake-wendouree/Property-Details-sold-residential-4546673">contemporary Lake Wendouree </a> house (pictured below) sold at an undisclosed price. It had $1 million-plus hopes. It was marketed as coming with exclusive access to a neighbouring tennis court for $110 per annum.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/alfredst3.jpg">
The district's renowed Peter Coburn-designed 1927 residence, which was built for the mayor of Ballarat Alfred Pittard, is listed at $1.75 million through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harcourts.com.au/Property/474613/VBT7349/303-Wendouree-Parade">Harcourts agent Gerald Cosgrave</a>. Set with 1700 square metres of established gardens, it has views over Lake Wendouree rowing course.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/wendouree.jpg">
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Glenholme, the Lake Wendouree 1870s house in Ballarat, sells

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Murarrie, a semi-industrial suburb on the southern banks of the Brisbane River about eight kilometres east of the city, has been Brisbane’s best-performing detached suburban housing market over the past year, according to the latest figures compiled by the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ).
House prices in Murarrie, where News Limited prints the Courier Mail and Sunday Mail, have risen 9.6% over the year to September to a median of $509,500.
In comparison, Brisbane house prices, while gaining 1.6% over the September quarter rising to $508,000 are still down 1.9% year-on-year to a median just below $510,000.
According to murarrie.com, the suburb has until recently consisted of light industrial development, but its proximity to the city has made it more attractive to office and residential developments.
The suburb is serviced by buses and trains into the city, while it takes about 15 minutes by car to get to the city.
The stock of houses is a mix of post-war weatherboard and chamferboard cottages, tin roof houses and new estates being "typically low set and high set brick and tile homes".
According to a Belle Property suburb profile, Murarrie has had an "interesting past", playing host to a variety of industries over the years including sugar cane, cotton, meatworks and boatbuilding.
As a residential suburb it is situated close to the GatewayMotorway and the main thoroughfares of Wynnum and Creek Roads with Cannon Hill and Carindale shopping centres close by and local shops on Queensport Road.
The suburb is popular with families and offers "stunning views of the Gateway Bridge and the Brisbane River" as well as the large Murarrie Recreation Area with bike tracks, barbecue areas, skate parks and canoe ramps.
Recent sales have included this 1940s-built three-bedroom weatherboard home on a 1,200-square-metre block (pictured bel0w) sold by the Queensland Public Trustee for $480,000, according to RP Data records.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/billungah.jpg">
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Current listings include this modern three-bedroom Queenslander on Queensport Road (pictured below), which last sold for $379,000 in 2006 and is listed through Glenn Bool of Re/Max-Morningside.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/queensport.jpg">
An older-style propery up for sale is this "cavity" brick home with two bedrooms, high ceilings and large backyard (pictured below), which is listed at $349,000. RP Data records show it last sold for $92,000 in 1994 and for $44,500 in 1985.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/railway.jpg">
Aspley, about 13 kilometres north of the city, is the next best performing suburb over the past 12 months with median house prices up 8.7% to $500,000
The best-performing inner-city detached housing markets are Taringa, a few kilometres south-west of the city, and West End, just outside the CBD, where prices are up 8.2% and 7.5% respectively.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="411"><tbody>
<tr>
<td width="187" valign="top">
Region
</td>
<td width="95" valign="top">
Median Sale 12mths Sep12
</td>
<td width="66" valign="top">
1yr change
</td>
<td width="64" valign="top">
5yr change
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">MURARRIE</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$509,500
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
9.6%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
22.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">ASPLEY</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$500,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
8.7%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
20.9%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">TARINGA</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$700,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
8.2%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
14.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">WEST END</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$747,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
7.5%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
22.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">SEVENTEEN MILE ROCKS</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$630,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
7.4%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
23.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">NUDGEE</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$515,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
6.5%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
45.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">CALAMVALE</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$500,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
4.2%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
16.3%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
 
<a href="/news">MORNINGSIDE</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$580,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
3.6%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
21.0%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
 
<a href="/news">FERNY GROVE</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$490,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
3.2%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
19.8%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">GREENSLOPES</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$574,450
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
2.5%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
18.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">GEEBUNG</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$407,629
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
2.0%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
16.5%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">AUCHENFLOWER</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$835,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
1.8%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
14.4%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
 
<a href="/news">BARDON</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$737,500
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
1.7%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
20.6%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">JAMBOREE HEIGHTS</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$403,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
1.4%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
15.1%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top">
<a href="/news">BRIGHTON</a>
</td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top">
$402,000
</td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top">
1.3%
</td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top">
23.7%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="187" nowrap valign="top"></td>
<td width="95" nowrap valign="top"></td>
<td width="66" nowrap valign="top"></td>
<td width="64" nowrap valign="top"></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 Source: REIQ
The REIQ notes that Brisbane house sales activity picked up notably over the quarter, with a 35% increase recorded compared with the June quarter.
“Brisbane’s market continues to improve as buyers turn their attention to our affordable capital city property prices, as well as the continued strong demand for rental properties which is attracting investors,” says REIQ chief executive Anton Kardash.
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Little-known Murarrie the top-performing Brisbane suburb for house prices over past 12 months: REIQ

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<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/raywhite2.gif">
John Skufris tells Property Observer companies seeking office space in Sydney hail from all over the world, including Singapore and South Africa. He would invest a spare $750,000 in a commercial property with dual zoning and parking close to the CBD.
How long have you been in the industry?
Twelve years.
<img style="margin: 5px; float: left;" src="/images/stories/2012/11/johnskulfis.png">
What’s happening in the area you specialise in?
We are seeing an increase in overseas businesses seeking more office space in Sydney's CBD from countries including, but not limited to, Singapore, South Africa and Holland recently.
Describe the most interesting property you have leased.
We leased a property that was vacant for years to a dance studio with stunning views over Hyde Park. They funded their own fit-out and paid a year's rent in advance to secure the premises.
What are the ingredients to being successful in your job?
The ingredients include being able to help people and understanding their requirements.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy the most?
Working in the CBD is great. I also enjoy meeting people and helping them with their property needs.
Where would invest a spare $750,000?
I would consider purchasing a property with dual zoning and parking, close to Sydney's CBD.
Which football team do you support?
The St George Illawarra Dragons.
What’s your favourite app or techno gadget?
It is the new Samsung S3.
How do you use social media?
We use <a href="https://www.raywhitesydneyleasing.com.au" target="_blank">https://www.raywhitesydneyleasing.com.au</a> and <a href="https://www.raywhitecommercial.com.au" target="_blank">https://www.raywhitecommercial.com.au</a> to advertise available properties.
These websites also offer details of our personnel with a media centre, leased properties and tools including an office space calculator.
My Twitter account is <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/SydneyOffices">@SydneyOffices</a>, and we also use other networking sites including LinkedIn.
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In profile: Sydney CBD office leasing specialist John Skufris

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Property analyst Michael Yardney says there are four fundamental reasons why the Australian housing market is unlikely to crash with Australia’s high rate of mortgage-free property ownership another factor protecting the market.
Michael Yardney, director of Metropole Property Strategists,  says people who blog in hope or expectation of a housing crash are probably “jealous of those who have worked hard and built up some assets”.
Speaking as part of a realestatetalk.com.au podcast, Yardney says that while a housing crash cannot be ruled out entirely – it could possible happen one day – the four things that would need to happen for this to occur are unlikely to eventuate.
These four things are: a recession, extremely high interest rates, a high rate of unemployment and an oversupply of housing.
Before going on to explain how none of these four factors apply to Australia, Yardney highlighted that the “main reason” house prices won’t crash is that currently the housing market is underpinned by the fact that 50% of home owners have no mortgage against their home.
“Therefore high interest rates and recessions aren’t going to make them sell.
“It’s the only investment market controlled by non-investors,” says Yardney, in comparison with overseas markets where there are a lot more tenants, where people move from state to state and from country to country and where the banking rules are different.
“In Australia the things that could make a difference are [firstly] a recession
“People suddenly lose their jobs, unemployment is high and people can’t afford to keep their mortgages.
“But nothing suggests Australia is going to have a recession in the immediate future.”
Extremely high interest rates are another thing that could cause a crash, but Yardney says no one is suggesting that is going to happen in the forseeable future.
A high rate of unemployment would create a situation where people have to “give away their homes – sell them at “silly prices” and could cause a crash.
But, Yardney contends “everybody who wants a job can get a job at the moment” though it may not be the job they want”.
And the fourth factor is “significant oversupply” as was the case in the US housing crash.
“No doubt it is happening in some markets such as the Gold Coast and some of the off-the-plan markets, but overall there is not a huge oversupply.
“[So] I can’t see the Australian property market crashing in the foreseeable future.
Yardney says the housing market has corrected by between 5% and 7%, but says such a fall is not a crash, but part of a cyclical downturn.
“For a crash you need a 15% to 20% fall."
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No housing bubble and no housing crash likely: Michael Yardney

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The Queensland government has commissioned the auction of eight rural properties in the Mary Valley that were acquired for the Bligh government's abandoned Traveston Dam, Sunshine Coast, district project.
The government has appointed Ray White to conduct the Helmsman-style auction next month in Brisbane.
No price range estimates are being offered for the properties.
All of the properties have houses being offered with vacant possession.
Helmsman is a rarely used property auction format using time-sensitive publicly displayed written bidding.
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Traveston Dam, Sunshine Coast, rural offerings by state government 

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Recent media reports have given the impression there is still debate over whether commercial real estate agents should be licensed under the new National Occupational Licensing Scheme.
That’s not the case. This debate is now settled.
A special committee established by the National Occupational Licensing Authority (NOLA), representing all stakeholders, has unanimously agreed that commercial agency work will be included in the new national licence for real estate agents, subject to two exceptions.
The first exception is that agents managing on behalf of ‘related entities’ would not require a licence; the second exception is that ‘sophisticated property owners’, that is those large owners who fully understand the risks involved in commercial property transactions, would also not be required to use a licensed agent.
This means only a very small fraction of commercial transactions could be undertaken by unlicensed agents, and all transactions involving ‘small’ commercial property owners would involve licensed agents.
The committee also resolved concerns about personal probity requirements for licensees.
There should therefore now be no obstacles to introducing the national real estate licence.
Demands by the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) – a party to the compromise above – for compulsory professional development for real estate agents around Australia and for diploma level qualifications for all real estate agents (currently only 20% of agents have such qualifications) could then be pursued with NOLA, once the national licence is operating.
Since these demands will impose at least $55 million a year in additional costs on the real estate industry, it is not unreasonable to require thorough investigation and justification by the relevant authorities before such a considerable cost burden is placed on the industry, particularly given all Australian governments are now committed to removing job-destroying cost burdens on businesses.
Milton Cockburn is executive director of the <a href="https://www.scca.org.au/" target="_blank">Shopping Centre Council of Australia.</a>
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