<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 Corrigan family have snappily sold their Woollahra residence as they head off to the penthouse of Cadigal on the Campbell Parade, Bondi beachfront.
The sale price of their neo-Georgian, Wellington Street, Woollahra residence hasn’t been revealed, but it’s been estimated at about $6.85 million since they were seeking around $7 million. The property, marketed online with no print media advertising, sold to north shore buyers.
It was designed in the early 1990s by the South African architect David Walker for Murray and Serena Crawford, who sold the property to Valerie Corrigan for $4 million in late 2000.
The Vogue Living featured house has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a grand formal sitting room and a large family living room with wide sandstone fireplace. The 457-square-metre property comes with pool, a separate home office building, a studio apartment and double garaging.
The Bondi Beach purchase jointly made by Valerie Corrigan, the wife of the shipping industry entrepreneur Chris Corrigan and their daughter, Lucinda has not yet been revealed, although its came with $7 million plus hopes.
The savvy push to online-only advertising was spear-headed by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sallyhampshire.com.au/#!for_sale/cf2y">Sally Hampshire of Laing+Simmons Double Bay</a>, Bill Bridges of Ballard Property and Savills Residential's Martin Schiller
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Chris and Valerie Corrigan sell in Woollahra as they plan Bondi penthouse relocation

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The Ray White Group has strengthened its ties with industry-owned listings website realestateview.com.au following the appointment of Dan White as a non-executive director.
Dan White, the CEO of the Ray White Group, is the company’s second boardroom representative at realestateview.com.au.
He joins Trevor Booth, director of Ray White Ballarat and president of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV), who is also a non-executive director at realestateview.com.au.
Dan White’s appointment follows Sam White, executive chairman of Ray White’s mortgage broking arm, the Loan Market Group, quitting the board of the REA Group in January after nearly nine years as non-executive director. The REA Group is publishers of realestate.com.au.
RealestateView.com.au is the third largest property portal in Australia, behind realestate.com.au and domain.com.au, reaching an audience of 1 million unique visitors a month.
It offers about 200,000 listings across the residential, commercial, business and holiday markets.
It is a joint venture between the REIV (which holds a 70% share) and a number of Victorian and national real estate agencies including Barry Plant and Buxton Real Estate.
The four members of realestateview.com.au board of directors are:
<ul>
<li>Enzo Raimondo, executive director (CEO of the REIV) </li>
<li>Neil Laws, chairman (branch manager Kerleys Coastal Real Estate)</li>
<li>Richard Henderson, non-executive director (CEO of R-CO)</li>
<li>John Piccolo, non-executive director (CEO of Woodards). </li>
</ul>
Laws, chairman of the board of realestateView.com.au, welcomed the appointment of Dan White, saying his commercial and professional experience would be “an invaluable addition to the board in particular as the business continues its national expansion”.
Dan White says he is excited to further strengthen Ray White Group’s relationship with realestateView.com.au.
“We have had a great association with realestateView.com.au. I look forward to working with my fellow directors and the executive team to achieve the best possible business outcomes for realestateView.com.au,” he says.
Dan White joined the Ray White Group in 2000 following approximately three years with Macquarie Bank’s Property Investment Management Division.
Prior to that, he spent two years in the taxation division of Arthur Andersen.
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Ray White Group CEO Dan White joins board of realestateView.com.au

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The Block 2012 television reality series is building to its hopeful weekend auction crescendo.
Sunday night’s final rear terrace landscaping renovation reveal was watched by 1.91 million people. The audience peaked at 2.4 million during the night, easily the night's top show.
There had been a 1.89 million audience on the previous Sunday and 1.52 million the Sunday earlier,<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/renovating/potential-buyers-seemed-few-and-far-between-as-crowds-thronged-the-block-2012-s-open-for-inspections/2012061755152" target="_blank"> before the open for inspection.</a>
Its Monday night debut in April was watched by 1.4 million.
The auction finale will have to surpass 3.09 million to beat The Voice's finale last week.
 
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The Block 2012 audience extends to 1.91 million, with auction less than a week away

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The modest 1920s brick home that was used for external shots in the 1980s Mother and Son ABC television series starring Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald has been listed for sale for the first time in 85 years.
Some $1.475 million is being sought for the Rickard Street, Rodd Point property in Sydney’s inner west.
It’s been listed by Peter Cockerill, whose grandfather built the two-bedroom house in 1927 on its 594-square-metre block.
Unfortunately the crowds at its recent auction were mostly sticky-beaks.
The shots of the kitchen and lounge room were filmed in a television studio.
The property is currently on the market with Anthony Natoli from Century 21 Natoli Real Estate. The street’s last sale was $1.54 million in October 2011, which followed a $1.55 million sale in April 2011.
Rodd Point, set between Five Dock and Drummoyne, is among Sydney's smaller suburbs.
It has just 15 streets, seven of which run north-west off Henley Marine Drive.
Rodd Point was originally part of Five Dock Farm, a 600-hectare parcel of land granted to military surgeon John Harris in 1806 by Governor Philip King.
In 1836, Harris sold the property to Samuel Lyons for £4,000. In 1837 Bruce Clements Rodd bought Lot 130, which had waterfrontage to both Iron Cove and Iron Creek, plus what was described in the original auction advertisements as "a remarkable tongue of land", now Rodd Park.
Brent Clements Rodd and his wife, Sarah Jane, raised eight sons and four daughters at Barnstaple Manor, the home they built in Five Dock. Many streets and features are named after the Rodd family including Brent, Brisbane, Burnell, Clements, Janet, Lenore, Rodd, Barnstaple, Trevanion and Undine.
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Rodd Point home that starred in ABC series Mother and Son seeking a new family

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Australia’s dairy farms are attracting the attention of the top end of town along with international interest.
The Macquarie Group has set up an agricultural fund to?buy dairy farms.
To be known as Harris Dairies, the fund has former Norco Co-operative chief executive Murray Richardson and former Warakirri Dairies chief executive Robert Burbury among its directors.
Macquarie Group declined to advise the Australian Financial Review on how much it aims to raise for the fund.
The move coincides with New Zealand’s $700 million New Plymouth District Council seeking to raise $200?million to expand its Australian dairying vehicle, Van Diemen’s Land Company.
It is based at Woolnorth Station in Tasmania’s north-west.
In Western Australia, China's top beverage producer Hangzhou Wahaha Group, chaired by China’s third-richest man, Zong Qinghou, is planning to invest up to $220 million in dairy farms.
“Our investment in Australia’s dairy farms and related industry will guarantee stable supply of quality milk powder,” Zong Qinghou advised.
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Cream of Australia’s dairy industry attracting international and local interest 

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Jackie O, the top-rating 2Day FM breakfast announcer, and her farmer husband, Lee Henderson, spent about $2.7 million last month on their family home in Vaucluse, in Sydney's posh eastern suburbs.
It’s a cosy five-bedroom 1920s abode, suggesting there's plenty of room for siblings for their baby daughter Catalina. It sits on almost 800 square metres with a substantial back yard even if they extend out using the current architect-designed development approved plans.
It was marketed by the Laing &amp; Simmons Double Bay agent Bart Doff as an "under-capitalised blank canvas awaiting an imaginative buyer". There are harbour glimpses from the upper level and polished floors throughout.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/stories/2012/06/jackieo2.jpg">
Its purchase belatedly <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/title-tattle-jackie-o-swaps-paddington-pad-for-highlands-hideaway/2011071450812">follows the $2,897,500 sale of their 1890s four bedroom Paddington terrace in July last year.</a>
The three-level, four-bedroom Paddington terrace that sat on a 210-square-metre block had been bought in 2009 for $2.75 million from Shine producer Jane Scott. Their redundant Karori, Elizabeth Bay apartment sold for $910,000 in 2009 having paid $512,500 in 2001 for the two-bedroom, top-floor unit.
Until the renovation, t<a href=""></a><a href=""></a><a href=""></a>he couple are presumed to continue to rent at Vaucluse in the interim while maintaining a 42-hectare Kangaroo Valley farm.
The Vaucluse property was sold by the Drexler family of the Matt Blatt store group. <a href=""></a><a href=""></a>
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2Day FM's Jackie O buys family home in Vaucluse with five bedrooms

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{yoogallery src=[images/stories/2012/06/june20fairfax]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">
Hopewood House (pictured above), the occasional Southern Highlands retreat of current Fairfax Media director Michael Anderson and his wife, Susie, has been freshly listed with Bill Bridges and Meagan Cotten at Ballard Property with $7 million hopes. The latest marketing says its "renowned as one of Sydney's premier wedding venues." Set on about five hectares of gardens on Bowral's outskirts, Hopewood House dates back to 1884 when built by Ben Osborne and his wife, Lucy Throsby. The grand Dutch colonial-style mansion first sold in the early 1900s to Lebbeus Hordern, a son of Samuel Hordern and a grandson of retail company founder Anthony Hordern. 
Hopewood was listed it in 2010 with $10 million hopes, with the couple signalling they were off to Paris, France for two years, with Michael Anderson travelling back regularly for his corporate commitments while Susie pursued her passion for French antique trading. Susie set up her interior decorating company, French &amp; Country about ten years ago, following the sale of their then country house in the Blue Mountains. Anderson’s radio commitments have meant his time in France has been less than initially anticipated.<a target="_blank" href="https://hopewoodcountryhouse.com.au/Hopewood_Country_House/Home"> Hopewood offers weddings with the backdrop of the grand mansion</a> with the indoor ceremony location being within the conservatory room, which is adorned with crystal chandeliers.
Bridges had recent success in the high-end wedding venue market when Woodbyne near Berry was sold sold for $5 million to Rosie Jennings, who's set to expand her wedding venue operations from its existing base, Terrara House Estate outside Nowra. Set in gardens with avenues, garden rooms and a swimming pool, Woodbyne was developed by entrepreneur and designer John Pegrum. Woodbyne was sold by Jeff and Annette Moore, who bought it from Pegrum for $942,000 in 1997. When Pegrum bought the property two deacdes earlier the Woodbyne weatherboard former schoolhouse building was in a dilapidated state in a bare paddock.
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">Golfing enthusiast Frank Williams, who helped Greg Norman set up Great White Shark Enterprises, has sold his Bowral property. Its most recent McGrath Estate Agents asking price was $2.85 million, and Title Tattle gathers it went very close. Williams paid $3.2 million in 2005, having initially moved to the highlands in 2000.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/aberdeen.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">It was a case of keeping up with the Joneses in the Southern Highlands when Michael Jones, former owner of Rex Airlines, and wife Michelle bought their 44-hectare Fitzroy Falls estate (pictured above) next door to the weekender of radio broadcaster Alan Jones. With their cattle interests now far further south into NSW, it’s been listed through Drew Lindsay at Drew Lindsay Browal with a $5.5 million asking price. With no background in cattle, Michael and Michelle founded Aberdeen Estate Angus in 2008 after his career in aviation, merchant banking and international yachting. The farming couple hit the headlines in 2009 after paying a record $42,000 for powerhouse donor matron Ardrossan Princess W38 from the Bulle family, of Holbrook. The most recent press had them having a stud herd of around 88 cows, 105 recipients and 350 commercial females all split between Fitzroy Falls and Tumut, in southern NSW where they have a 2,105-hectare property The Poplars which was bought in 2010. It also runs a flock of 2,500 superfine Merino ewes.  Michael Jones’s other passion is sailing, having been the director of the Olympic sailing team for the Beijing Olympics. Jones founded Rex in 2002 by merging the remains of Ansett subsidiaries Kendell and Hazelton.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/exeter.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">After 15 years' ownership, medico David Smith and wife Bernadette are selling Whare-Tau (pictured above), their 1904 Exeter property, with $3.3 million-plus expectations through Drew Lindsay at Drew Lindsay Real Estate Bowral. The restored four-bedroom Federation residence, with extensions, stands on three hectares. Just 18 years ago, Title Tattle recalls that inspections of the house were like discovering a colonial Miss Havisham's home, with climbing vines inside the residence, cobwebs on the chandeliers, cupboards of mildewed books on the 1798 Irish Rebellion, even emus in the back paddock. James Aubusson, executor of spinster Hope Meek, sold off the then 30-hectare Exeter Road holding for $925,000 to developers Bill Shipton and Mark Bouris, who subdivided it. Title Tattle recollects that Meek, aged 86 on her death, had been buried in the family's South Head Cemetery tomb, though her probated 1988 will directed that no name plate should be affixed. The 1993 contents auction of Meek's house, which was bought in 1958 for £11,000, included her barrister father's cornet, used while serving with the 12th Battalion in France during World War I, and her mother's ivory and silver fan, a gift from an Indian maharajah. Whare-Tau, Maori for "Our home", has been restored, with the kauri floorboards having underfloor heating. It stands on a hillside in park-like grounds, which include a restored corn-drying shed believed to date from Henry Badgery's ownership.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">The two-storey 1832 sandstone White Horse Inn at Berrima has sold for $1.44 million to television industry pioneer Reg Grundy and his wife, Joy Chambers, who intend to use the building as a private museum. The township is not far from their rural retreat, Comfort Hill, which cost a record $15 million when acquired in 2007 from businessman Michael Ball and his wife, Daria. The Georgian-style White Horse is set on a 5,583-square-metre Wingecarribee River holding sitting prominently on the rise of the Old Hume Highway. Title Tattle seems to recall that it was originally the home of Ben and Lucy Osborne. For the past eight decades it's been a restaurant, having last traded for $1.79 million to the Klumper family in 2009. The neighbouring heritage commercial property is owned by mining tycoon Andrew Forrest's family and it accommodates the Berrima district museum.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/mittagong.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">The Mittagong residence Taliesen, named after the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture in Wisconsin, has been sold. Designed to take full advantage of the views, the single-level house has floor-to-ceiling glass on its northern side. Built in the 1960s and renovated in the 1990s, it sits on a 7,643-square-metre holding, which last traded for $385,000 in 1983. Located high on Mount Gibraltar, with a tennis court and pool, it’s set on a former walnut grove, hence the two dozen 60-year-old walnut trees in its gardens. It was initially listed in 2010 with $3.3 million hopes. No sale price indication has been offered by Drew Lindsay Real Estate.
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">Dandaloo, the 40-hectare Canyonleigh farm, has been bought by equestrians Sam Lyle and Nicola Turner. Family matriarch Putch Lyle has assisted with the $1.15 million purchase by taking a third equity. It was listed through Andrew Hearn Real Estate. The eight-paddock property comes with a  five-bedroom brick house along with a complex with 13 stables, covered round-yard, feed room and a separate hay shed located near the second cottage.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/gleneagle.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">And ever on the lookout for the start of a possible trend, Title Tattle notes the first substantial lifestyle farm acquisition by Chinese buyers within the highlands. It was when the Lin family paid $7.15 million for Gleneagle (pictured above), the 40-hectare Mittagong property, which sold through Richardson &amp; Wrench Bowral agent Mick Maloney. Perched 830 metres above sea level, it overlooks the 75,000-hectare National Park back towards the distant Sydney skyline. The 2001-built house was Alpine lodge style – cosy with huge open fireplaces, warm timber finishes and authentic Snowy Mountains granite stone work inside and out. The Lins export wine from the Canberra region to China, as their customers love the fruity shiraz. The family were the $8.5 million buyers of the record-setting Waverton residence sale in 2010.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/gleneagle1.jpg">
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Fairfax Media director Michael Anderson has renewed hopes in the Southern Highlands: Title Tattle

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The Bellevue Hill house of the late charity queen Elizabeth Symonds was passed in when auctioned last night, having had initial price hopes of about $7 million. The executors placed a $6.25 million vendor bid.
The five-level, five-bedroom, five-bathroom mansion was last traded in 1996 when bought by the longtime Pied Piper Committee stalwart and her solicitor husband, the late Cedric Symonds, for $3.85 million following their $8.5 million sale of Cardigan, the now demolished Elizabeth Bay harbourfront residence.
Its 1996 vendor was rag trader Ray Pillion.
Set on both Carrington Avenue and Cranbrook Road, the house, which has elevator access and guest accommodation, has a backdrop of Sydney Harbour and the Royal Sydney Golf Course.
The house was offered this week through Elliott Placks of Ray White Double Bay in conjunction with Pillinger Property agent Brad Pillinger.
The 1,200-square-metre holding comes with a tennis court and pool.
Bellevue Hill's top recorded sale this week was on Kambala Road, when a tad over $4.6 million was secured through McGrath agent Paul Ephron for a four-bedroom contemporary house relisted recently with $4.7 million hopes. It had been listed at $5.8 million in March last year with another agent.
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Late charity queen Elizabeth Symonds’ Bellevue Hill home passed in on $6.25 million vendor bid

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<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/water-usage-rates-suggest-melbourne-is-awash-with-unlisted-vacant-properties/2012062155215" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/2012/06/90k.gif"></a>
The possible number of <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/water-usage-rates-suggest-melbourne-is-awash-with-unlisted-vacant-properties/2012062155215" target="_blank">unoccupied Melbourne homes that are not listed for rent</a>, according to an analysis of water usage by lobbying groups Earthsharing Australia and Prosper. Casting doubt on regularly reported vacancy rates, Deakin researcher Phillip Soos used City West Water and Yarra Valley Water figures to look for homes that consume less than 50 litres of water per day, saying these are all most likely unoccupied.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/2012/06/52percent.gif">
The percentage of Australians who expect mortgage rates to fall over the next 12 months, according to the Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer survey. This is the first time since Westpac began asking the question (in February 2010) that a majority expected interest rates to fall.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="/news"><img src="/images/stories/2012/06/3point41m.png"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="/news">price the former 1860-built Bible Christian Church in Gore Street, Fitzroy fetched at auction</a>. The bluestone building was once used as a furniture factory after its ceased operating as a tabernacle. It comes with tall brick-embellished Georgian windows and a 1911-added Greek Revival-style façade.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/judith-neilson-unveils-her-sculptural-%241475-million-residential-warehouse-wonderland-to-enliven-chippendale/2012061855173"><img src="/images/stories/2012/06/6point78m.gif"></a>
The<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/judith-neilson-unveils-her-sculptural-%241475-million-residential-warehouse-wonderland-to-enliven-chippendale/2012061855173"> projected cost of Judith Neilson's planned renovation of her recently purchased Chippendale warehouse</a>. The $14.75 million O’Connor Street warehouse project was formerly the Simona fashion headquarters now set directly opposite the upcoming Central Park precinct. Neilson is the founder of the White Rabbit Collection, one of the world's most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art,
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/rebecca-gibney-packing-up-after-selling-in-clareville/2012061955186"><img src="/images/stories/2012/06/1point3m.gif"></a>
Packed to the Rafters star Rebecca Gibney's initial price hopes for her Clareville home<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/rebecca-gibney-packing-up-after-selling-in-clareville/2012061955186">, which she sold this week.</a> The couple didn’t have the time to turn it into their dream home.
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/industry-news/one-in-five-queensland-and-wa-real-estate-offices-made-a-loss-in-2011-macquarie-benchmarking-report/2012061955194"><img src="/images/stories/2012/06/1in5.gif"></a>
The rough proportion of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/industry-news/one-in-five-queensland-and-wa-real-estate-offices-made-a-loss-in-2011-macquarie-benchmarking-report/2012061955194">Queensland and WA estate agencies that made a loss in 2011</a>, according to the Macquarie 2012 Residential Real Estate Benchmarking report.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/girvan-estate-australias-tallest-private-home-sold-after-two-years/2012062155213"><img src="/images/stories/2012/06/30metres.gif"></a>
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/girvan-estate-australias-tallest-private-home-sold-after-two-years/2012062155213">approximate height of Australia's tallest private home</a>, which sold this week after two years on the market. The Girvan tower was built at a cost of more than $2 million by local Peter Grey atop a hill on a back road between Stroud and Bulahdelah.
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cknowlton-QnEa6ntUYP

The 7 must-know numbers of the week, starting with the potential number of unlisted vacant Melbourne homes

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Eight mortgage brokers have been expelled by the Mortgage &amp; Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) over the course of the 2011-12 financial year.
This is double the number of brokers expelled in the previous year, with the majority of expulsions due brokers engaging in serious misconduct through submitting fraudulent loan applications to lenders.
“The numbers of expelled members are minuscule compared with our total number of 11,200 members, however the number is still double those expelled in the 2010 financial year,” says MFAA chief executive Phil Naylor. “The increased expulsions demonstrate the MFAA's determination to ensure the highest professional standards of our members, as well as a strict and independent disciplinary procedure and very high education standards,” he says. The MFAA has a set of disciplinary rules to deal with complaints of alleged misconduct against an MFAA member, initially involving an external investigating officer, who then may refer the matter to the MFAA Tribunal.
The MFAA Tribunal has the power to impose various sanctions on a member for misconduct, including expulsion from membership of the MFAA. Naylor says mortgage brokers are a vital channel for home loans, with a 42% share of the mortgage market.
“On this basis, we need to enforce strict rules on our members to ensure they deliver the best possible service and customer protection,” he says.
A list of expelled members is provided on the MFAA website.
Since 2008 the MFAA has been publishing reasons for its expulsion decisions.
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