<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 record-setting $5.71 million Surry Hills, Sydney warehouse sale by businessman Neville Miles and his artist wife, Beryl, to a McMahons Point couple topped the prices in the weekend auctions.
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Marketed as arguably Sydney’s finest single-dwelling warehouse, its McGrath selling agents Ben Collier and Andrew Hackett had been seeking $5 million plus for the Bennett Place warehouse (pictured above) which dates back to the 1870s.
There was a $5.5 million reserve on the backstreet warehouse, which had been extensively renovated by Hare + Klein since the 247-square-metre holding last sold at $3.1 million in early 2009.
The previous Surry Hills warehouse record holder was sold late last year by entrepreneur Duncan Burns for $4 million through D'Leanne Lewis of Laing + Simmons Double Bay and Shannan Whitney of BresicWhitney.
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When the Riley Street property (pictured above) was listed in August, the agents hoped it would fetch more than $5 million.
It’s a 297-square-metre Riley Street block.
The bachelor pad-style abode had a three-level configuration for one person with 750 square metres of living space. On one wall at its open for inspection was a Burns Philp poster of the company that was formed in the 1870s and originally concentrated on Australian passenger and cargo coastal trade.
It’s been bought by Robert Willis, who has recently put it up for rent at an undisclosed price. The BresicWhitney ads suggest a $15,200 bond is required.
It had enormous open-plan living and dining zones, a custom-fitted home cinema, a private outdoor area with a heated plunge pool.
Its basement was a 10-car garage.
While the facade of the original building remains, its interior was rebuilt seven years ago after Burns bought the property for $500,000 in 1994.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Surry Hills millionaires show a flair for pricey warehouse conversions 

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Franchisees who quit Refund before its collapse in October and in the period up until the proposed sale to State Home Loans as well as other unsecured creditors will receive just 10¢ out of every dollar owed to them if the sale to State Home Loans goes ahead.
Those franchisees who have continued to operate while the company has been in administration (and must wait until March for commission payments dating before October 2011) have effectively been asked to pledge their allegiance to State Home Loans despite not knowing anything about the potential new owner.
A letter sent out to creditors February 23 and seen by Property Observer says the deal with State Home Loans is reliant on “as many continuing franchisees as possible to agree to operate under the franchise and to sign a deed of acknowledgement and release”.
By signing the deed franchisees acknowledge “that they will not hold State Home Loans responsible for any debts owed to franchisees or any breaches of the franchise agreement by Refund Home Loans Pty Ltd”.
Franchisees who agree to continue operating will receive all outstanding upfront and trail commissions in full.
Franchisees who terminate or who have terminated their agreement (and who do not rescind this termination and agree to sign a new franchise agreement) will lose any rights to their loan books, with all commissions earned by them in writing loans collected by the administrators and distributed first to the secured creditor, which is owed $2.4 million, and then to employees of Refund, who are owed $313,000.
Any commissions owed by unsecured franchisees will be unsecured claims.
Administrators SV Partners estimate a dividend of 10.32% will be paid to unsecured creditors and terminated franchisees.
Franchisees have been left in the dark as to whether the Refund name will remain, whether any changes to the business model or structure will be made, what support they will receive, what advertising will be undertaken and what levies will be imposed on them.
Information about how State Home Loans will run the business will only be revealed once the sales contract has been signed.
The letter sent out by SV partners also does not provide any information about the aggregator, which will take over from Choice Aggregation Services in paying out future commission payments – the lifeblood of a mortgage broker’s business.
Property Observer understands that creditors and franchisees are extremely disappointed at the proposed sale and the length of time it has taken to find a buyer.
A creditor who wishes to remain anonymous has told Property Observer the information provided by the administrators and the general circumstances surrounding the outcome have caused considerable anger among creditors.
“The administrators have twice extended the time for obtaining a result on the basis that there were, at one stage, some seven credible expressions of interest. The indicated result – in terms of the forecast return to creditors – does not match that claim.
“The extension also added considerably to the fees of the administrators.”
Little is known about State Home Loans, which only received a credit licence a little over a year ago, does not appear to have a website and is not a member of either the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia or the Finance Brokers Association of Australia, the two main industry bodies.
Property Observer has contacted the administrators for comment but had not received a response at the time of publishing.
 
 
 
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lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Former Refund franchisees and creditors to get 10¢ on the dollar in proposed sale 

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One of the Riverina’s original sheep stations, Thelangerin, which hit the market 140 years after its last sale, has been sold pre-auction.
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Held by the McFarland family since 1872, Thelangerin is a 21,095-hectare holding near Hay.
Its Ray White Rural Deniliquin selling agent Jeff Shand confirmed its sale, but said the sale details could not be disclosed.
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The property started with the issue of a land grant of 640 acres (259 hectares) for lot one in the parish of Thellangering to Scottish pastoralist John Peter in 1867.
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Thelangerin passed briefly to the McVean family before being acquired by Captain Andrew McFarland and his brother, Robert, in 1872.
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial;" src="/images/stories/thelangerin3.jpg">
The run as a whole originally comprised 47,000 acres (19,020 hectares).
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Its original homestead dates from the 1860s and was added to in 1875 and again in 1888 during the great 1880s wool and land boom.
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Thelangerin, which fronts about 50 kilometres of the Lachlan River, is rated to carry 11,700 dry sheep equivalents.
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Thelangerin has a history of rice crops and cereals including oats, barley and wheat, as well as winter pasture.
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Thelangerin is positioned on the river adjoining three newly created National Parks. It was briefly listed in mid-2010 with $220-plus hopes per hectare.
 
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Riverina sheep station Thelangerin finds new owner after 140 years

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Former model Simone Warne-Callahan has relisted her clifftop Mornington Peninsula retreat, Clahane.
The former wife of cricketer Shane Warne wants $1.5 million plus for the four-bedroom, 332-square-metre Arthurs Seat house this time.
She’d initially sought $2 million in early 2010, which was subsequently revised to $1.59 million-plus hopes.
It was last traded in 2008 at $1,225,000.
The 4,700-square-metre property comes with self-contained guest accommodation, tennis court and swimming pool. There’s a 100,000-litre water tank that services the established gardens.
There are sweeping views towards the CBD and over the Mornington Peninsula from the renovated single-level Scenic Place house, which had its Fasham-Johnson-makeover done before its last sale.
It’s listed through Harcourts Rosebud agent Grant McConnell, who will put Clahane to March 24 auction.
Callahan, a former model and Dancing with the Stars contestant (2006), now partners with part-time model Toby Roberts, son of 1958 Brownlow medallist Neil Roberts.
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Simone Warne hopes third listing lucky for Mornington Peninsula retreat: Title Tattle

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Well-known Cooma livestock and property agent Bill Wilkinson has been jailed for an eight-month non-parole period after being found guilty of six offences of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception involving the funds of his business clients.
Bill Wilkinson of Bill Wilkinson Agencies Pty Ltd (BWA) was sentenced by magistrate Chris Bone earlier this month.
A statement of facts tendered to the court said that eight creditors of BWA suffered a total loss of $1,294,576.
It was estimated that Wilkinson advanced $3.7 million to Denis Fing, an Australian citizen in Africa according to the Cooma Monaro Express, with no return over a five-year period in a Ponzi scheme.
Wilkinson deposited the money into what was described as a Nigerian loans or a Ponzi scheme, over the five years although the offences for which he was jailed occurred between February and October 2010. Fing has been named as involved in lottery fraud in international websites.
The court heard that Wilkinson through his business, BWA, continued to make deposits into the scam, which was the motivating factor for his deceitful and fraudulent conduct.
In addition to BWA creditors, Wilkinson borrowed $700,000 from his daughter to support his deposits into the scam, which he also lost.
His company was placed into administration in October 2010, with 11 of the 22 creditors attending the initial creditors meeting. As he had been in the livestock agency business for more than 40 years, most of them in Cooma, the news of the agency’s collapse sent shock waves through the industry. Chief executive of the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association Andy Madigan could recall only two other cases in the last 35 years.
The creditors included Braidwood Cattle Co, which claimed $164,000. Clea Patroral Company was listed as being owed $240,000. EBH Pty was listed as being owed $222,000, the NAB was owed $340,000, South Bukalong Pastoral was listed as being owed $279,000 and the estate of the late Charlie Mueller listed as being owed $151,000.
Wilkinson will be due for release on October 9, 2012.
Wilkinson, who made full admissions and was very remorseful, was unable to attend the initial creditors’ meeting due to ill health.
He had worked in the industry for 44 years and had traded as Bill Wilkinson Agencies since February 1993.
Cooma liquidator Chris Chamberlain made brief contact with Denis Fing but has since been able to contact him <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=195147">after reports that he had been allegedly kidnapped in Nigeria</a>.
It is understood Bill Wilkinson was among many Australian victims of the Ponzi scheme.
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NSW livestock and property agent caught in Nigerian Ponzi web gets eight months' jail

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<img src="/images/stories/killara.jpg">
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The new chief executive at the Bank of Queensland Stuart Grimshaw and Susanne Grimshaw have listed their Killara residence following his posting to the Bank of Queensland. Grimshaw, who paid $3.5 million in 2003 for the 1,929-square-metre Fiddens Wharf Road estate, started out in the ANZ graduate program in 1983, before spending two years as a teller.  He left the Commonwealth in 2009 to head up the $2 billion institutional funds house Caledonia. More than $4 million is being quoted by its listing agent Scott Farquhar at McGrath Lindfield.  Stuart Grimshaw doesn’t yet appear to have purchased any new Brisbane home, but he has owned north of the border since 2001 given his $1.15 million Noosa acquisition.
<img src="/images/stories/keposstredfern2.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Peter Everett, who was the ebullient host of Ready Steady Cook, the Channel Ten afternoon cooking show, has sold his East Redfern residence (pictured above and below) for $1.4 million through Pauline Goodyer and Brighid Fitzsimons at GoodyerDonnelley. The stately Victorian terrace retains its original façade, but the interior of the house has been completely rebuilt by a master builder. Everett, who has maintained his hand at interior décor, had bought the Kepos Street terrace for $780,000 in 2004.
<img src="/images/stories/keposstredfern.jpg">
It now comes with three bedrooms and two bathrooms following its substantial renovation in 2008. Goodyer had been seeking $1.35 million since Christmas for the three level terrace. Everett’s dumping from the Channel 10 show still resonates through the industry as David Knox at the TV Tonight website wrote earlier this month that Colin Lane replacing Peter Everett had been “a move that generated a huge backlash from the audience.”
<img src="/images/stories/lancaster.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">The veteran radio industry executive Brad March, who now heads Marchmedia, has his oceanfront Dover Heights clifftop (pictured above and below) listed for sale through Ray White Double Bay agent Michael Finger. About $5.5 million is expected at its March 22 auction. The six-bedroom Lancaster Road house is set on a 708 square metre block with a pool. It’s been his home since he paid $2 million in 1998. 
<img src="/images/stories/lancaster2.jpg">
Over the years March identified key talent including Wendy Harmer, Andrew Denton, Amanda Keller, Sonia Kruger, Eddie McGuire, Rove McManus, Jamie Dunn, Kyle and Jackie O, Adam Hills, Tracy Bartrum, Matt Tilley, Judith Lucy, Dave Hughes, Brigitte Duclos, James Brayshaw, Tony Martin and Mick Molloy, to name a few. March was appointed to the Austereo board in 1996 and its group managing director in 1997 at age 37.
<img src="/images/stories/emdur.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">The Channel 7 Morning Show co-host Larry Emdur and his wife, Sylvie, appear to have withdrawn their redundant Dover Heights residence (pictured above) from sale. It’s fallen off listing websites, and doesn't appear on the McGrath sales list either. Its late 2011 listing followed their recent $6.8 million <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/larry-edmur-says-good-morning-to-breathtaking-cliff-top-property/2011090251402">upgrading to a nearby mansion with dramatic oceanfront cliff-top views over the Pacific Ocean</a>. The Emdurs have owned at Dover Heights since 1994, when they spent $770,000. The McGrath listing agent Bethwyn Richards, who described the listing as a contemporary house remaining true to its classic P and O-style heritage, had estimated it would fetch more than $5 million.
 
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<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Marc Cuming, a private client adviser at Macquarie Bank, and his wife, the philanthropic Caroline Riddell-Clark, have listed their quaintly fronted Elwood (pictured above) residence. The Melbourne couple are seeking $2.75?million plus for the Ormond Esplanade renovated period home. It sits close to the beach on an 800-square-metre block. Kay and Burton agents Alex Schiavo and Ross Savas have the listing. Title tattle recalls the couple's last house was the 1883 LaLuma in Elsternwick.
<img src="/images/stories/brooklyt.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Hollywood production company director Jason Schepisi is looking for $2.4 million for his three-hectare Byron hinterland estate (pictured above) at its April 14 auction through Nicolette van Wijngaarden of Unique Estates. The five-bedroom Newrybar house has three living rooms with interiors by Christian Liaigre, who did the décor for Rosehearty, the Murdoch family’s yacht. There’s a saltwater pool in the three hectare grounds which is a stroll from dining at Harvest Cafe and the day spa at Gaia Retreat. “The owners are relocating to New York immediately and their instructed price guide of only $2.4 million will ensure this stunning estate will sell on or before the auction,” van Wijngaarden said.  Schepisi sold his previous Byron Bay retreat for $2.8 million, which was a Richard Neutra-inspired, Palm Springs-style, three-bedroom Brooklet hinterland house.
<img src="/images/stories/overcliffe.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Bob and Helen Hargreaves, who were the 1985 founders of Le Forge, the hand-forged furniture manufacturers, have listed their historic Victoria Street residence, Overcliffe (pictured above and below). It’s the 1876 Potts Point cottage of master mariner George Kenny. The landmark house was restored by the Fink family, who built a modern rear three-storey extension designed by architects Clinton Murray and Shelley Penn. Leon Fink had secured permission to substantially demolish the timber cottage but then thankfully had second thoughts for the 299-square-metre block. Title Tattle recalls that before Fink it was the barrister Charles Waterstreet who bought the cottage in 1980 for $112,000, selling it reluctantly to the Fink family for $842,000 in 1988. It was the house briefly in the headlines when actress Kate Fitzpatrick unsuccessfully sought Supreme Court orders in 1996 claiming a 10% stake dating back to her relationship with Waterstreet between 1979 and 1982.
<img src="/images/stories/overcliffe2.jpg">
Overcliffe has been listed through Richardson and Wrench agents Jason Boon and Geoff Cox with $3.7 million-plus hopes. It last traded at a somewhat discounted $3.1 million in 2009. Given the marketing appears with photos of wisteria and frangipanis, the agents must have had their cameras posed when the garden was in full bloom.
<img src="/images/stories/pacificrd.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">The Palm Beach property (pictured above) owned by the Goondiwindi cotton farmer David Coulton and his wife Kim – passed in on a vendor bid of $2 million at auction last November – has been sold. They had been seeking $2.15 million through Gordon Archibald of LJ Hooker Newport. “The rural owners of this outstanding property have indicated that they are prepared to meet the market,” the marketing material advised. For many years, the Pacific Road house was the abode of David Coulton's 51-year-old brother, Mark Coulton.
Last week drug charges against Mark Coulton, a well-known Palm Beach identity, were dropped by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Mark Coulton had been charged last October with being the ringleader of a group conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug. The charges were dropped after the police were unable to specify what type of substance or the quantity. Magistrate Graeme Curran said in Downing Centre Local Court he had no doubt there was "something fishy going on", but police jumped the gun by arresting Mark Coulton before establishing what the substance was. Mark Coulton is now asking the police to pay his legal costs. At his October bail hearing last year his barrister Charles Waterstreet said his client had never previously faced drug charges. He was granted bail after his brother-in-law Don Grieve and sister Dixie, a former deputy lord mayor, offered to forfeit $1 million if Mark Coulton failed to comply with his bail conditions. On top of their million-dollar surety, his bail conditions stipulate that Mark Coulton had to live with the couple in their Paddington home until the matter returns to court this month. 
<img src="/images/stories/duffysforest.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">With plans to return to Santa Cruz in the US, Vivian and Richard Arnold have sold their Ken Woolley-designed Duffys Forest residence (pictured above). The four-bedroom house had been listed through the LJ Hooker Terrey Hills agent Kevin Packham with $3.5 million hopes. About $3 million was achieved for the residence set on a 2,044-square-metre fan-shaped block bordering a lake and the fairways and greens of Terrey Hills Golf and Country Club. The cul-de-sac house has a family living area that opens to an outdoor living-dining terrace overlooking the in-ground swimming pool, lake and golf course. It last traded in 2002 at $2.7 million.
 
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<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">The Potts Point investment apartment (pictured above) of actor Russell Crowe – bought for $1.5 million in 2001 – has been relisted for sale. Around $2 million is tipped for the top-floor apartment through Brad Pillinger at Pillinger Property. More than $2 million was being sought on its initial October listing. Crowe was seemingly captivated by charm of Victoria Street – with the western sunlight filtering through the plane tree-lined Parisian-style strip, when it was bought in 2001 from the theatre director Jim Sharman. Sharman had bought it in 1984 for $310,000.
<img src="/images/stories/vicstpotts.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Just up Victoria Street, Walker Corporation’s national sales manager Don Carvalho has listed his Hordern Place investment apartment for March 17 auction.  With Opera House and Harbour Bridge views, the Potts Point unit (pictured above) was bought in 1999 as an investment with holiday rental of $180 to $250 per day for many years and the more recently as a $600 a week-long term rental. It’s a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit with car space list through Matthew Carvalho at BresicWhitney Estate Agents.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/feb24lindag]}
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">It’s the kitchen that truly impresses in the latest offering on Kooyongkoot Road, Hawthorn (pictured above). It’s the cooking domain of well-known foodie Linda George and her husband, Peter, who’s an executive at headhunting firm Talent2. Linda has won numerous awards for her cookbooks. The six-bedroom Italianate Victorian mansion-style residence was constructed after the 1,250-square-metre block cost $855,000 in 1998. It has been listed through Michael Armstrong at Kay and Burton with $6 million-plus hopes. It’s the second major listing on the road in recent weeks, the other being a more pricier offering.
<img src="/images/stories/milsonrd.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Russell Skerritt, the long-time board director of the Australian Nursing Home and Extended Care Association, and his wife, Patricia, have emerged as the buyers of the Cremorne Point apartment (pictured above) sold by investment funds manager Chris Cuffe for about $6.7 million at its private invitation auction in September last year through Belle Property Mosman's Tim Foote. In a boutique secure building on Milson Road at the tip of Cremorne Point, the three-bedroom apartment had been on the market since January, when it was listed with $8.75 million hopes. The 375-square-metre apartment with views to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge traded at $6.05 million in 2003. The Skerritts have sold their nearby Federation home through Foote at a still undisclosed price. It was bought for $3.16 million from the Jaggard jewellery family in 2004. The two-storey, strata-titled terrace built 14 years ago, has 369 square metres of floor space.
<img src="/images/stories/macleayst5.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Mike Crivelli, the chairman of Perennial Investment Partners, and his horticulturist wife, Sue, have sold their Pomeroy, Potts Point apartment (pictured above). It was listed in October last year with price hopes of more than $7 million through Richardson and Wrench agents Jason Boon and Geoff Cox who apparently secured spot on $7 million. The seventh-floor north-east corner four-bedroom, four-bathroom apartment has wide terraces and views of Sydney Harbour. The Crivellis bought the Winten-built apartment off the plan for $4.5 million in 2002 and then they worked with the building's architect, Susan Rothwell, to configure it to their specifications. In 2003 just before its completion the merchant banker sold his Longueville mansion, Kara, after 25 years’ ownership, for $4,237,500.
<img src="/images/stories/mcmasters.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Mark Warburton, who has been head of equity capital markets in Asia for Macquarie Bank and based in Singapore since late 2007, has sold his $2,735,000 at Macmasters Beach property (pictured above) for $2.55 million. The contemporary four-bedroom, three-bathroom beachfront home with views from Second Point to Copacabana Beach last traded in 2008 when it had been on and off the market since late 2006 with $4 million hopes.
<img src="/images/stories/oatley.jpg">
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">Title Tattle aims to tell you first – often before it happens – so the official sale price paid by Ros Oatley-Lambert, the former wife of the former Southcorp wine chief Keith Lambert, for her neighbouring Balmoral harbourfront property, Kahala (architect's impression above), was registered mid-week. It was $19 million with the suggestions it was all about seeking <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/billioniare-oatley-wine-family-snaps-up-kahala-for-the-best-of-balmoral-s-boating-facilities/2011112852575">to improve her garden and boating facilities</a>. The 1,485-square-metre Hopetoun Avenue acquisition was sold by Albert Bertini, the flamboyant property developer. Title Tattle had speculated the price was above $18 million, perhaps just shy of $19 million, when news of its sale broke on Property Observer last November. The subsequent newspaper reports were a little wayward, suggesting it was a $20 million sale through Raine and Horne agent Brendan Warner.
Bertini and his former wife, Heather, bought Kahala from the successful veteran property developer Phil Arnold for $22.5 million in pre-global financial crisis 2007. Arnold paid $380,000 for the estate when it was sold by Lady (Delzie) Hooker, the widow of the real estate tycoon Sir Leslie Hooker, whose ashes are buried on the foreshore rocks. In 1940, Les Hooker paid £3,050 for the property and during the 1950s he built a three-level house and a boatshed. Bertini started works to rebuild the house as well as two pools, garaging for eight cars and a $1 million tunnel with a lift to the boatshed. The Oatley viticulture family, who sold their Rosemount wine business to Fosters in 2001 for $1.4 billion, paid a then record $15.5 million for their Balmoral residence, Rivendell, which has limited boating facilities, when it sold through Richardson and Wrench Mosman agent Robert Simeon. Rivendell is a 2,000-square-metre double block. 
<img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg">And lastly Title Tattle can report another very rare transaction - house swapping. Toni Collette was last week's unusual house swap play at Bronte. This week it's in Bellevue Hill, where David and Jaclyn Gazal have spent $12 million to upgrade to a six-bedroom house on a 2,148-square-metre Victoria Road holding. The sellers, Lloyd and Simone Berger, have then bought the Gazals' smaller house on Fairweather Street for $5 million. Let Title Tattle know if you know of another so we can complete the trifecta!
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Russell Crowe re-lists his Potts Point investment apartment:Title Tattle

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Cookbook queen Donna Hay and her butcher husband, Bill Wilson, have listed the last of their Windsor Street, Paddington, investment terraces.
The Windsor Street investment terrace - which comes in Tabbereresque all-white - was bought for $1.42 million in 2003.
The couple secured $2.15 million when their unrenovated two-bedroom terrace was auctioned in 2009 some three years after it was purchased for $1,035,000.
The couple also own a $3.85 million Watsons Bay residence. They retain another investment property in Holdsworth Street, Woollahra, which was bought for $1,615,000 in 2008 for Hay’s homewares shop.
The March 4 auction listing comes with $2.4 million hopes through McGrath agent James Dack. McGrath has three other Windsor Street listings.
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Cookbook queen Donna Hay serves up seconds for Paddington terrace buyers: Title Tattle

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The REA Group needs to embrace print media, stop competing with majority-owner News Ltd for advertising clients and expect fiercer competition from both online and print competitors, says former senior Telstra executive and RP Data board member Ted Pretty.
In a letter published in Australian Financial Review, Pretty hit back at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/industry-news/fairfaxs-planned-weekly-review-deal-mind-numbing-rea-boss/2012022153487" target="_blank">critical remarks made by REA Group CEO Greg Ellis</a> about the decision by Fairfax, owner of REA’s nearest online rival Domain, to buy 50% of Anthony Catalano’s estate agent industry-driven The Weekly Review.
“When Greg Ellis, CEO of online real estate ad company REA Group says Fairfax’s acquisition of The Weekly Review is frankly beyond him, he is absolutely right. Ellis is a solid guy, but we all learn the hard way that hubris can lead to mistakes,” writes Pretty.
“For real estate unlike the jobs, travel and dining verticals, there is a strong case to be made for a bundled offering of online advertising with high-quality regional/local print, particularly when the local agents own a chunk of the print.”
Petty was group managing director operations at Telstra between 1997 and 2005 and also sat on the board of RP Data Ltd for six years between 1996 and 2011.
He currently sits on the board of Dubai-based Real Estate Investment and Development Information Network, which offers online real estate information services to estate agents in Dubai.
“While it is true that the traditional classifieds are dead, the glossies are not. Property is our biggest asset class and deserves more respect,” he writes.
According to Pretty, REA’s “Achilles’ heel” is its “seemingly unwillingness to embrace its brothers at News to ensure its franchise is unassailable in the long term”.
Pretty expects REA to face challenges as “Fairfax’s Nic Cola seeks to outspend them on advertising the Domain brand… Michael Hannan’s Homehound site is expected to re-emerge with a print strategy, and OntheHouse is enjoying a return to market favour and quietly building its online reach for modest cost.”
He also says the market should also watch out for the “Ray White family’s next steps” – <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/industry-news/sam-white-quits-rea-board-to-focus-on-the-family-business/2012010952996" target="_blank">Sam White recently stepped down as a member of the REA board</a>.
 
 
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REA needs to embrace print media and watch out for competitors: Ted Pretty 

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Real estate group Colliers is urging Australians to take part in its eight-day global giving campaign, which launched yesterday in Australia and more than 60 countries around the world. 
Colliers is the founding sponsor of Everyone Gives, which asks that participants make a small donation to a charity of their choice through the <a href="https://www.everyonegives.org/">Everyone Gives</a> website and then use their social networks to invite friends, co-workers, clients and family to give. 
Real estate group PRD Nationwide tweeted that it had already pledged $112,235 and urged others to "Come on, PLEASE get involved! Spread the word".
“It’s exciting because it’s never been done before,” says John Kenny, Australasia Chief Executive of Colliers International. 
“This isn’t another one-off charity donation,” he says. “This is about enabling individuals to engage their personal connections to give more to the charities they are passionate about, and watch as the power of one donation multiplies.” 
Participants make a small donation – such as $5 – to a charity that’s important to them, tell five friends and ask those friends to each tell five more. 
“One donation becomes five, five becomes 25 and 25 can become hundreds,” Kenny says. 
Those who make donations can track their giving “tree” and that of their friends’ via on the Everyone Gives website.” 
Hundreds of charitable organisations have joined Everyone Gives in advance of the launch including United Way, the Property Industry Foundation Youngcare, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and OzHarvest. 
The entirety of each donation will go directly to the charity a participant selects. If participants are passionate about a particular charity not currently listed on the Everyone Gives website, they can submit this charity by emailing <a href="mailto:info@everyonegives.org">info@everyonegives.org</a>. 
Charities can email <a href="mailto:info@everyonegives.org">info@everyonegives.org</a> to add themselves to the website. 
Those interested can pre-register on the <a href="https://www.everyonegives.org/">Everyone Gives</a> website or follow the event on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EveryoneGives">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.twitter.com/EveryoneGives">Twitter</a> or <a href="https://www.tinyurl/EveryoneGives">LinkedIn</a> for updates.
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Colliers takes the lead on global giving charity drive

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<img alt="400-265774" height="263" width="350" src="/images/stories/2012/400-265774.jpg">
The highest-ever residential sale in New York City closed last week for US$88 million. It was the penthouse apartment at 15 Central Park West, which sold at full asking price.
Ideally situated in the heart of Manhattan, the four-bedroom residence features views of Central Park, a wraparound terrace, an oval bedroom and a study panelled in Brazilian rosewood.
<img alt="400-265772" height="233" width="350" src="/images/stories/2012/400-265772.jpg">
It’s been reported it was sold by a retired American banker to the family of a Russian billionaire – from Sanford I. Weill, the former head of Citigroup Inc., to a trust for Ekatarina Rybolovleva, a 22-year-old college student and daughter of Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian now based in Monaco who made a fortune in potash fertilizer.
The previous record residential sale in Manhattan was the 2006 purchase of a townhouse on East 75th Street by J. Christopher Flowers, a private-equity investor. The largest condo deal was the $51.5 million purchase of a series of apartments at the Plaza Hotel by developer Harry Macklowe in 2007.
<img alt="400-265773" height="233" width="350" src="/images/stories/2012/400-265773.jpg">
Brown Harris Stevens represented both sides of the transaction – senior vice president Kyle W. Blackmon represented the seller, while Maria Torresy, also a senior vice president, represented the buyer.
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