National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsioMLcnjas?si=zq-ys3JuWpfa5hFv" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Australia Post is one of the country’s most trusted institutions, powering one of the largest delivery networks in Australia. As online shopping continues to scale, Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online.

That scale of eCommerce activity has fundamentally changed expectations around how and when parcels arrive, and what happens when someone isn't home.

<h3>Problem solved with Parcel Lockers</h3>

The traditional alternatives to home delivery are far from ideal. Buildings can rely on reception teams to manage deliveries, which introduces ongoing staffing costs and liability concerns. Parcels can be left in common areas, which creates security and aesthetic issues. Or residents are redirected to nearby Post Offices for collection, which shifts the inconvenience rather than solving it.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dVG5ChLHf7E?si=D9hQRGCBuzlSQBqK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The data behind that frustration is significant. Nationally, around 9 per cent of deliveries are carded, meaning the recipient was not home and must collect the parcel from a Post Office. That figure reflects the national average reported between November 2025 and January 2026. In Melbourne, that figure rises to 20 per cent. In high-density living, it climbs again to 28 per cent. In other words, more than one in four deliveries in Melbourne apartment buildings results in a failed first attempt.

<h3>How Parcel Lockers work</h3>

The mechanics are simple. When a parcel arrives, the resident receives a notification either through the Australia Post app or via SMS. They scan a QR code, use their one-time PIN and the compartment opens. The parcel is secure, accessible and removed from the lobby floor.

Located in thoughtfully chosen, easily accessible areas, including external building interfaces, mixed-use precincts or shared communal zones, Parcel Lockers enhance convenience without requiring internal building access or additional operational oversight.

<h3>The scale of the network</h3>

This expansion represents Australia Post's largest investment in parcel infrastructure to date, building on momentum that began in 2011 when the first 24 Parcel Locker sites were introduced.

Today the Australia Post Parcel Locker network spans over 1,400 locations and more than 105,000 individual compartments, with major investment already underway to significantly expand the network further.

<h3>What it means for developers and building operators</h3>

A Parcel Locker bank is free to install and free for residents to use. That removes one of the primary barriers to adoption and shifts the conversation from cost to integration.

Australia Post's preference is to engage with developers during the design phase. That allows Parcel Lockers to be located in a considered, publicly accessible space that works for residents and the broader community. Retrofit is possible, and existing buildings can be assessed, but the strongest results occur when Parcel Lockers are treated as part of the core services plan rather than a bolt-on solution.

While the iconic Australia Post red is widely recognised, Parcel Lockers can also be delivered in more muted palettes such as beige or green to align with architectural intent.

For developers, they offer a tech-forward amenity that meets modern expectations, a reduction in courier congestion and building-management load supporting lower emissions and better ESG outcomes, and a meaningful marketability advantage in high-density, eCommerce-active areas, all at no cost for installation and maintenance, with Australia Post funding the program aside from power access.

<h3>Who's using them</h3>

Generational shopping behaviours show strong, sustained growth across all cohorts. Millennials (27–43) led online spend in 2024, contributing nearly $25 billion. Baby Boomers (60–78) increased their online spend by 17.6 per cent, becoming the fastest-growing adopters. Gen Z (13–26) and Gen X (44–59) continue to lean on delivery services as part of their everyday shopping habits.

Internationally, uptake is even more pronounced. Overseas markets are seeing rapid adoption by both developers and consumers, positioning Parcel Lockers as standard infrastructure in many new residential projects. For Melbourne's development community, this signals a shift in baseline expectations. Just as secure bike storage and dedicated parcel rooms have become more common, integrated Parcel Locker networks may soon be viewed as part of the essential service mix.

<h3>The bigger picture</h3>

Parcel Lockers aren't just a logistics fix. Developers invest heavily in lobby design, materials, lighting and landscaping to shape first impressions. Yet a stack of unattended parcels can undo that effort in an instant. Embedding parcel infrastructure early allows projects to respond to how people actually live today, supporting resident satisfaction, reducing operational strain and aligning with broader community and ESG outcomes.

As Belinda Quinn, Senior Transaction Manager – Retail &amp; Out of Home at Australia Post, puts it, residents increasingly expect delivery solutions that align with real life, are flexible, secure and available whenever they need them.

How Australia Post is solving the parcel problem for apartment living

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Watching The Block last night, the end story was that "everyone was a winner".
The renovators won, the buyers agents won and the TV station won with the ratings, despite paying out a television record $3,165,000 in prizes.
Huge prices were paid for all of the St Kilda townhouses, with the winners Darren and Deanne selling for $835,000 over the reserve price of $1,455,000, or 57% more than what the property was valued at prior to the auction.
Winning a property at auction is a great feeling for buyers, with emotions of triumph and relief. In the following days the reality of a mortgage usually sets in and sometimes with varying degrees of buyers remorse.
Paying a huge price for a property would be fine if property markets were on an endless trajectory upwards. With growth in Melbourne and Sydney over the past few years at continually stratospheric heights, it is hard to blame buyers for thinking that growth will be endless.
For those of us who have been in the property industry for a long time, we know that markets rise, fall and also at times remain steady. We have seen many winners make large capital profits, however we have also seen many losers who have paid too much for their properties at the high end of a boom cycle.
Paying a premium amount for a property is less of an issue if the buyer will have no mortgage, however most people purchasing property do have mortgages and in the current market many have been borrowing a large percentage of the property purchase price.
Which brings us back to the large prices paid for the units in The Block. Now that the cameras have moved out and the production crew and media circus have moved on to other entertainment, the buyers will be preparing for the reality of settlement and paying the remainder due.
Is there any ongoing cachet or prestige for previous Block television properties? The answer in most cases is no.
The truth is that these places were renovated by amateurs finishing properties quickly on limited budgets to meet episode deadlines. Many will have repair and maintenance issues to be addressed, and when resold in the years ahead being a Block property is unlikely to be the sales agents main selling point. At that stage buyers will be more interested in the fundamentals of the property including the quality of the fittings and materials, the location, aspect and natural light, floor plan, noise, and the other important features.
As a buyers agent it was particularly disappointing to see the Melbourne buyers agent's conduct at The Block auctions. The approach appeared to be more concerned about "winning" for their clients regardless of the auction bidding increments made and eventual price paid. Professional buyers agents should be acting in the interests of their clients and often that involves advising them not to proceed with a property or to set a measured maximum price.
If bidding at auction on behalf of a client, it is best to not be continually on the phone to your client during the auction as it is harder to keep a poker face and to concentrate properly, and your competition will find it easier to see when you are nearly finished. We suggest clients have a pre-written maximum bidding amount, which means that our client's amount is determined by a proper price analysis on the property rather than being influenced by the frenzied bids of other buyers.
Henry Wilkinson is principal of buyer's agency <a href="https://www.homesearchsolutions.com.au/" target="_blank">Homesearch Solutions</a>.
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The Block - the real winners and losers: Henry Wilkinson

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The new season of Channel 7's reality renovation program, House Rules, returns to our screens next month. And host Johanna Griggs tells Property Observer that the contestants might have it harder this time than they ever have before.
The show, like some of the other competitive reality television programs currently on television, has tended to stack the competing teams with plenty of renovation professionals, whether plumbers, carpenters or cabinet-makers. But in the upcoming season, Griggs says, there is only one tradie among the competitors.
"They're absolute novices," she says. "They're the least experienced renovators that we ever had."
The results of the casting move, Griggs says, weren't always pretty.
"The first reveal, I said, 'oh dear'. The finishes weren't up to standard, and I was a little worried."
As in previous seasons, the contestants hail from all over Australia. House Rules sees the teams renovate each other's homes according to a set of "house rules", with the winning team having their mortgage paid off.
Among the novice competitors are father and daughter duo Steve and Tiana, from Western Sydney. The other teams will be renovating Steve's current house, which Tiana was raised in. Steve, the oldest competitor in this series, raised Tiana in the three bedroom 1960s brick.
The only team with professional trades skills are Bronik and Corinne, from Victoria. Bronik, a carpenter, lives with his girlfriend, Corinne, in the living room of the 1960s weatherboard.  The couple can't afford to renovate the home, which has only one habitable room.
There are no "baddies" among the contestants this season, according to Griggs.
"They're so lovely," she says.
"It's so hard getting the six homes done, and the six gardens, so there's no luxury of casting anyone who's nasty."
Last season, Tasmanian couple Brook and Grant were largely portrayed as villains. This season, the Tasmanian representatives are Cassie and Matt. Cassie says "the pressure is on" after Tasmanian couples were the first to be eliminated in previous seasons.
They live in a 1960s brick home in Hobart. Cassie works as a pharmacist while Matt is a swimming instructor training to be a P.E. teacher.
Ryan, of Adelaide, lives with his girlfriend and teammate Marlee. He purchased the house four years ago alone, and works two jobs to pay for what the couple calls "the ugliest house in Australia". Marlee works as a travel agent, and sees the competition as way to relieve Ryan's workload.
From Western Australia are married couple Karina and Brian, who have three children. Their house in Geraldton, north of Perth, sits on five acres, with ocean and mountain views. Although they bought it with the intention to renovate, they can't afford to make changes to the 1970s Spanish-style villa. At 42 and 44, they are the oldest team in the season.
While Brian does have some professional trades experience as a qualified timber framer, not all the contestants have an easy time at the beginning of the season, with Griggs saying some don't realise to do things like account for flooring when taking measurements for a room.
"With the first reveal, I was quite in shock at the standard, and maybe that's heartening," she said.
But the teams "improve dramatically"over the course of the season, she says. One of the hardest homes this season, she tells Property Observer, is in the first week, with contestants competing with mould and only one livable room. But Griggs says the house, presumably Corinne and Bronik's, has more than just shock value.
"You've got to remember that the man who owns it is the first man in his family who's ever owned his own home. So he's the most proud human being to own that place, and that's what makes it special."
Another house, she says, is obviously the product of an owner-builder "who just decided to rewrite the laws of building". With structural problems, Griggs calls the house "a basket case from start to finish".
While other renovation shows pitch themselves to a luxury market, Griggs says House Rules is more emotional, and relatable.
"The biggest point of difference is that its their own home," says Griggs.
"They're going to have to live in it."
The season premiere of the new season of House Rules airs on Channel 7 on Tuesday, 5 May.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

House Rules promises the toughest season yet

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The four renovated Block South Yarra apartments that go to auction this week cost $5.69 million when bought in one line in March last year.
There were three bidders, who pushed it to $570,000 over reserve price.
It was bought by The Block production company, Watercress Productions who faced competition from the omnipresent buyer's agent Frank Valentic.
The onsite auction was conducted by Beller Residential's<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5-96mG0oLs" target="_blank"> auctioneer Robert German</a>.
{qtube vid:=p5-96mG0oLs}
The 27 Darling Street property was a three level brick apartment complex which includes 12 apartments (three two bedroom units, three one bedroom units) with 12 undercover parking spaces.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

The Block's South Yarra initial purchase auction

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For those hoping to spin a profit from their properties, are The Block apartments really worth it?
Buyer's advocate and Block judge Frank Valentic has successfully bid on more Block apartments than anyone else, and is planning to do so again at next week's Triple Threat auction.
His clients are mostly investors, renting out their fully furnished Block purchases. Valentic has bid on 16 Block apartments in total over the years, securing four for his clients.
The first was in 2011. 39 Cameron Street in Richmond was the winning renovation for Polly and Waz, with Valentic's investor client paying $855,000. Valentic says it remains the Block purchase with the best value, calling it "the steal of the century".
"We bought it in a downturn market," Valentic tells Property Observer.
"The market peaked in April 2010, then went in a downward spiral for the next two and a half years."
A year and a half into that downward spiral, Polly and Waz's renovation appeared. A tenant who's been renting the property for three years pays $975 a week.
<img src="/images/2015/04/24/richmond%20april%2042%20one.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-rent/house/vic/richmond/?adid=7185085" target="_blank">39 Cameron St, Richmond</a> (currently managed by Advantage Property Consulting)
<ul>
<li>Renovated by Polly and Waz</li>
<li>Purchased by an investor in August 2011 for $855,000.</li>
<li>Currently leased for $975 per week</li>
<li>5.9% yield</li>
</ul>
The house has been recently valued at $1.1 million, following a resales of neighboring Block properties. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-richmond-107575775" target="_blank">37 Cameron Street</a>, which was renovated by Josh and Jenna, was purchased for $1 million at the televised auction, and resold in 2013.
Rod and Tania's renovation at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-richmond-114996643" target="_blank">43 Cameron Street</a> also resold in 2013, for $1,038,000. The result was $216,000, or 23.4%, above its 2011 price of $922,000.
The next Block property Valentic secured for a client was the Sky High apartment renovated by Western Australian couple Matt and Kim. The apartment at 201/142 Park Street in South Melbourne cost the buyer $1,455,000. The downsizer originally lived in the apartment, before moving out and renting it for $1,600 a week, or a 5.7% yield.
<img src="/images/2015/04/24/south%20melbourne%20april%2024%20one.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-rent/apartment-unit-flat/vic/south-melbourne/?adid=9028861" target="_blank" style="font-size: 12.1599998474121px; line-height: 1.3em;">201/142 Park St, South Melbourne </a>
<ul>
<li>Renovated by Matt and Kim</li>
<li>Purchased in July 2013 for $1,455,000 by a downsizer</li>
<li>Now used as an investment property, leased for $1,600 per week</li>
<li>5.7% yield</li>
</ul>
Valentic says his clients are attracted to the rental yields on offer at The Block apartments, with all of the Block investment properties he has secured yielding over 5%. According to SQM Research, the Melbourne implied gross rental yield for a unit is sitting under 4.5%.
"I think The Block itself has a pretty successful formula and the locations they're choosing are blue chip suburbs," says Valentic.
"They are bulletproof suburbs."
Melbourne Block series have been filmed in Prahran, Albert Park, South Yarra, South Melbourne and Richmond.
"You're up there in some of the best 10 suburbs in Melbourne in terms of price growth, demand, amenities, cafes and lifestyle," says Valentic. The tight supply of properties each season also boosts their value.
"It is a boutique block, they're only building four or five," Valentic explains.
"So each has land value – you're buying one quarter of a block of land in South Yarra or Prahran."
Perhaps the most "bulletproof" ofthe Melbourne Block properties so far has been the Dux Theatre in Albert Park, where The Block: Fans v Faves series was filmed. There, the renovators made record profits as Block property <a href="/news/substance-over-style-as-chantelle-and-steve-win-the-block-2014-fans-v-faves">prices reached $2.47 million</a>.  That's how much Valentic bid for the winning apartment, renovated by Steve and Chantelle. Unlike some of his other Block purchases, 1/47 O'Grady St, Albert Park was bought by owner-occupiers – a young couple with a baby.
<img src="/images/2015/04/24/albert%20park%20april%2024%20one.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-albert+park-116364403" target="_blank">1/47 O'Grady St, Albert Park</a>
<ul>
<li>Renovated by Steve and Chantelle</li>
<li>Purchased in April 2014 for $2,470,000 by owner-occupiers</li>
</ul>
Valentic again secured the most expensive apartment on offer last season, at The Block Sky High in Prahran. Simon and Shannon's apartment at 4/125 High Street sold for $1.9 million to an investor from Kilsyth, who plans to move in when their kids are older and leave home. Tenants were secured within a week of settlement.
<img src="/images/2015/04/24/prahran-paril-24-one.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.4-125highstreetprahran.com" target="_blank">4/125 High St, Prahran</a>
<ul>
<li>Renovated by Simon and Shannon</li>
<li>Purchased Oct 2014 for $1,900,000 by investor who will move in when kids older</li>
<li>Rented for $1,900 per week</li>
<li>Yield 5.2% (plus $69,000 in depreciation)</li>
</ul>
With the apartment renting out for $1,350 per week and depreciation reaching $69,000, Valentic says his clients are more or less positively geared.
The <a href="/expert-insights/finance/the-block-triple-threats-depreciation-tax-treat-for-investors">tax benefit</a> that comes with purchasing newly renovated, fully furnished apartments is a major cash flow boost for investors.
And although the judges may put a big premium on the rugs and fancy furniture that litter the Block properties, Valentic says the $120,000 or so worth of furnishing aren't a priority for his clients. Instead, they're interested in capital growth, rental returns, and their costs.
"That's what my investors are looking for," says Valentic. "Buying in a bulletproof suburb where you find cash flow positive properties."
Note: This article originally incorrectly stated that Simon and Shannon's apartment was being rented for $1350 per week. This error has been corrected.
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With these returns, would you buy a Block apartment?

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GUEST OBSERVATION
When The Block’s Buyers Jury looked at contestants’ staircases and studies, there was plenty potential for improvement.
With small timeframes, the contestants struggled to finish. However, the scores were a major reflection on what happens when Blockheads present judges with unfinished rooms.
The silver lining of seeing unfinished rooms was that we were able to quickly identify issues that buyers may have with the structure and potential use of the spaces.
<img src="/images/2015/04/22/Judges%20and%20Shelly%20on%20stairs.jpg" alt="">
For instance, I felt déjà vu when entering Tim &amp; Anastasia’s breakaway space. It was definitely an opportunity lost when they didn’t capitalise on the large area given. If they had instead turned the lounge into another bedroom, they would have created a point of difference that may have attracted an increased price with the buyers come auction day.
Dea &amp; Daz would have also benefit by thinking about the functionality of their study’s space and how people would use it as a home office.
Something else that could have been reconsidered were Charlotte &amp; Josh’s shutters in their study, as they were an expensive choice that may put off investors. Because of the positioning of their desks, the shutters were an impractical aesthetic feature that served little function. On top of that, because the shutters were in a position that made them hard to clean, it could mean that maintaining them can be a potential drain on the hip pocket.
As auction day fast approaches, it would be interesting to see how much of our advice the contestants have taken on.
Contestant scores from the Buyers Jury:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte &amp; Josh – 21.5</li>
<li>Tim &amp; Anastasia – 11.5</li>
<li>Ayden &amp; Jess - 27</li>
<li>Dea &amp; Daz - 15</li>
</ul>
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.
Photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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When ‘form over function’ doesn’t pay off: The Block's Greville Pabst

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Australia's most expensive residential land market is the Richmond-Tweed region in New South Wales.
The latest HIA-CoreLogic RP Data Residential Land Report provided by the Housing Industry Association and CoreLogic RP Data, signals a growing divide between demand and available supply in vacant residential land.
“The number of residential land sales fell by 11.8% over the year to the December 2014 quarter,” said HIA chief economist, Harley Dale.
“In contrast, the weighted median residential land value increased by 2.8% in the December 2014 quarter to be up by 6.3% over the year.
“The increase in the weighted median value was driven primarily by Sydney, with significant growth also evident for Perth and Melbourne. As with all aspects of this housing cycle, there are wide divergences in land market conditions around the country – this is clearly evident across the six capital cities and 41 regional areas covered in the Residential Land Report.
“There is insufficient shovel-ready land in some markets and this is placing undue upward pressure on residential land values. Construction of detached houses looks to be peaking for the cycle, but there is unrealised demand out there because of that lack of readily available and affordable land."
According to CoreLogic RP Data research director, Tim Lawless, the number of vacant residential land sales has been trending lower since mid-2013 and concurrently, median land prices have been rising to new record highs.
“The opposing trends are a clear sign that demand is outweighing supply which is pushing land prices higher.
"Higher land prices ultimately lead to less affordable homes - it is the high cost of vacant land which significantly contributes to the increasing cost of housing.
"Ideally we should be seeing more land brought to the market and sold during this period of low borrowing costs.” 
<img src="/images/2015/04/21/hia-april-21-one.jpg" alt="">
Australia's least expensive land markets can be found in the South East region of South Australia, and the Mersey-Lyell and Southern regions of Tasmania.
<img src="/images/2015/04/21/hia-april-21-two.jpg" alt="">
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Australia's most expensive (and cheapest) regional land markets

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The three buyer's agents who have been providing advice to the contestants on The Block Triple Threat are in a unique position.
Usually tasked with representing potential buyers, Greville Pabst, Nicole Jacobs and Frank Valentic have also been helping out the vendors, the Channel 9 television series production company giving advice to the contestants each week on what buyers value in a home.
When <a href="/expert-insights/building/leading-melbourne-buyers-agents-join-the-block-triple-threat">it was announced</a> at the beginning of this season that the buyer's advocates would be joining the show, many speculated that the move was intended to prevent a repeat of last season's dismal auction results.
However, although at least two of the three buyer's agents will be representing bidders at the auction on 28 April, they insist there is no conflict of interest.
Nicole Jacobs, the founder of Jacobs Buyer Advocates, tells Property Observer that the situation is not too different from a buyer's advocates usual duties.
"Each week we gave advice as buyer advocates as to whether the couples were meeting the expectations of the South Yarra market; finishes, floor plan and fixtures," said Jacobs.
"All the couples engaged selling agents early on in the process. This campaign is no different to any other where we might be asked for advice or for feedback from a selling agent (acting for their vendor) on what we think about the property from a buyer's perspective."
The Real Estate Buyers Agent Association of Australia (REBAA) defines buyer's agents as "licensed professionals who specialize in searching, locating, evaluating and negotiating the purchase of property on behalf of buyers".
"They do not sell real estate," reads the REBAA website. "They are engaged independently and paid for by the buyer to act on their behalf. The key difference between a selling agent and buyer's agent is who they represent as, by law, an agent cannot act for and accept a commission from both parties in the same transaction."
Paul Bird of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) says the role of the buyer's agents as judges does not quite reflect a selling agent's role.
"Under the estate agents act, you can't act as both a selling agent and a buyer's agent concurrently," says Bird.
"But this particular example is a little bit different, in that with The Block, there are some people who are giving a bit of advice to those who are looking to put the properties to market. It's really just a bit of interior design and other advice by these people."
"It is slightly different to acting as both a selling agent and a buying agent," Bird explains.
"If you were employed by the vendor to sell a house and you were wanting to bid at auction or have an associate bid on the auction, it would be a breach of the [Estate Agents Act 1980]."
He says the situation is "slightly outside of the standard clarity in the Act around being both a selling agent and a buyer's agent."
Greville Pabst clarifies that the contestants are not the actual vendors, although they stand to profit from participating in The Block. "Our role on the show is very specific – help the contestants maximise the appeal of their properties to prospective buyers," says Pabst.
"More interest in the properties means greater competition, which may result in a better sales result for the properties, and hence what contestants walk away with on auction day. However, it is important to acknowledge that in this case the vendor is in fact Watercress Productions, not the contestants."
Advantage Property Consulting's Frank Valentic, who has successfully bid on multiple Block properties before, will be attempting to do so again later this month. He notes the separation of his role as a Block judge and his role as a buyer's advocate, with his judging role wrapping up before Christmas.
"From Christmas my hat was on as a buyer's advocate," says Valentic. Jacobs also says she is well and truly working only as a buyer's agent in the lead up to the auction," she says.
"We are now focusing on pre-auction meetings with our clients and sharing with them the extensive research that we have done on each of the asset classes within the South Yarra market so they can make a fully informed decision."
Valentic explains how his judging role worked last year.
"All we're really doing is coming on and giving some tips from the buyer's perspective from what the buyers are looking for," he said.
"They've still got their selling agents guiding them and representing them."
His clients will have their budgets come auction day and he will be set on securing the properties for the best prices, while "the agents are going to be trying to sell at the highest price," says Valentic.
According to Pabst, he's received "a lot of interest" from potential buyers, especially investors. "My role as a Buyers' Advocate is to advise my clients on how to select and successfully purchase property that will deliver high capital growth. What I can tell you is we have received a lot of interest from a number of potential buyers, particularly investors due to the tax depreciation and the rental income potential of each of the four South Yarra apartments.
"While the Buyers Jury provided guidance to Block contestants throughout the renovations, on auction day we represent the buyers and their best interests"
At the end of the day, says Jacobs, the buyer's agents are only there for the buyers.
"We hope all the couples get the outcome they are looking for but ultimately, we are there to represent our buyers' interests," she says.
Note: This article has been amended to include Greville Pabst's comments. 
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No conflict of interest over judging, say Block South Yarra buyer's agents

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If you're interested in buying the townhouse renovated by Deanne and Darren on The Block Triple Threat, you can expect to pay $1,654,000, according to price prediction website realAs.
The website has released its predictions for the upcoming South Yarra auctions, which are based on a tightly-held algorithm.
Deanne and Darren's renovation at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119444079" target="_blank">4/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured above) is likely to be the most expensive of the four properties, with an advertised price of $1.5 million.
RealAs predicts the next most expensive to be Josh and Charlotte's at 1/27 Darling Street. It tips the triple storey townhouse will go for $1.55 million, with an advertised price of $1.4 million.
Jess and Ayden and Tim and Anastasia's apartments seem to be neck and neck, with RealAs predicting a $1,446,000 price tag for Tim and Anastasia's at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/27-darling-street-south-yarra-vic-3141-2011881553" target="_blank">2/27 Darling Street</a>. Jess and Ayden's <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119448343" target="_blank">unit three</a> is only $20,000 behind, at $1,426,000, despite the $100,000 price gap between their quoted prices.
<ul>
<li>1/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.4 million RealAs: $1.55 million
<ul>
<li>2/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.3 million RealAs: $1.446 million
<ul>
<li>3/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.2 million RealAs: $1.426 million
<ul>
<li>4/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.5 million RealAs: $1.654 million
According to RealAs, their average prediction is within 5% of the final sale price of properties, and close to 90% of their predictions fall within a 10% margin of the final sale price.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/the-block-townhouses-tipped-to-sell-for-15m-plus/story-fndba8uq-1227298820902" target="_blank">News Corp earlier this week</a>, Wakelin Property Advisory director Paul Nugent also backed Deanne and Darren's apartment to take out the highest price, pricing it between $1.6 million and $1.8 million.
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Darren and Dee's renovation tipped to top The Block and sell for more than $1.6 million

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The two rooms that make the biggest impact on potential buyers are the bathroom and kitchen.
The Block last night saw the Buyers’ Jury inspecting contestant’s kitchens, which ranged from modern glamour to stylishly practical.
The kitchen is a place of gathering, where families can congregate and spend a lot of their time together. This is what makes them so integral to the living space.
Ensuring the kitchen fits in well with the rest of the house is integral to how attractive a property is to buyers.
Ayden &amp; Jess’ and Tim &amp; Anastasia’s connecting terrace featured a very on trend indoor-outdoor kitchen area. Ayden &amp; Jess had a particularly good flow between the living room and the kitchen, which worked to increase the property’s warmth. Both kitchens are likely to attract the attention of potential buyers thanks to their innovative approach.
What renovators can also learn from the Blockhead’s kitchens is to be mindful of balancing style and practicality.
Tiling and grout in the kitchen is just that little more difficult and expensive to maintain, which can sometimes be a turn off for potential buyers. In some kitchens, using tiles as a replacement for splashback was a great aesthetic feature, however can potentially put off buyers looking to keep investment portfolio at the lowest possible cost to maintain.
Ayden &amp; Jess’s clever use of a butler pantry added incredible value to the kitchen as it provides space and hides appliances. Their open shelving is also on trend – a great little tip for budding renovators.
Here is what the buyers’ advocates thought of the contestants’ kitchens:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte &amp; Josh – 22.5</li>
<li>Tim &amp; Anastasia – 20.5</li>
<li>Ayden &amp; Jess – 25.5</li>
<li>Dea &amp; Daz (pictured above) – 28</li>
</ul>
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.
Photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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Kitchen and bathrooms make the biggest impact on buyers: The Block's Greville Pabst

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<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
The NSW Land and Environment Court has made a ruling on minimum apartment sizes which developers dread could have implications for project profits.
The decision, Botany City Council v Botany Developments Pty Ltd (No 2), was handed down by Justice Sheehan last week after council was represented by L&amp;E Court veteran Tim Hale SC.
It ruled that the larger sizes set out in State Environmental Planning Policy 65 were the most appropriate for residential flat design for the 72-86 Bay Street project. The property had been bought from UNSW for $7.1 million in 2011.
It shocked the industry as smaller apartment sizes have been typically accepted by the industry and consent authorities.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
Currently developers operate under the "rule of thumb" that the minimum size for a one-bedroom apartment internal space is 50 square metres.
But the court ruled the minimum was too small.
Bigger apartment rules will affect unit mix and apartment types, project feasibilities, and the general layout and design of apartment projects.
The Botany case was over a proposed development of 158 apartments, where some apartments fell below the official rules by a square metre or two.
</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-paras section">
The proposed apartment sizes, with one-bedroom units at between 50.7 square metres (internal and 8 square metre balcony) and 67.5 square metres plus balcony, did not meet the minimum standards of Botany City's Development Control Plan and Botany City rejected the proposal.
The developer went to the Land and Environment Court and won in January 2014 because the sizes exceeded those set out in the state environmental planning policy's rules of thumb.
But Botany Council then appealed that decision, arguing at the May 2104 hearing that the key metric was the residential flat development code table, not the rules of thumb. 
Their appeal asserted that the Commissioner erred in granting consent for a development in which the unit sizes did not meet the minimums prescribed in The City of Botany Bay Development Control Plan 2013 (“the DCP”) where dwellings within residential flat buildings must be designed to provide the following minimum internal areas:
<ul>
<li>studio: 60m²</li>
<li>1 bedroom: 75m²</li>
<li>2 bedrooms: 100m²</li>
<li>3 bedrooms: 130m²</li>
<li>4 bedrooms: 160m²</li>
</ul>
Dwelling size means the area inside the enclosing walls of a dwelling but excludes wall thickness, vents, ducts, staircases and lift wells.
It was common ground that the apartments do not meet these unit sizes as the development was comprised of 1 bedroom units of areas between 50.7m² and 67.5m², its two bedroom units between 78.1m² and 93.8m², and the bedroom units between 98.1m² to 98.9m².
The so-called rule  of Thumb for Apartment Layout in the [RFD Code] state:
 
<div>
<table border="1"><tbody>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">Apartment Type</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.01 Studio</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">38.5m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203"> </td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">6m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.02 One bedroom,</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">50m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">cross through</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">8m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.03 One bedroom</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">62m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">Masionette(sic)/loft</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">9.4m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.04 One bedroom</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">63.4m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">single aspect</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">10m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.05 Two bedroom</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">80m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">corner</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">11m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.06 Two bedroom</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">89m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">cross through</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">21m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.07 Two bedroom</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">90m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">cross-over</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">16m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.08 Two bedroom</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">121m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">corner with study</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">33m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203">
03.09 Three bedroom</td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">Internal Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">124m²</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="203"> </td>
<td valign="middle" width="127">External Area</td>
<td valign="middle" width="103">24m²</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
 
 
</div>
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