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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First Home Buyers

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Generation-Y first home buyers are helping drive a population surge in the northern Gold Coast’s Pimpama, which was also Australia’s fastest-growing regional suburb.
Pimpama recorded the fastest growth rate of any area outside of an Australian capital city between 2014 and 2015, with the number of residents growing by 20% in that period, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Compared with Pimpama, Greater Brisbane witnessed an increase of 1.6% while it was 1.2% for the whole of Queensland.
According to QM Properties general sales manager Damien Ross, first home buyers accounted for almost a quarter of buyers at its Pimpama-based Pacific Cove development, which will add 507 new homes to the suburb on completion.
“104 sites of between 400 and 800 square metres have sold at Pacific Cove since launching to the market nine months ago, with 28% of our first home buyers aged under 30 and another 56% aged between 30 and 40,” Ross said.
“The owner-occupier focus has been a major drawcard, particularly for those buyers wanting to make their first home their forever home, with room to grow and start a family in an estate with a real sense of community.”
Prices for a 402 sqm land lot start at $239,500, while a four-bedroom home and land package costs $399,000. The relative affordability has also made the prospect of leaving the rental market for the first time a real possibility for first home buyers, added Ross.
“Buyers are also excited about the new infrastructure planned for the area, including new schools and the nearby Coomera Town Centre shopping hub.”
QM Properties’ current investment in the Gold Coast region includes more than 2,500 home sites across five estates – Pacific Cove, Coomera Retreat, Coomera Waters, Coomera Quays and the soon-to-launch Tuxedo Junction at Maudsland.
Across the portfolio, 61.7% of buyers have come from the Gold Coast, with 7.5% from Logan City and 5.3% from Ipswich.
“Located 40 minutes to the Brisbane CBD and 20 minutes to Surfers Paradise, both Pimpama and Coomera have proven popular suburbs with those seeking the flexibility to commute to either local or city-based work,” Ross said.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

First home buyers drive Australia’s fastest-growing regional suburb

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One in three respondents to a recent survey who don’t own a home say they need parental assistance to get onto the property ladder.
The survey of 1,006 people nationwide, conducted for non-bank lender State Custodians Home Loans, found 29 per cent of Gen Y aged 18 – 34 say they’re relying on their parents to either gift or lend them money towards the deposit and 26 percent are waiting for their inheritance.
Some 37 per cent consider they will have to move back in with mum and dad to save enough money for a deposit.
Joanna Pretty, State Custodians General Manager said everyone would agree it’s a good idea for adult children to be as financially independent as possible, but the reality is more and more young people are simply not able to get ahead in property without some kind of financial assistance from their parents.
"Whilst new financial year budgetary measures will help first home buyers a little, the reality of scraping together a deposit will still be challenging," she said.
“Being able to salary sacrifice for a deposit from pre-tax pay and use voluntary superannuation contributions up to $30,000 towards a deposit on a home will provide some benefit for some buyers. However, across-the-board first home buyer grants would be far more helpful as far as a lump sum goes.
"Four in 10 respondents (39 per cent) say saving wages from their current job would realistically be the main way they will get the money together for a deposit, whilst 28 per say that money saved from a new, more highly-paid job would get them into property.
"This is a tough challenge, considering that Australian wage growth is currently at a low. The ABS reports that the Australian average annual wage is $78,832, and that the average first home buyer loan across all states to June 2016 was $335,000.
"To come up with a 20 per cent loan of $67,000, a person on the median wage with an after-tax monthly pay packed of $4,434, would need to put aside $1,116 every month for five years. That’s on top of what they’d be paying for rental costs and other expenses, and given that in some cities many loans would be much higher than the average.
“It is definitely tough to buy in metro areas these days, especially if you’re struggling to make ends meet on your current wage.
“The deposit requirements are significant, even if you’re an expert saver. Unfortunately buying your ‘forever home’ right off the bat is not always a feasible or quick option like it has been in the past."
For those struggling to stump up a deposit, and tackle the property ladder Ms Pretty has this advice: 
<ul>
<li>Save as much as you possible can for a deposit. It takes sacrifice and real commitment.</li>
<li>When you are first starting out it’s important to keep your mind open about the type of property that you choose to buy, and the area it’s in.</li>
<li>Have a plan in mind to upgrade or move to other areas over time, as your budget allows and the property value increases.</li>
<li>Consult experts to help you with your planning so you get to your dream home sooner</li>
</ul>
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

One in three need parental help to get onto the property ladder: Survey

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Building a home can be substantially cheaper for first home buyers than buying one amid the trend that shows home building is at its highest in recent history, says new research by property ‘matchmaking’ service Houseandland.com.au. 
The study, conducted in the last month, comes at a time when potential first home owners are looking to take advantage of concessionally taxed deposits within superannuation as part of the 2017/18 budget. 
The government has provisioned topping of the superannuation savings by $30,000 which can then be used towards a home deposit in a move to encourage first home buyers. 
Figures from houseandland.com.au show that building a home is on average 13.9% more affordable than buying a move-in-ready home ($361,096 and $419,400 respectively), whilst house and land packages can produce an 11.1% saving.
The report also found that a quarter (25%) of consumers intending to buy their first home within the next five years will build their own home. Amongst these first time home builders, almost three quarters (74%) would build for reasons relating to personalisation and more than 2 in 5 (44%) for reasons surrounding the ability to be creative. 
In fact, 4 in 5 (79%) home owners and intending first home buyers alike, agree that building their own home would let them see their dreams come true, led by Gen Y at a high 84%. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/14/HomeBuilding.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/14/HomeBuilding.png" alt="">
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/08/14/HomeBuyers.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/08/14/HomeBuyers.png" alt="">
Dean Kyros, founder of Houseandland.com.au, also said that home building was at its highest in recent times.
“Overall, the proportion of Home Builders is currently at its highest point in recent history. 35% of those who bought a home in the past 2 years are Home Builders. This is higher than 2-4 years ago (20%), 5-9 years ago (27%) and 10-19 years ago (18%),” he said.
“With property market prices increasing, it’s not surprising first home buyers are increasingly looking to more economical means of creating their dream home. By comparing house design, land for sale and land estate, as well as fixed-price house and land packages, first home buyers can achieve significant savings through building, all whilst customising their home to their personalised preferences,” says Kyros. 
Houseandland.com.au connects potential buyers with current house designs and recently said its new technology was an industry first. 
Houseandland.com.au also revealed that 84% of Gen Y home owners and intending first home buyers are turning to software to find their ideal property.
It’s no surprise then that businesses are turning to algorithms to meet the growing demand in tailored purchasing, with three quarters (73%) of home buyers and builders alike using online platforms to lead their new home purchase, whilst 23% consider display homes a thing of the past, Houseandland.com.au said.
The report was conducted by Lonergan Research on behalf of houseandland.com.au in accordance with ISO20252 standard. 1,097 Home Owners and Intending First Home Buyers were surveyed between 28th June and 3rd July 2017. Surveys were distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the ABS. 
 
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First home buyers can save up to $60,000 by building their own: Research

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The Turnbull Government has released its draft legislation to help home buyers get into their first homes.
Legislation to establish the First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) allows first-home buyers to save for a deposit inside their superannuation account, attracting the tax incentives and earnings benefits of superannuation, and "turbo-charging" their ability to save.
Savers will be able to contribute $30,000 (up to $15,000 a year within existing caps), and be able to withdraw the contributions along with deemed earnings in order to help fund a deposit on their first home. Pre-tax contributions are taxed at 15 per cent; withdrawals will be taxed at marginal tax rates less a 30 per cent offset.
The measures are to commence on 1 July 2018, but voluntary FHSSS contributions can be made from 1 July 2017 and will be eligible for withdrawal (provided all criteria are met) from 1 July 2018.
Housing affordability is a major issue affecting many Australians and there is no silver bullet, Treasurer Scott Morrison has said.
The Government has released a consultation draft of legislation to implement the FHSSS and has encouraged interested stakeholders to make a submission on the draft legislation. 
The exposure drafts and details of the consultation process are available on the <a href="https://www.treasury.gov.au/" target="_blank">Treasury website</a>.
1) How would my savings be released?
The consultation draft provides that you would receive the funds after applying to the ATO and declaring your eligibility. The ATO will arrange for money to be released from your super and will pay it to you within a reasonable processing time. You would then have a set period to buy a home (see below). This would ensure that you can have access to the funds on the day of exchange, allowing you to use the savings directly for the deposit.
2) Who would be eligible to use the FHSSS?
The consultation draft provides that you may apply to have your savings released if you are 18 years or older, you have not used the FHSSS before, and you have never owned real property in Australia. This means that if you have owned an investment property, commercial property or vacant land you would not be eligible to use the FHSSS. The FHSSS is intended to help people who are not already in the property market. You may be able to leverage your existing property to help you buy a home.
3) What if my partner has owned a home?
If you would be eligible to use the FHSSS, you would not be disqualified just because a person you are buying your home with is not a first home buyer.
4) What kind of home could I buy?
The consultation draft provides that you would have to purchase residential premises. This could include vacant land (if the land was to be built on), but would not include any premises that is not capable of being occupied as a residence, and would not include houseboats or motor homes.
5) How long would I have to buy a home?
The consultation draft provides that you would have 12 months after releasing the savings to sign a contract to purchase a qualifying home. You would be able to ask the ATO for a 12-month extension.
 6) Would I have to live in the home?
Yes. The consultation draft provides that you must occupy the premises as soon as practicable, and for at least six months of the first 12 months after it is practicable to do so. So, for example, if you bought a house-and-land package using the FHSSS, you would have to occupy the house for at least six months in the first 12 months after the house is built. This would ensure the FHSSS is used to help purchase the saver’s home, not (say) an investment property.
7) How would the release amount be calculated?
The consultation draft provides that you would be able to withdraw up to your ‘maximum release amount’, which is equal to the sum of your eligible contributions and associated deemed earnings. If you made concessional contributions (e.g. through salary sacrifice), you would be able to withdraw 85 per cent of those contributions (reflecting the 15 per cent tax). You would be able to withdraw 100 per cent of any non-concessional contributions. Deemed earnings calculated using the Shortfall Interest Charge (currently 4.78 per cent) would be based on when eligible contributions are made up until the date release amount is determined.
Contributions made during 2017-18 would be taken to be made on 1 July 2017. Contributions in later years would be taken to be made at the start of the month they are made. To calculate earnings and count contributions towards the annual and total contribution limits of the scheme, earlier contributions would count before later ones. However, within the same year any non-concessional contributions would be counted before any concessional contributions (e.g. salary sacrifice). This would maximise the size of your deposit in most circumstances. You would be free to withdraw a smaller amount if you wished.
8) What if the deemed earnings exceed actual earnings?
Historically, super fund earnings have generally exceeded the Shortfall Interest Charge. Therefore, this policy would generally be expected to increase the funds remaining in super for individuals using the scheme. A saver would never be able to withdraw more money than is in the saver’s account(s).
9) How much tax would be withheld on withdrawal?
The ATO would withhold an amount before releasing the savings to you, to ensure that you won’t have to pay the tax in your next income tax return. The amount withheld would reflect the ATO’s best estimate of your tax payable. If the ATO could not make an estimate, it would withhold 17 per cent of the withdrawal amount.
10) What would happen if you do not buy a home in the period?
 The consultation draft provides that you must either recontribute the release amount into superannuation, or pay a tax equal to 20 per cent of the amount released from superannuation. This tax would remove the benefit of the tax concession you received by using the FHSSS, ensuring the tax concession is targeted at first-home buyers.
11) Would accessing the FHSSS affect social security payments?
No. The consultation draft excludes the release amount from means tests, to prevent double-counting of income that was included in means tests when it was first earned. The consultation draft legislation is intended to implement the FHSSS as described above. It is not yet law. The Government intends to introduce legislation into Parliament to make it law after considering the results of this consultation process.  
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The 11 rules that FHBs need to know to benefit from the First Home Super Saver Scheme  

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It's a new twist on the saying charity begins at home since increasingly the first home buyer auctions I attend on any given Saturday see young buyers there with the folks.
As their children endeavour to step onto the Sydney property ladder, the parents aren't turning up to just provide emotional support at these entry level auctions.
More often than not they have come along with the deposit cheque.
The bank of mum and dad is growing in importance - and will continue to do so.
For most recipients it will rank as their biggest financial windfall in life, that is aside from an inheritance many decades down the track. 
Australian data on the emergence is lacking, but there's some interesting data from the UK where a Legal &amp; General report suggested parents are predicted to lend more than £6.5bn this year to help their children get on the property ladder.
Millennials are the biggest recipients, with around 80 percent of the £30,000 typical handout going to people under 30 in what they calculated amounted to around 25% of UK property transactions.
There's also data suggesting almost a third of second steppers rely on financial help from family to move up the property ladder, according to Lloyds Bank research.
“The intergenerational inequality that creates the demand for parental funding continues to widen – younger people today don’t have the same opportunities that the baby boomers," according to the report by Legal &amp; General.
Intergenerational inequality is overreach, but Generation Y have been accruing more debt at an earlier age than any of their predecessors.
With 40% of 18- to 35-year-olds having a study-related HECS debt, this generation are already on the back foot before they begin their careers.
And the casualisation of our increasingly fleeting workplaces means younger people are mostly on smaller or less permanent incomes too.
Finding real banks to borrow from is accordingly harder, hence the role of soft target parents parents from middle-class and wealthy families or the grandparents. 
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In most UK cases the funds are given as a gift (56%) or as an interest free loan (21%).  
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It is arguably better the funds come from families rather than government, and this largess overtime is going to come a bigger part of the solution to the problems of Sydney housing affordability. 
It is already as researchers from RMIT and Curtin University for the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) found that 25 to 45-year-olds who received a cash gift from baby boomer parents had home ownership rates 15 percentage points higher than their peers.
But I worry the generosity puts the parents at risk in their old age.
They might be giving away their chance of a stress free retirement.
Treasury secretary John Fraser noted last year the bank of mum of dad was "becoming more and more prevalent." 
"It has impacts on superannuation," Mr Fraser warned.
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Bank of mum and dad is growing in importance

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When does the duty exemption for NSW first home buyers apply?
The exemption for first home buyers will apply to contracts executed on or after 1 July 2017 for properties up to $650,000.
For properties valued between $650,000 and $800,000, duty concessions will apply.
Are there any changes for vacant land?
There are no changes to the cap for vacant land.
Does this apply only to new homes?
No, the exemption applies to new and existing homes purchased by first home buyers.
Does the 1 July 2017 date refer to the date the contracts were exchanged or settled?
The 1 July 2017 date refers to the date the contracts were exchanged.
Does a first home purchase refer to a first investment home purchase or the first owner-occupied home purchase?
First home purchase refers to the first home you purchase which you must occupy for a continuous period of 6 months, commencing within 12 months of settlement.
I have just settled, what can I do to get the benefits?
If you settled before 1 July 2017, you are only entitled to the benefits that were available at that time. Please check our website for more information.
Can I rescind the contract and enter into a new contract after 1 July 2017 and get the new benefits?
As your contract is already executed, you are liable to pay duty. If you rescind and enter into the contract for the same property after 1 July 2017 you will not be eligible for the new benefits.
My client has just exchanged contracts and is in the cooling off period. Can we rescind under the cooling off provisions and re-exchange later?
As your contract is already executed, you are liable to pay duty. If you rescind and enter into the contract for the same property after 1 July 2017 you will not be eligible for the new benefits.
My contract is dated before 1 July 2017. Are these changes retrospective?
No, the changes to the First Home Buyers Assistance scheme are not retrospective.
Does this mean yet another form? Will we need to complete another Declaration or a Statutory Declaration?
No additional forms are anticipated at this stage. However some existing forms will need to be modified and in the case of the new scheme the old form will be replaced with a new one.
If the parties entered into a Put &amp; Call option before 30 June 2017 to be exercised after 30 June 2017, would the purchaser be able to claim the exemption (or reduction as applicable) or would the Option be the determining date?
If the exercise of the option occurs on or after 1 July 2017, you will be able to claim the new exemption or reduction.
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The NSW first home buyers July 1 countdown

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Not much was focus was given to first home buyers in the New South Wales Budget given Premier Gladys Berejiklian already announced her housing affordability package which officially starts July 1.
The housing affordability package outlined first home buyers will receive a number of exemptions following announcements made in the NSW Budget handed down this week.
First home buyers wont have to pay stamp duty on homes up to $650,000 from July.
Stamp duty will be reduced for properties valued between $650,000 and $800,000
Affordability measures also include a $10,000 grant for first home buyers who are building a house, given the total value of the house and land does not exceed $750,000.
A $10,000 grant is also available for existing properties valued up to $600,000.
Some 75,000 homes under construction will be completed in the next financial year in the budget. 
John McGrath said NSW State Budget stamp duty cuts and grants for young buyers will "ultimately raise property prices due to higher competition."
But with Sydney and Melbourne at their peak pricing, McGrath suggests softening market conditions might balance out any price effect from greater first home buying activity.
'Especially if there are fewer investors in the market due to tighter lending restrictions," he said.
CoreLogic quoted recent ABS statistics showing that first home buyer activity in NSW hit a record low of 7.5 percent of new owner occupier mortgages last September and had increased only marginally since then to 8 percent in March this year.
"The long term average is 17 percent, so we’re a long way off that.
"I am concerned by the good initiative be funded largely by disincentivising investor activity and foreign ownership."
Jane Fitzgerald, NSW Executive Director of the Property Council said extra taxes on housing supply means extra cost for buyers and more expensive homes.
"The budget confirms that with an increase of 9.6 percent in residential property stamp duty revenue in 2016/17, the rivers of gold flowing from property taxes will fund essential services and programs next year and beyond," she said.  
"It also now suggests that significant additional costs could be imposed on the supply of the average home. 
"By 2020 that could add a billion dollars to the cost of delivering new homes in NSW. 
"Sydney’s housing supply pipeline ground to a halt less than a decade ago under the burden of excessive infrastructure taxes, so widening the net risks a repeat of recent history."
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NSW Budget incentives for first home buyers 

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National Property Buyers is offering special offers to first home buyers as the end of the financial year approaches and New South Wales and Victoria legislate stamp duty changes in the coming weeks.
The property agency’s special offer for first home buyers includes a house-warming gift of up to $1,000 off conveyancing and the flexibility to pay success fee over an agreed time frame.
The average loan size for first home buyers rose $300 to $317,100 between March 2017 and April 2017, according to ABS data. The average loan size for all owner occupied housing commitments rose $3,700 to $371,700 for the same period.
ABS data showed that the number of first home buyer commitments as a percentage of total owner occupied housing finance commitments rose to 13.9 percent in April 2017 from 13.5 percent in March 2017. 
Meanwhile, NSW has scrapped stamp duty for property up to $650,000 from July 1, while homes up to $800,000 will also see a discounted stamp duty.
The Victorian government has also proposed to completely abolish stamp duty for new and existing properties that are up to $600,000. Properties that are between $600,000 and $750,000 will have their stamp duty discounted. Queensland has extended FHB grants. 
For more information from National Property Buyers, <a href="https://www.nationalpropertybuyers.com.au" target="_blank">click here</a>.
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National Property Buyers rolls out special offers for first home buyers

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The number of new dwellings financed remained at a historically high level in April, but was slightly lower than in the preceding month.
Analysts are watching closely for signals of this construction cycle rolling over in a disorderly fashion, but up until April at least purchase activity had remained relatively robust. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/09/A1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/09/A1.jpg" alt="">
At the state level owner-occupier financing of new builds is tracking at historically high levels in all three of the most populous states. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/09/A2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/09/A2.jpg" alt="">
First homebuyers to recede
The number of first homebuyers has been sliding in recent years, following on from a huge spike during the financial crisis when a raft of incentives and grants were introduced.  
Some first time buyers have been opting to buy investment properties instead in recent times, particularly in expensive Sydney, in turn depressing the number of first homebuyers recorded. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/09/A3.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/09/A3.jpg" alt="">
The annual number of first homebuyers has also fallen by 29 per cent in Western Australia since October 2013, with the Perth market seeing very subdued sentiment since that time. 
First homebuyer activity is likely to drop off between now and July 1, when new grants and stamp duty exemptions are set to be introduced in the states of New South Wales and Victoria. 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/06/09/A4.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/06/09/A4.jpg" alt="">
 
PETE WARGENT is the co-founder of <a href="https://allenwargent.com/">AllenWargent</a> property buyers (London, Sydney) and a best-selling author and <a href="https://petewargent.blogspot.com/">blogger</a>.
His latest book is <a href="https://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/Books/General-Interest/Four-Green-Houses--and-a-Red-Hotel/1015/productview.aspx">Four Green Houses and a Red Hotel</a>.
 
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NSW first homebuyers to dwindle until July: Pete Wargent

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Sydney-based developer Poly Australia is taking cheaper apartments under $800,000 off the market to offer them to first-home buyers as it expects a rush of foreign investors to snap up apartments before July 1 tax increases.
The developer has earmarked 23 cheaper apartments at its project in Poly Horizon in Sydney’s Epping for first-home buyers when they are re-released in July, according to The Australian Financial Review.
The NSW government recently decided to scrap stamp duty for properties up to $650,000 in a move to improve housing affordability.
The policy, which will apply to new and existing homes, will start from July 1. Homes up to $800,000 will also see a discounted stamp duty.
At the same time, foreign investors are facing the heat with the state government deciding to double its stamp duty surcharge to 8 percent and increase the annual land tax surcharge on foreign home owners to 2 percent from the existing 0.75 percent.
The new rules could, however, see foreign buyers rushing to buy apartments before the policies take effect, Poly said.
"We believe we will see a rush of foreign buyers securing property in the Sydney market in the next month as a result of the increase in stamp duty fees," Poly Australia sales and marketing director Jay Carter was quoted as saying by the AFR.
"Our objective is to ensure that first home buyers don't miss out because of this influx. We want to give first home buyers every opportunity to take advantage of the new stamp duty discounts."
Poly Horizon will be the largest development in Epping, consisting of 501 apartments across three towers with prices starting from $437,000 for an executive apartment.  
It recorded the sale of more than 80 percent apartments in its first release last year.
Stockland also supported the government's moves to improve affordability.
"Housing affordability is a critical issue in Sydney and Stockland welcomes the NSW government's comprehensive plan to address this challenge by unlocking supply, increasing stamp duty concessions for first homebuyers, and investing in vital local infrastructure," Stockland residential chief executive Andrew Whitson said.
Stockland launched its own affordability initiative in April, prioritising 50 percent of land releases and townhomes to first home buyers at its three major masterplanned communities in Sydney.
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