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

Joel Robinson

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

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

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

Home Loans

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Major lenders' grip on the home loan market loosened last month, according to mortgage broker AFG.
In September, loans from major lenders accounted for 73.3% of all home loans processed. Last month, that figure dipped to 71.7%.
ANZ, however, managed to increase the proportion of total loans it processed for the month, knocking the Commonwealth Bank off the top spot. After processing 16.9% of all home loans in September, ANZ increased their market share to 17.6% for October. The Commonwealth Bank accounted for 16.8% of October loans, down from 17.1% in September.
Overall, non-major lenders increased their market share, particularly with loans to refinancers.
In October one in three refinances used a non-major lender, according to AFG.
While 28.3% of all new mortgages processed last month were made with non-major lenders, 34% of last month's refinancers chose to forgo the major banks.
Among the non-major lenders, Suncorp had the largest share of refinancing loans in October, with 10.3%. Macquarie Bank was the second most popular non-major lender with refinancers, processing 7.5% of all refinancing loans for the month.
Of the major lenders, Westpac processed the most refinancing loans, with a 8.8% share.
AFG's general manager of sales and operations Mark Hewitt says borrowers' increasing willingness to consider minor lenders is "very encouraging from a competition perspective."
"Suncorp are a great example of this," says Hewitt.
"Traditionally they have struggled outside their home state of Queensland however through delivering on a combination of customer value and  service they have reached an all-time market share high of 8.2%."
Among first home buyers, major lenders still dominate, processing 69.1% of all October loans. Keystart, the Western Australian government-backed initiative, was the biggest non-market lender, with 10.3% of market share. Bank of Queensland was the favourite commercial non-major lender among first time buyers, processing 6.0% of the loans.
Bankwest, ANZ, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the Bank of South Australia, Bank of Melbourne, St George, Westpac, NAB Broker and NAB are all considered major lenders by AFG.
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ANZ beats CBA as major lenders' market share falls: AFG

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Mortgage broker AFG processed 10,463 loans last month - the highest in its 21-year history - but overall first home buyer loans fell to 7.2%.
In New South Wales, the figure was a woeful 2.2%.
“First home buyer loans have fallen to unprecedented lows in places like NSW,” said AFG’s general manager of sales and operations Mark Hewitt.
“If this continues we are going to end up with a whole generation of renters.”
The October mortgages processed by AFG brokers for first home buyers fell from its previous September record low of 8.4% of all home loans to 7.2% nationally.
The first home buyer loans have declined each month since June this year when they represented 10.8% of all home loans processed.  New South Wales was followed by Queensland (4.7%), South Australia (7.3%), Victoria (8.3%) and Western Australia (17.9%).
AFG calculated that excluding WA from the equation, the average level of first home buying on the eastern seaboard would be around 5% - about a third of the long-term average.
Nationally, investor home loans represent 38.7% of all mortgages processed, down from a peak of 40.3% recorded last month.
Hewitt noted October had traditionally been one of the strongest months for property with an increase in owner occupier loans. 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

NSW first home buyer numbers dip to 2.2%: AFG

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Home loan providers continue to cut interest rates in a bid to grab further market share.
According to Michelle Hutchison, head of PR and money expert at comparison website <a href="https://www.finder.com.au/" target="_blank">Finder</a>, loans.com.au currently offers the lowest variable rate in Australia, which is now at 4.54%.
"The war between home loan lenders has been taken up a notch, with loans.com.au fighting back, following UBank's move to cut its variable rate home loan," said Hutchison.
"loans.com.au today reduced its Dream Home Loan Variable Blackboard Special Rate, by 0.06 percentage points to remain the lowest in Australia," she explained.
"This follows UBank announcing its move to lower its UHomeLoan to 4.54% effective today, which was previously the lowest rate held by loans.com.au."
Other smaller lenders have done the same following the Reserve Bank's announcement that the overnight cash rate will remain at 2.5% for another month.
Firstmac has dropped the rate for its VIP Package Product to by five basis points to 4.69%, also waiving a $295 annual fee. The interest rate on Advantedge's white label loan product for loans over $500,000 is now reportedly 4.63%, with a maximum 80% loan to value ratio.
St George has cut its three year fixed rate package by 10 basis points – with an Advantage Package Discount, the rate is now at 4.79%.
The major banks appear to have kept their interest rates on hold following Tuesday's announcement, with ANZ yesterday confirming that it will not cut its rates this month. Its standard variable home loan rate remains at 5.88%.
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Small lenders cut rates as RBA stands still

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The presence of investors is still keenly felt in the property market, with housing credit “solid” in September, according to ANZ’s Australian Economic Update from Dylan Eades and David Cannington.
Investor housing credit rose 0.9% month on month, up 9.5% over the year.
“This reflects strong investor loan approvals and is closely watched by the RBA given that some segments of the housing market have become ‘unbalanced’ in the Bank’s view,” the update explained.
“Indeed, investor housing loans now account for around 50% of housing loans (excluding owner-occupier refinancing), which is a record high.”
Investors have been particularly active in New South Wales, while other states have been far more moderated.
<img src="/images/2014/11/03/Screen%20Shot%202014-11-01%20at%205.14.56%20PM.png" alt="">
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Investor loans account for record 50% of the market, RBA watching closely: ANZ

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Spring is in bloom which means that many Australians are looking to buy property, but what happens if you fall in love with a home and then discover the bank won’t lend to you?  Even worse, what happens if the bank turns you down and it’s your fault?  
Here are five tips to make sure you are properly set up for that home loan.
<ol>
<li>
Check your credit file Some of my clients were recently declined by a mid-tier bank because they had a couple of gas payment defaults on their credit file.  Trouble is, this was the first that my clients knew about it because the defaults related to their old home. Thankfully, we got them approval with a Big Four lender – but it took a lot of work.    All the stress could have been avoided if they had checked their credit file before they applied for a loan. The good news is, it’s free to check your credit file, check out the details on <a href="https://www.mycreditfile.com.au/" target="_blank" title="My Credit File" style="line-height: 1.3em;">mycreditfile</a>. 
</li>
<li>
Get your savings in order Lenders like to lend to people who can show they are responsible with money.  So, they like to see money in an account for at least three months without the account holder having succumbed to the temptation of spending some of it. If say, a relative is going to help out with the deposit, then holding the cash in your account for some time before you apply for a home loan makes it so much easier. I once had a client whose family came from a developing country which was subject to quite a few UN sanctions.  His family were gifting him some money, but getting money out of this country was very difficult, so the money was appearing as odd random cash deposits made all over Australia.  It took me ages to prove to the bank that the applicant wasn’t a drug runner or an arms dealer. Had the cash been ready and waiting in his Australian account for some time then again, it would have been much easier. 
</li>
<li>
Pay your bills as soon as possible When you apply for a home loan, the first thing a bank does is check your credit file. Once upon a time, the credit file just showed if you were in default or had made too many credit inquiries. Now, under a new law, credit files can show who is a prompt payer.  So from now on, it’s in your interest to pay any bill as soon as you can. 
</li>
<li>
Reduce your credit card limit It might boost your ego to have a platinum credit card with a $50,000 limit, but do you need all that money?  When the banks are assessing how much they will lend to you, they will take that credit card limit as money already lent (even if you pay it off every month).  As a result, they may well reduce how much they will lend you based on that limit.  You may want to reduce your credit card limit if you don’t need all that money.  Banks have been known to first request clients to reduce their credit card limit, before giving a final loan approval. 
</li>
<li>
Know your limit Not all banks are the same. For example, if you were a brand new customer and you walked into an ANZ branch then the most they would lend you is 90% of the value of the property (others may go up to 95%) – even if you are a multi-millionaire (it’s just their policy).  You could be a good home loan candidate. But if you just go to your own bank because you think that all banks are the same, you could be in for a shock.  Good brokers know what each bank’s lending policy is and now where you are most likely get home loan approval. 
</li>
</ol>
Graeme Salt is national client finance manager of <a href="https://www.chan-naylor.com.au" target="_blank">Chan &amp; Naylor Finance Australia</a>.
For further information on how Chan &amp; Naylor can help you with your home loan, you can <a href="https://www.chan-naylor.com.au/chan-naylor-finance/" target="_blank">visit their website</a>. 
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Five tips to set you up for your home loan

More home owners taking out risky interest-only loans: Moodys

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National Australia Bank (NAB) is set to run advertisements that will correct their claims about home loan rates, after ASIC started a crackdown on false and misleading promotions in financial services.
The initial NAB promotional material, a wrap around on The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, claimed that they had “the lowest standard variable rate for more than five years”.
This was incorrect. They failed to explain that this was out of the four major banks and outside of this they have not had the lowest standard variable rate for this time.
Advertisements will run in tomorrow’s Sydney Morning Herald and The Age to correct this.
ASIC deputy chairman Peter Kell said that it’s crucial all firms ensure financial promotions are clear, fair and not misleading.
“Buying a home can be a very big step in someone’s life and claims about the cost of a home loan can dramatically impact that decision, so it is vital that these are accurate and truthful,” said Kell.
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NAB misleading home loan rates in ASIC spotlight

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It’s not uncommon for lenders to increase their stable of products, reduce rates or even offer cash back incentives to appear more attractive to consumers.
Now online lender loans.com.au is in on the act, launching their value pack, which includes free property reports, financing planning and a conveyancing voucher with their home loan, which was named Australia’s cheapest in 2014 by Mozo.
The pack includes a 4.54% interest rate, with 4.56% comparison rate, a $150 conveyancing voucher, 100% offset facility, “Loan Tracker” service, $500 worth of financial planning and competitive home and contents insurance rates.
Kim Cannon, managing director of Firstmac, who are behind loans.com.au, said that the market has been flooded by borrower incentives in recent months, making it difficult to identify good value.
“The true cost or value of a home loan shows in the comparison rate, so borrowers should always look for the lowest interest rate and the comparison rate should be very close to the interest rate,” said Cannon.
Despite this, he doesn’t consider their new value pack to be a gimmick “like cash back that coincides with the date”.
“The value pack offers customers tangible benefits in a timely way, with property reports to help make the purchasing decision with confidence, discounts and vouchers to make conveyancing and insurance cheaper, Loan Tracker to streamline the application process, and financial planning to keep financial goals on track.”
Previously, <a href="/expert-insights/finance/competition-among-lenders-heats-up">Property Observer reported that six lenders have cash-back offers for home loan customers</a>. These include NAB, Newcastle Permanent and Commonwealth Bank, which are all offering up to $1,000 cash back. Heritage Bank and Homeloans.com.au are offering $600 and Austral Mortgage is giving back $500. A further 11 offer to waive fees.
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Lenders add whistles and bells to remain competitive

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Hi Margaret,
My wife and I are considering building a duplex on the Sydney residential block where we currently live in our principal place of residence. The loan on the home is in my wife's name only and the balance of the mortgage is held in cash in the offset facility.
Our plan is to borrow to build the duplex, live in one and use the rental income from the other to pay down the loan and keep them both. We would both like to be signatories on the new loan. From a gearing perspective my wife is most likely to be the highest salary earner over the life of the loan.
My question then is what would be the best way to refinance/restructure the loan to minimise our tax liabilities? Alternatively, who would be the best person to approach for advice on this matter? Our accountant? Taxation specialist? Mortgage broker?
Margaret Lomas' answer is on the next page. Please click below.
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
You will need to check with your accountant for your own individual circumstances, but I would suggest that he or she will most likely advise you that, for tax purposes, the land owner ( your wife) is treated as the recipient of all income / deductions including interest.
You have not specified if she is the only one of the two of you on the certificate of title - if so then only your wife gets the deductions. If you are both on title, but the loan is only in your wife's name, you need to check on her deductibility status, as I would suggest that the entire loan may not be deductible if only half the property is hers.
The name on any loans is irrelevant - except in regards to providing the security for the debt - as it is treated for tax as "on lent". I always tell people to be very careful when they structure their loans as the bank may not be giving the correct advice, or any advice at all in regards to structure. 
The bank will notoriously protect themselves by seeking commitment from both parties (where there is more than one) even where both parties may not be on the title, and this can really play around with your ultimate deductibility. 
I would have to say that when a new client comes to my company, Destiny, eight times out of 10 they have the wrong structure in place.  At times this can be fixed, but at others it cannot, and the best we can do is ensure that going forward, all is correct!
With regard to the new loan for the duplex, you must have your accountant correctly establish the relationship between the current debt in your wife's name and the present property, which is your Principal Place of Residence (PPOR). This is because the portion of the end debt which relates to the PPOR will not carry any deductions, while any portion of the debt relating to the new part of the build will be if it is income producing.
In relation to obtaining that new debt for the build, I am not sure why, if your wife will be the higher income earner, you wish to have this new loan in both names.
The highest income earner brings the highest deductions, and therefore the property and loan is best placed in that person's name, as long as you expect this situation to continue. In any event, even if you do use both names on any new debt, this won't change the fact that the title is in her name and so the deductions are hers.
You can only change this if, prior to undertaking the project, you essentially buy half of the property off your wife. You will pay stamp duty on half of the market value of the whole property, even if she sells it to you for a nominal amount.
I am not sure where you live, but in some states (such as Victoria) you can make a transfer of title by way of 'love and affection' and avoid this stamp duty - so check with the office of state revenue in your state.
When you do rent out the new property, be careful how you manage the rental income to pay off your personal debt.  he tax office does not like you to capitalise interest on an investment debt, and it will be critical for you to get proper tax advice appropriate to your personal circumstances before undertaking any rapid mortgage reduction strategy.
At the end of the day, always check with your accountant before making any move at all. 
Well-meaning mortgage brokers and banks are not usually able to provide you with the right kind of guidance in this very complex area. 
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Ask Margaret: How can I restructure my loan to minimise my tax liabilities?

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its Lending Finance data this week, and it was a pretty weak reading after a couple of apparently very strong months for commercial lending.
Total new lending fell by 10.3% in August from the previous month with a sharp 16% drop in commercial lending the driver of the result.
Owner occupier housing loans fell by 2% in the month of August on a seasonally adjusted basis, with most states seeing activity fall in the month (although notably not Queensland).
Note that the ABS classifies property investor loans separately from owner occupier loans and thus these come under the commercial lending header in the chart below.
<img src="/images/2014/10/15/1.jpg" alt="">
Year on year total new lending remains 11% higher, which is promising, and the rolling 12 monthly figures about do show that the overall trend has been a good 'un.
However, there is no getting away from the fact that August was a fairly rubbish result for commercial and business lending and quickly quells the enthusiasm of the markets from last month which saw some excitable claims that interest rates will be heading up imminently.
In short: No, they won't be.
Property investor loans
As for those property investor loans, in aggregate, property investor loans were pretty much flat in August on a seasonally adjusted basis.
On a trend basis, investor loans were down in all states, as one might expect. On a rolling 12 monthly basis, however, property investor loans across all of the main states continued to rise, with New South Wales and Victoria marching on to new heights.
New South Wales (read: Sydney) loans are a whopping 42.5% higher year-on-year on a rolling annual basis.
<img src="/images/2014/10/15/2.jpg" alt="">
Just looking at the straight raw monthly property investor loan data, New South Wales and Victoria are the clear standouts with 30% and 28% increases respectively.
Elsewhere activity has been softer, although evidently property investors are becoming more active in Queensland. Property investor activity has been solid in Western Australia and flat in South Australia.
<img src="/images/2014/10/15/3.jpg" alt="">
Macro-pru
Overall, it's not yet quite clear what this means for so-termed macro-prudential regulation to cool the investor market.
Clearly with property investor loans up very strongly over the past year, macro-prudential measures from the regulator (APRA) are very much in play in order to keep the proportion of lending to investors under some kind of check.
The August data taken by itself was far from alarming so there may be no knee-jerk announcements or reactions while the Reserve Bank and APRA await another month or two of data.
It's impossible to second guess these volatile data sets or indeed the actions of the regulator, although one generally gets the sense that dramatic macro-prudential measures are not really a preferred option.
Wayne Byres of APRA made the point the other day that although "people love the term" there is "nothing really new" about macro-prudential measures, which sort of implied moderation (to me at least).
I do just note in passing that AFG's more timely data for September showed record transactional activity for New South Wales as well as 49.7% investor loans.
<img src="/images/2014/10/15/4.jpg" alt="">
The Sydney property market marches on to new heights, and unlike in the previous boom cycle of a decade ago higher interest rates are not anywhere to be seen on the horizon in order to slow the market down (and vacancy rates remain much lower today too) - this cyclical boom will have to die of all age and of its own accord or be slowed by regulation.
 
 
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