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

Property market

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Sydney had a preliminary clearance rate of 70.9 percent from 648 listings for the week ending 3 April, according to CoreLogic RP Data. 
North Sydney and Hornsby and 103 auctions and the Inner South West 84 auctions. The City and Inner South had a clearance rate of 94.1 percent in City and Inner South and Parramatta 28 percent.
 
<a href="/images/2016/04/4/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-04%20at%2012.48.35%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/04/4/Screen%20Shot%202016-04-04%20at%2012.48.35%20PM.png" alt="">
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North Sydney, Hornsby lead auction clearance rates: CoreLogic RP Data

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Frankston (postcode 3199), an outer-southeastern suburb of Melbourne, figures in the top 10 most searched suburbs of Australia in 2015 compiled by rent.com.au.
The median rent for all rental properties advertised in Frankston in the 30 days till the first week of February was $300 per week, a 6.25% or $20 fall from the previous quarter. 
This was also cheaper than the median of $350 in the same 30 days for the surrounding suburbs of Seaford, Frankston South, Frankston North, Langwarrin and Langwarrin South. 
The price range for all properties advertised in the 30-day period varies from $140 for a one-bedroom dwelling to $450 for five or more bedrooms.
The average days on market for rental properties in Frankston within a 90-day period was 28 days, 10 shorter than the previous quarter.
There were 119 rental properties advertised in the 30 days, up 39 from the previous 30-day period.
There are a total of 5,353 rental properties in Frankston, which is 37.8 percent of all properties there, according to ABS data, 2011.
The overall property composition of Frankston is 84.5 percent houses and 15.5 percent apartments.
As an illustration of properties around the median rent, Property Observer picked these from rent.com.au:
<img src="/images/2016/03/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-31%20at%202.09.20%20PM.png" alt="">
1. A two-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.rent.com.au/property-house-frankston-3199-1146001" target="_blank">9/34 Birdwood Street</a> (above) is up for rent for $325 per week.
<img src="/images/2016/03/31/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-31%20at%202.13.29%20PM.png" alt="">
2. A two-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.rent.com.au/property-unit-frankston-3199-1696600" target="_blank">4/11 Williams Street</a> (above) can be rented for $280 per week.
The ASX-listed Rent.com.au Ltd achieved a record 615,405 unique visitors to its website in January, followed by more than 610,000 unique visitors in February.
Landlords are able to list their property for free in a limited time offer on <a href="https://www.rent.com.au/" target="_blank">rent.com.au</a>.
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Melbourne’s Frankston median rent $50 cheaper than surrounds: Rent.com.au 

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The top sale of the week was a five bedroom beachside home at Bronte in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, according to CoreLogic RP Data. 
The property, 1 Bronte Marine Drive, Bronte (above) sold for $8.5 million through Laing + Simmons  Double Bay 
Top ten sales
1 Bronte Marine Drive, Bronte, NSW  5 bed, 4 bath, 2 car house  $8,500,000  Laing + Simmons  Double Bay 
6 March Street, Bellevue Hill, NSW  4 bed, 1 bath, 2 car house  $5,265,000  Sotheby’s International Realty  Sydney 
602/14 Macleay Street,  Elizabeth Bay, NSW  3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car unit  $4,900,000 Richardson &amp; Wrench Elizabeth Bay/Potts Point 
22b Haughton Street,  Linley Point, NSW  4 bed, 3 bath, 2 car house  $4,350,000  John Ward Realty  Hunters Hill 
44 Wallis Parade,  North Bondi, NSW  4 bed, 2 bath, 4 car house  $4,275,000  Express Realty/  Raine &amp; Horne 
8 Kirkoswald Avenue,  Mosman, NSW  4 bed, 2 bath, 1 car house  $3,920,000  David Murphy  Real Estate 
53a Carlotta Road,  Double Bay, NSW  6 bed, 4 bath, 2 car house  $3,875,000  McGrath Estate Agents 
24 Northland Road,  Bellevue Hill, NSW  4 bed, 2 bath, 2 car house  $3,675,000  Goodyer Real Estate 
2/16 Thornton Street,  Darling Point, NSW  4 bed, 3 bath, 3 car house  $3,500,000  Sotheby’s International Realty Sydney 
10 Ocean Grove,  Collaroy, NSW  5 bed, 3 bath, 2 car house  $3,375,000  First National Caputo  Dee Why
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Bronte beach pad leads CoreLogic RP Data's top ten sales

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GUEST OBSERVER
To the inexperienced investor, the property market can seem like an overwhelming mix of numbers, jargon, cycles and advice. Knowing what the property market is doing is a challenge but it is important to learn as much as possible. 
When you are informed you can make your own decisions, rather than relying on someone else telling you what to do. Here are the six best ways to identify a healthy property market so you can take control of your investing choices.
1. The first thing to look out for is the movement of titled stocks. When it comes to property development there are multiple stages, beginning with acquisition, through to planning, civil works, roads, subtitles, and finally registered, titled lots ready to go. If developers are selling all of their stock before everything is complete, that’s a good sign that the market’s warming up. If there are thousands of completed lots sitting there, registered but unsold, that means the market is slow.
2. When the market is healthy, you will be able to see the media increasingly reporting good news property stories. As the growth cycle moves upwards, developers are the first to act. Following that, around 12 months later, the media catch on and start reporting. That pushes the market up to its peak because that’s when your everyday investors catch on and open their wallets. Keep an eye out for the ‘b’ word in the press (that’s bubble), as that is a good sign that the market is hot.
3. Underlying to any market movement is the economy; therefore it’s wise to keep an eye on Australia’s four main capital cities. Melbourne and Sydney’s economies tend to move together, with Sydney slightly ahead. This comes down to economic drivers, and that Sydney is a larger business hub. The economies of Perth and Brisbane rely on two main industries: tourism and mining. If the economy is flat, depending on how flat and why, then the property market may sit flat too.
4. Another sign is the rental market. I look for two things: low rental vacancy rates in a market and for rising rental prices. Simply, due to the nature of supply and demand, the rising cost of rentals equals an increased need for housing. An increased demand for property means a healthy market
5. When the market is booming, development and government incentives begin to dwindle. Incentives, like the First Home Owners Grant, are put in place to get people into the property market, driving the economy. This is because the building industry is vast, and when it is thriving you need appliances, benches, landscapers and myriad other products and services. So when these incentives are harder to come by, that means market is healthy.
6. If you’re selling a property, and once you’ve listed it you immediately receive multiple offers, that’s the sign of a healthy market. This is tracked via a mechanism called average days on the market. Alternatively if you are selling at auction, you will receive crowds of people attending, which is what we’re seeing in our capital cities at the moment.
Due to the fickle nature of the industry these six identifiers won’t always line up at once, but if you’ve got four or more of these, then the market is fairly healthy, which is great news for investors.
Allister Lewison is director of OpenCorp and can be contacted <a href="https://www.opencorp.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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How to identify a healthy property market: OpenCorp's Allister Lewison

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SPONSORED POST
While Australia’s property market remains a safe haven, limited stock is a significant obstacle for overseas investors, Napier &amp; Blakeley’s managing director Alastair Walker.
“There is still a substantial amount of investment funds under management looking for a home – and the volatility in other markets serves as a reminder that Australia remains a safe haven,” says Walker, who oversees the independent property, development and sustainability consultancy.
The latest investment intentions survey from the Asian Association for Investors in Non-listed Real Estate Vehicles (ANREV) reports around AU$82.4 billion is expected to be poured into property in 2016, with the top three investment destinations in the regions of Tokyo, Sydney and Melbourne.
“Opportunity is now the great conundrum facing investors,” Walker recently blogged.
“Australia presents a transparent market with a good yield to debt ratio, but a shortage of stock is limiting investment opportunity.
“The local property investment groups who have righted their ships in the last seven years after the Global Financial Crisis are now heavily challenged by offshore investors, some with very deep pockets.”
“Our chairman, Peter Mitchell, is based in Singapore, and travels around Asia talking to investors and we get reports back every day, especially from Chinese investors wanting to get into the Australian market. These aren’t just big global funds, but a range of investors who see Australia, and particularly Sydney, as an attractive destination,” he adds.
While Sydney and Melbourne remain the “first choice” for offshore investors, Walker says they are increasingly looking further afield – and are looking beyond traditional shiny new offices.
“Expect retrofitting of existing assets – something that has been slow off the mark – to become a bigger thing in 2016,” Walker says.
Established in 1985, Napier &amp; Blakeley is an independent and privately-owned, international, integrated, property services consulting organisation. 
Contact one of our specialists for <a href="https://nbtax.com.au/" target="_blank">further information</a>.
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Opportunity is the great conundrum for commercial property investors

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GUEST OBSERVER
I recently undertook a month long tour of some major US cities in advance of Investorist opening their first US office in Miami in a few weeks’ time.  Here are some really interesting insights into the significant differences between the Australian and US property markets.
1. TWO AGENTS FOR EVERY SALE
In the US, every property sold has both a 'listing agent' and a 'selling agent’ (known as a buyer’s agent in Australia), and the vendor pays commission to both of them
2. CONJUNCTIVE LISTINGS
US real estate agents mostly work conjunctively and share commission 50/50. They also do not try to compete on commission or undercut each other.  
3. SHARING IDEOLOGY
Unlike Australia, the US property market operates on very much on a ‘sharing' ideology; everyone shares referrals, commission, information, support, advice, etc 
4. SENIOR WOMEN DOMINATE
Many women hold very senior roles in the property industry in the US. This is evident across the board and includes real estate agencies, associations, development companies etc.  It is not unusual to be in high level meetings where ALL the key decision makers are women, whereas in Australian property, it is still a very heavily male-dominated industry 
5. BUILD AND OWN
Developers often build apartment projects to ‘build and hold’, leasing out the apartments after completion rather than selling all as most Australian developers do.  The Australian strata title model is called  condominiums in the US
6. SHOPPING CENTRE LIVING
Whilst still very much a novelty in Australia, many US cities have embraced apartments built on top of shopping malls.  Miami in particular is a city which does this very well.  
7. SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF FOREIGN BUYERS 
It is well known that the dominant non-domestic buyers for Australian property are from China and SE Asia. In the US, buyers mostly come from Central and South America.  And many don’t speak English, so marketing to them must be in Spanish and Portuguese.
Jon Ellis is the founder of Investorist and can be <a href="https://www.investorist.com" target="_blank">contacted here</a>.
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Seven significant differences between the US and Australian property markets: Investorist's Jon Ellis

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Port Macquarie (postcode 2444), the coastal town north of Sydney, saw median rent drop more than 5.13% to $370 per week for all rental properties advertised in the 30 days up to the first week of February, according to rent.com.au.
The coastal town still made it to the top five of the most-searched regional locations list compiled by <a href="https://rent.com.au" target="_blank">rent.com.au</a>, and was also more affordable in terms of renting compared with surrounding suburbs. 
The median rent of surrounding suburbs Fernbank Creek, North Shore, Riverside, Thruster and Lake Innes was $395 per week for the quarter ended September, though there was no data available for the previous 90 days.
The lowest rental for the 30 days was $190 per week for a one-bedroom dwelling, while the maximum was $800 for a five-bedroom place.
The average days on market for all rental properties advertised in Port Macquarie in 90 days till February 8 was 29 days, five days less than the previous quarter. 
There were a total of 130 rental properties advertised in Port Macquarie within the above-mentioned 30 days, up 39 from the previous 30 days. Of the 130, there were 77 houses and 53 apartments.
There are a total of 4,949 rental properties in Port Macquarie, which is 30% of all properties there (ABS, Census Data, 2011). 
Houses make up an overwhelming majority (84.9%) of Port Macquarie, with only 15.1% apartments, according to ABS data. 
Property Observer found a couple of dwellings as examples around the median price range:
<img src="/images/2016/03/23/w640-h393-8875477_1_pi_160302_044341.jpeg" alt="">
A three-bedroom house at <a href="https://www.rent.com.au/property-house-port+macquarie-2444-1694744" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">96 Koala Street</a> (above) has a rent of $400 pw.
<img src="/images/2016/03/23/image9.jpg" alt="">
A three-bedroom unit at <a href="https://www.rent.com.au/property-unit-port+macquarie-2444-1686644" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">4/131 Bridge Street</a> (above) is available for $380 pw.
The ASX-listed Rent.com.au Ltd achieved a record 615,405 unique visitors to its website in January, followed by more than 610,000 unique visitors in February.
Landlords are able to list their property for free in a limited time offer on <a href="https://www.rent.com.au/" target="_blank">rent.com.au</a>. 
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Port Macquarie median rent down five percent in 30 days, among the top five most searched suburbs: rent.com.au

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Sydney passed its super Saturday auction test with flying colours, although there were some hits and misses.
Despite the spike in pre-Easter stock, vendors again secured a 70 percent plus success rate from the bumper near-900 listings.
Prices ranged from $380,000 at Yagoona to $5.71 million for a seven bedroom house at Strathfield.
The two bedroom Yagoona flat had four bidders, with the buyer "in two minds" as to move in or rent it out after a renovation, its Ray White selling agent Paul Chidiac said.
The Auburn Road flat last sold at $130,000 in 1992.
<a href="/images/2016/03/21/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-21%20at%209.23.21%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/21/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-21%20at%209.23.21%20AM.png" alt="">
Volumes are at around 20 percent less than last autumn, which is helping maintain the strong clearance rates.
Around $500 worth of property sold yesterday, compared to the $750 million on the busier pre-Easter weekend last year when the clearance rate was in the mid-80s.
But even the affordable stock doesn't always sell with a $450,000 top bid unsuccessful in securing a Chipping Norton flat.
Before auction sales included a bullish $4,722,000 pre-auction sale at Castlecrag, secured 10 days ago.
"We had a dutch auction occur, so we took the price on offer," its McGrath selling agent Peter Starr said.
There was a pre-auction $5.1 million result yesterday in Clovelly when well ahead of its April 9 auction, Alexander Phillips at Phillips Pantzer Donnelly secured a sale on near-oceanfront Eastbourne Avenue.
However Killara's top offering - an art deco 1930s Killara home with $5.5 million hopes - was pulled from auction, despite the fillip in the suburb mid-week with an upper north shore $12 million record sale.
It was last on offer 29 years ago.
Mosman was the busiest auction suburb, with around 20 offerings in the pre-Easter countdown, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
The burden triggered one Mosman auction to have no registered bidders.
At Rossmore there were 16 registered parties, but only three competed when a five ha two house property sold for $4.51 million through United Acreage Property Marketing.
Auctioneer Damien Cooley reported an 80 percent plus success rate, as the average number of registered bidders sat at four and rising.
Damien Cooley at Cooley Auctions said the bidding numbers were up on the three during December, but still below the five in early last year.
Cremorne, which was recently pinpointed in realestate.com.au’s top sellers’ unit market report, secured the sale of two of its three offerings. 
This article was first published in the Sunday Telegraph.
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Super Saturday success, but cracks emerge in outer Sydney

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Footballers were busy with their property plays across Melbourne amid the bumper pre-Easter weekend auctions, while Sydney had mix of football, horse racing and similiarly strong auction success. 
Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy secured $1.71 million when <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/32-newry-street-carlton-north-vic-3054-2012622040" target="_blank">32 Newry Street, Carlton North</a> (above) sold through Hockingstuart. There had been a $1.4 million plus price range pre-auction on the two storey three bedroom, townhouse that was announced on the market at $1.54 million. It last sold at $1,015,000 in late 2007 when offloaded by then Essendon footballer Scott Camporeale.
Collingwood star Travis Cloke and his fiancee, Rebeccah Panozza sold two days before their scheduled weekend auction, accepting an offer of almost $3.1 million for the fully renovated, triple-storey Kew home, and almost simultanously buying a contemporary home on an eight ha rural property at Kangaroo Ground. The Pies forward had paid $2.5 million in 2013.
The former North Melbourne, turned Essendon recruit Nathan Grima’s Ascot Vale home fetched $1.73 million, some $100,000 over reserve. The four bedroom property at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/204-the-parade-ascot-vale-vic-3032-2012612873" target="_blank">204 The Parade</a> had been renovated since bought for $735,000 in 2011. Grima and his wife Jacinta renovated and ­extended the property over 12 months and added a solar-heated pool.
<a href="/images/2016/03/21/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-21%20at%208.57.11%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/03/21/Screen%20Shot%202016-03-21%20at%208.57.11%20AM.png" alt="">
Richmond midfielder Bachar Houli had his three bedroom Altona North property at 1/9 First Avenue listed with $470,000-plus and secured $562,500 on the last AFL-free weekend before the formal season starts on Thursday night in the Carlton-Tigers game. Houli subdivided the block and also has the second home set for private treaty sale.
But A-League footballer, the Socceroo and Melbourne City defender Ivan Franjic failed to score with his Greenvale auction listing. Franjic, who played in his teenage years for the Melbourne Knights and St Albans Saints, placed a $1 million vendor bid when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-greenvale-121966854" target="_blank">18 Casablanca Court </a>went to auction amid Melbourne's 1780 super Saturday stock.
Set across 2000 square metres, Franjic's four bedroom home with a four-car garage, tennis court and pool has been given a $1.1 million asking price through Nelson Alexander agent Stefan Stella.
Even Channel 9 and 3MMM sports reporter Seb Costello was among the mix with The Age reporting <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/2-colvin-grove-hawthorn-vic-3122-2012622009" target="_blank">2 Colvin Grove, Hawthorn</a> was almost knocked down to Costello, who had his mother, Tanya, rather than father, Peter, by his side at the auction of the 1890s cottage on a 215 sqm block. It sold at $1,077,000, just $500 above Seb Costello’s top offer. It last traded at $330,000 in 1999 when his dad, the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello introduced the capital gains tax discount. 
"I had a punt, but there was someone who was prepared to pay more than it was worth.....Mum came along, dad was overseas," Seb told 3MMM.
Melbourne's 1,784 auctions was the highest level since late November last year.
But the clearance rate rose to 72 percent, up from 68 percent last week when just 420 residential auctions were held given the long weekend break, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
Across Melbourne’s sub-regions, the inner region was the best on ground at 78 percent success followed by the North East with 74 percent and the inner east at 74.5 percent.
Melbourne’s inner region was also the busiest auction market with 390 auctions.
The priciest Sydney offering - with $7.6 million plus hopes at Rose Bay - was not among the city's overall 75 percent clearance rate.
There were four registered buyers, but no bids when <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-rose+bay-122002654" target="_blank">Lynton, the vacated 27 Kent Road trophy home</a> of the horse owner and breeder Frank Tagg had Lynton, went to auction yesterday.
The unrenovated yet grand 1912 Edwardian home was bought in 2007 for $8 million by Tagg, who made his name as a former Western Suburbs first-grade footballer.
The more recently retired Roosters footballer Braith Anasta missed out when a coastal Sydney apartment was sold by the film director, Dame Jane Campion.
She certainly scored when five of the 10 registered bidders competed for the Tamarama offering, selling her 241 sqm investment property for $2.55 million through Bethwyn Richards of McGrath. 
The recenty separated Braith Anasta attended the auction, with his mother, Kim who recently sold her home. They were the underbidders at $2,545,000 for the two level apartment bought by the film director in $1.2 million in 2001.
The busiest and most successful regions were North Sydney and Hornsby, both at 84 percent.
There was a low of 46 percent clearance rate in the South West.
One year ago, Sydney’s overall clearance rate was substantially stronger at 84 percent.
Brisbane auction volumes rose to their highest levels since 2014 with 280 held across the city, the second highest volume of auctions for the city on record.
Preliminary results show that auction clearance rates rose week-on-week, from 38 per cent the previous week to 55 percent.
A total of 144 Adelaide auctions with a 68 percent success rate.
It was 45 percent in Perth and the 76 percent in Canberra, was the nation's best result.
Prices ranged from $180,000 at Albion in Melbourne to $5.71 million for a seven bedroom house at Strathfield in Sydney.
The two bedroom 2/25 Ridley Street 1960s apartment price through Barry Plant Sunshine was just $10,000 up on its 2007 sale.
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Footballers star in Super Saturday auction success

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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has promoted the benefits of a “30-minute city” in explaining his approach to cities and urban transport.
The opposition infrastructure spokesman, Anthony Albanese, notes he talked about this idea at the National Press Club in 2014.
The reality is that the 30-minute city is hardly a new idea in town planning, but it is good to see political leaders recognising its value and grappling with what it means. It’s likely to bring significant change to how we build our cities.
<h2>The urban time travel budget</h2>
People across the world, in every city and in all historical cities, have an average travel time budget of one hour – around 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening. The historic walking city spread out only 2-4km across, the tram city about 10km and the steam train city about 20km, before the car city went 40-50km out. All were 30-minute cities.
Some people choose to live where they can have a much lower travel time and some choose much longer, especially in far outer suburbs. But the average is around 30 minutes for the journey to work.
Only when a city is becoming dysfunctional does the average start to blow out. Data shows this in Sydney outer areas in recent decades. When this happens people demand faster transit options. The real estate market trend is for people to move into areas where they can reduce travel times.
The 30-minute city concept has become very useful for town planning as it helps plan more strategically for where development should happen or not happen.
Although history suggests there is a strong market for living within the 30-minute city, the politics of land development usually interferes. Land owners on the urban fringe will always be looking to make squillions out of rezoning their land for suburbs rather than rural purposes. And there are always people who are ready to stop any density increases in their neighbourhood as the redevelopment market requires.
Why it is very important to see bipartisan support for the 30-minute city is that Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are already way out of kilter with this goal. Any city that has sprawled more than 50km will be unable to keep those suburbs within a 30-minute travel time budget – traffic congestion keeps average speeds in most cities below 40km/h. The average morning and evening commute in these four big cities is now more than 30 minutes.
All the strategic plans of these cities are therefore suggesting that redevelopment must be increased and assisted. Infrastructure can help density. As Turnbull says: If you invest in good transport infrastructure, then density gives greater amenity because there are more things to do, you’re closer to work, you’re closer to university.
The Tony Abbott era presented cities with very large road projects that would just increase urban sprawl. These projects ultimately would not have reduced travel times as they would not help create redevelopment.
So how do we help our cities achieve 30-minute travel times?
<h2>The urban package</h2>
Turnbull often refers to three factors that are emerging as the government’s urban package: urban rail, urban density and urban land value capture. These are the approaches that can be seen in cities globally.
1) Urban rail
Several speeches have indicated the Turnbull government is agnostic about the modes of transport it favours. Turnbull has said:
Coalition governments have been very reluctant to fund rail, support rail, (they) prefer to support road. My government will support transport infrastructure regardless of its mode. It depends on what makes most sense. And the reality is it will be a mixture of both (road and rail).
What is left of the road package from the Abbott government is being supported. Rural communities will put up their hands for more roads. But Turnbull’s overwhelming message (his consistent personal stance for decades) is that he likes new urban rail systems. He wants a fast rail link to Sydney’s second airport when it opens.
Before he was prime minister, Turnbull said the Gold Coast Light Rail was his favourite in the world. There was not much doubt he would fund its small extension for the Commonwealth Games. Most significantly, it showed urban rail was back on the federal agenda.
Cities across the country have thus been gearing up to put urban rail back into their priority plans. This is not just an Australian phenomenon; cities worldwide are finding new rail technology helps them create 30-minute cities.
2) Urban density
Turnbull has stressed that rail projects enable density in activity centres across the city. He understands how infrastructure is needed for “an integrated investment that creates amenity, value, liveability, affordability and economic growth" and that “communities need smart, well-designed, walkable density”.
In other words, cities need infrastructure and redevelopment that create activity centres where people can live and work within 30 minutes by foot, cycle, bus, car or train/tram. This is the agenda for all our big cities. It has been a big agenda for all state governments in the past decade: the need for strong urban centres that can compete with other global cities for private capital and jobs.
“Walkable density” … I think we will hear that many more times. So how do we achieve that?
3) Urban land value capture
We need to find ways to fund urban rail and urban activity centres together. We need transit-oriented development, but so often we get transit without the land development, or density without the transit.
The secret seems to be combining government and business to do both as one package. The private sector is necessary – after all, it does the land development in cities – but the approach globally is now to seek ways to have the private sector build both the land development and the transit.
The new mantra is to fund the integrated agenda through urban land value capture. This makes use of the fact that when urban rail is built it increases land value around stations.
This agenda has yet to be fully explained. As NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley said:
Our governments need to spell out what … [they] are doing when they talk about value capture. Walk into any pet store in the nation and the resident budgerigar is squawking on about value capture.
<h2>Transforming how cities develop</h2>
The CUSP Entrepreneur Rail Model explains the concept and takes it further. It redefines the core players away from transport planners and suggests land-development expertise should lead the exercise of rail building.
This offers a focused approach for urban areas ripe for intensification. The model shows how governments can best capture the value created from higher densities around new rail stations in direct partnership with the rail builders.
Private land development expertise is needed to recognise where the potential exists for significant accessibility-based land value increase. Private bids can therefore create opportunities to directly fund the railway. If governments can’t enable this process, then you don’t get the rail or the land development – they depend on each other.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure Transport and Cities has been taking submissions on:
The role of transport connectivity in stimulating infrastructure and economic activity.
Our submission on the Entrepreneur Rail Model prompted two hours of questioning. One questioner said:
Your paper is about the reconceptualisation of the role of government agencies.
He is right.
The committee’s questions left little doubt that there is a mood for change in how we build our cities. As Torkel Patterson, from Central Japan Railways Company, said at a recent Sydney rail conference:
It’s not transportation, it’s transformation that we need.
There is serious debate across Australia about this. Most state governments have little room for more capital spending and are under pressure to provide urban rail.
But the approach that provides money for transport projects at will – treating Treasury like an ATM, as Turnbull says – and isn’t integrated with the 30-minute city redevelopment agenda, is not what we need in our cities.
If cities want help with urban rail, they will need the private sector to provide much of the funding, with outcomes that create the 30-minute centres we desperately need. They can do this only if the states develop a mechanism that enables redevelopment opportunities, their activity centres, to be the basis of integrated rail and land development. This is not what states have been doing. They must begin now.
If the 30-minute city goal can indeed guide urban rail investment, then we can unlock the necessary dense activity centres. This is the holy grail of town planning. Such a model is used in Japan, so can we make an Australian model work?
Our leaders' speeches on the 30-minute city should be a signal for intense activity by federal, state and local government agencies as well as private sector firms. Government processes and consortia will need to gear up to deliver this emerging agenda.
Peter Newman is professor of Sustainability, Curtin University and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-newman-1858" target="_blank">here.</a>
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