Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

Joel Robinson

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

&nbsp;

Developer GURNER™ Group has revealed $1.65 billion in residential sales nationally across the 12 months to December 2025, driven largely by the continued momentum of its Docklands wellness-focused precinct, Elysium Fields.

The sales result was generated across seven projects in Victoria and New South Wales, headlined by Elysium Fields, GURNER™’s $2.75 billion mixed-use precinct planned for Harbour Esplanade in Docklands.

The project has recorded more than $500 million in sales across the first three towers, equating to around 580 apartments sold.

The first tower, Helios, has now sold out of its 240 private residences, with GURNER™ preparing to release a premium penthouse collection comprising 15 three-bedroom penthouses in coming weeks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370975]

Elysium Fields is being developed on the long-held 20,000 sqm Docklands site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade, which had remained undeveloped for more than two decades prior to GURNER™ taking over the project around four years ago.

Construction has now commenced across four towers ranging between 18 and 30 storeys, with Hamilton Marino and Maxcon appointed as builders.

Once complete, the precinct is expected to comprise around 1,100 residences, alongside retail, hospitality and public realm uses integrated throughout the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370981]

Designed by Fraser &amp; Partners in collaboration with GURNER™ Design House, the project has been positioned around the developer’s broader focus on wellness-led residential living.

“We don’t sell apartments. We create a true luxury lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market today,” Founder and Executive Chairman Tim Gurner said.

“To deliver that requires an extraordinary level of detail, coordination and discipline across multiple verticals, from design and hospitality through to wellness and service.”

“We’ve always believed that living extends far beyond the physical residence. It’s about how you feel the moment you arrive, how you live day-to-day, and the ecosystem that supports that.” 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370977]

The project’s design places a heavy focus on landscaping, wellness amenities and biophilic design principles.

Plans include around 3,700 sqm of landscaped gardens and open space throughout the precinct, alongside a retail and dining offering spanning approximately 5,000 sqm.

The broader public realm strategy centres around what GURNER™ describes as the “Path of Life”, an urban forest and landscaped pedestrian environment intended to connect the various buildings and wellness spaces across the precinct.

The apartments themselves will incorporate a range of wellness-focused inclusions, including purified air and water systems, circadian lighting, antimicrobial surfaces, and optional in-home wellness upgrades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370980]

Gurner said the company’s experience through its Saint Haven wellness clubs had directly informed the residential offering now being incorporated into Elysium Fields.

“We’re seeing a clear global shift toward longevity, performance and proactive health,” Gurner said.

“Our role is to deliver that in a way that feels seamless, highly private and beautifully resolved within the environments we create.”

A large component of the wellness offering is planned through the resident amenity and health facilities proposed within the precinct.

That includes plans for bathing and recovery facilities spread throughout the towers, incorporating mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, flotation therapy, red light therapy and wellness lounges.

The developer is also seeking approvals for what it describes as a “reverse ageing medical clinic” within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370978]

According to project information released by the group, the proposed facility would include cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, infrared and dry saunas, PEMF beds, MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans and blood analysis services.

Within the first tower, Helios, residents will also have access to a dedicated amenity offering known as the Sky Private Club.

The upper 15 levels of the building will include private lounges, dining spaces, rooftop amenities and optional private wellness studios integrated within residences.

The Helios tower itself comprises 260 apartments ranging between 60 sqm and 300 sqm, including a collection of penthouses.

That includes a planned two-storey penthouse spanning around 600 sqm with uninterrupted bay views.

The Elysium Fields precinct is being delivered in partnership with Digital Harbour Holdings, a consortium that includes the Liberman family, which controls the development rights across the Docklands site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370979]

The sales result comes as GURNER™ continues expanding its national development pipeline beyond Victoria.

“We have a strong pipeline across Australia and are now focused on scaling into key markets including New South Wales and Queensland, while continuing to build on our Melbourne base,” Gurner said.

“We currently have more than $3 billion in the market, growing to over $5 billion by October, and expect to materially outperform last year in the 2026 calendar year.”

The result also reflects the continued strength of the upper-end apartment market in Melbourne, particularly for owner-occupier-focused product with large-scale amenity and lifestyle offerings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144441]

Record result anchored by the Group’s “utopian” Elysium Fields precinct – defying market headwinds in Docklands.

Elysium Fields drive Gurner to $1.65 billion in apartment sales over 2025

National Australia Bank (NAB) will fund <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera</a>, a $1 billion, 52-level luxury residential tower being developed by Central Equity in one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held coastal locations at Northcliffe.

The project, launched recently by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a>, one of Victoria’s largest private residential developers, comes at a time when construction funding for large residential developments has become increasingly competitive as lenders tighten exposure to the sector.

Multiplex has been appointed the builder, and construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365784]

Since its first project, Central Equity has delivered more than 85 residential developments with a combined end value exceeding $8 billion.

Palmera reflects Central Equity’s growing focus on the Gold Coast luxury apartment market and continues a relationship between Central Equity and NAB that dates back to the late 1980s, when the bank funded one of Melbourne’s earliest inner-city residential towers at a time when high-rise apartment living in the CBD was largely unproven.

“NAB’s funding of Central Equity’s $36 million CBD development in the late 1980’s to the financing of the billion-dollar tower today highlights the long-term relationship between the two organisations in delivering major residential projects” said Central Equity Founder and Chairman Eddie Kutner.

He said NAB’s early support was instrumental in helping establish the company’s development model.

“When we commenced our first residential tower in the late 1980s the concept of funding off-the-plan apartments was still largely untested in Australia,” Kutner said.

“NAB recognised the opportunity early and supported the project when others were uncertain. That relationship has now continued for more than 37 years across many developments.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Central Equity was established in 1987 when Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank precinct were still dominated by warehouses and commercial buildings. Fewer than 100 residents lived in Southbank at the time, and large-scale residential development in the inner city was not widely considered.

Recognising changing demographics and lifestyle preferences, the company began developing high-rise residential projects designed to bring permanent residents into the city centre.

Central Equity has provided accommodation for approximately 40,000 residents across Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank, while also incorporating supporting infrastructure including essential lifestyle facilities like retail spaces, childcare facilities and neighbourhood activity centres.

Central Equity has spent many years assembling the Palmera development site on the corner of Garfield Terrace and Frederick Street in Northcliffe, creating a supersite of around 3,300 sqm.

The developer said the Palmera apartment tower reflects its long-term view of the Gold Coast as a growing and increasingly diversified economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365768]

Supported by infrastructure including the light rail network, major road upgrades expanded education, hospital and medical facilities and continued expansion at the Gold Coast Airport with more international and domestic flights.

Positioned in the tightly held Northcliffe precinct, the 52-level tower will deliver 347 apartments, targeting buyers seeking a high-end coastal lifestyle, from downsizers to interstate investors.

Designed by Marchese Partners with interiors by DBI, Palmera has been conceived as a next-generation residential offering, featuring a collection of oversized apartments, with premium three-bedroom residences offering sweeping northern views stretching from Surfers Paradise through to Burleigh Heads.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

NAB funds $1 billion Surfers Paradise apartment development, Palmera

Two years after completing one of the newest developments in North Sydney, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> is turning its attention to the rapidly evolving St Leonards apartment market.

The developer, which completed AURA by Aqualand on North Sydney's Walker Street, has lodged plans for a 5,918 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/33-37-herbert-street-st-leonards-nsw-2065">33-37 Herbert Street, St Leonards,</a> seeking approval for a pair of residential towers rising above a shared podium opposite Royal North Shore Hospital.

The proposal forms part of the broader transformation underway across the St Leonards-Crows Nest precinct, where former industrial and commercial sites are increasingly being redeveloped into high-density mixed-use projects tied to major transport infrastructure.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc428cf-fe70-4cac-9cd5-264ad53af62c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=otKSnHtbjAvAddOnovyXQMgcAwE6DMe1" />

According to the planning documents, the site sits “within the St Leonards–Crows Nest Strategic Centre, identified by the NSW Government as a key area for accommodating future jobs and housing across Sydney.”

The proposal has been designed by fjcstudio, formerly FJMT Studio, and is being progressed through the State Significant Development pathway due to its scale and affordable housing provision.

The scheme would comprise 413 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses fronting Herbert Street. The project would also include communal open space, landscaping, a swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s play areas and podium-level resident amenities.

Planning documents show the development would consist of a part-13, part-39 storey tower form positioned above a four-storey podium.

“The development comprises a unified podium that activates the street interface, and two setback towers to accommodate new housing supply while maintaining an appropriate human scale at ground level,” fjcstudio noted in its Design Report.

The northern and southern towers have been shaped to respond to the surrounding skyline while also limiting overshadowing impacts to nearby public open space, particularly Talus Reserve.

The design report said the differing tower heights were intended to “contribute to a varied skyline while responding to the surrounding built form context and solar access considerations.”

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36da62dc-ff9e-41f2-a7e3-7be38373751c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.45%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=Mo6Rp2r.XRLTzIfg_PEEpw8NepDH8UBs" />

The site sits directly opposite Royal North Shore Hospital and within walking distance of both St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

While the site itself sits just outside the formal Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development boundary, the planning documents repeatedly reference its alignment with the broader TOD objectives reshaping the Lower North Shore.

“The site is located adjacent to St Leonards Station and in close proximity to Crows Nest Metro which is within the Crows Nest Transit Orientated Development Accelerated Precinct which has been identified by the NSW Government to support housing delivery,” the Design Verification Statement noted.

According to fjcstudio, the project has been designed to respond to the broader transition occurring across St Leonards, where increasing residential density is being concentrated around transport infrastructure and employment hubs.

“The broader precinct is undergoing significant change, with a mix of existing mid-rise buildings and newer high-density developments,” the report stated.

“Recent and approved projects indicate a consistent shift toward taller built form, typically organised as tower-and-podium typologies with more active ground levels.”

The proposal includes close to 6,000 sqm of retail and commercial space across the ground floor and podium levels, designed to create a more activated street edge along Herbert Street.

Aqualand’s plans would also introduce a landscaped podium shared between the two towers, with communal open space in the form of a podium rooftop designed to support resident interaction and improve urban greening outcomes. The scheme would also introduce pocket parks at the northern and southern ends of the site, including a landscaped area at the corner of Herbert and Ella streets designed to improve pedestrian amenity and soften the streetscape.

&nbsp;

The proposal is being progressed through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway, which was introduced to accelerate housing supply across the state. The application was declared State Significant Development in April 2025 following an expression of interest process.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="faf6d97d-2671-454f-b85a-fe1c6a7be608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=diVd28OBVr5.YV.7prrOz.uAanwwwm7a" />

St Leonards has been particularly active with new developments in recent weeks. Developer SP Setia’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-sp-setia-targets-st-leonards-skyline-with-40-storey-tod-tower">plans for a new 42-storey tower</a> recently went on exhibition through the same pathway, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">Stockland’s 52-storey tower proposal</a> was also recently unveiled.

Aside from the St Leonards project, which is expected to take around nine months to move through the approvals process ahead of a potential 2027 launch, Aqualand is also preparing to launch Boronia, a new apartment project in Roseville comprising around 111 apartments on Larkin Street.

The developer also has approvals in place for the next stage of the Barangaroo precinct, which will feature new residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, alongside a new metro entry across the five-hectare site.

More than 50 new retail destinations are planned for Central Barangaroo, alongside a 270-metre-long boulevard connecting Hickson Park to Nawi Cove. Together with Harbour Park, more than 50 per cent of the precinct will comprise public open space and parkland.

First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party

The Block

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If you're interested in buying the townhouse renovated by Deanne and Darren on The Block Triple Threat, you can expect to pay $1,654,000, according to price prediction website realAs.
The website has released its predictions for the upcoming South Yarra auctions, which are based on a tightly-held algorithm.
Deanne and Darren's renovation at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119444079" target="_blank">4/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured above) is likely to be the most expensive of the four properties, with an advertised price of $1.5 million.
RealAs predicts the next most expensive to be Josh and Charlotte's at 1/27 Darling Street. It tips the triple storey townhouse will go for $1.55 million, with an advertised price of $1.4 million.
Jess and Ayden and Tim and Anastasia's apartments seem to be neck and neck, with RealAs predicting a $1,446,000 price tag for Tim and Anastasia's at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/27-darling-street-south-yarra-vic-3141-2011881553" target="_blank">2/27 Darling Street</a>. Jess and Ayden's <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119448343" target="_blank">unit three</a> is only $20,000 behind, at $1,426,000, despite the $100,000 price gap between their quoted prices.
<ul>
<li>1/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.4 million RealAs: $1.55 million
<ul>
<li>2/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.3 million RealAs: $1.446 million
<ul>
<li>3/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.2 million RealAs: $1.426 million
<ul>
<li>4/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.5 million RealAs: $1.654 million
According to RealAs, their average prediction is within 5% of the final sale price of properties, and close to 90% of their predictions fall within a 10% margin of the final sale price.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/the-block-townhouses-tipped-to-sell-for-15m-plus/story-fndba8uq-1227298820902" target="_blank">News Corp earlier this week</a>, Wakelin Property Advisory director Paul Nugent also backed Deanne and Darren's apartment to take out the highest price, pricing it between $1.6 million and $1.8 million.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Darren and Dee's renovation tipped to top The Block and sell for more than $1.6 million

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For the potential buyers of The Block Triple Threat townhouses, the fully-furnished properties with new interiors offer a hidden benefit.
If their purchase is used for investment purposes, the buyer of one apartment could make almost $1.4 million worth of deductions within the course of their ownership.
BMT Tax Depreciation, which assembles the depreciation reports for The Block properties each season, has revealed that investors will be able to claim between $39,986 and $54,163 in depreciation benefits in their first year of ownership.
Tim and Anastasia's renovation at 2/27 Darling Street in South Yarra offers the greatest deductions, with between $44,316 and $54,163 claimable in the first year. In total, their apartment offers a maximum deduction of $1,389,708.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/graph%20april%2014%20one.jpg" alt="">
Source: BMT Tax Depreciation
Depreciation, the declining value of a property or its items, can be claimed as a loss in investment properties, and therefore offers a significant tax benefit for investors.
Of all the items in the Block townhouses, it's the pricey designer kitchen appliances that offer the greatest depreciation benefits.
In Tim and Anastasia's triple level unit, for example, there is a total deduction of $19,842 available over five years for their kitchen appliances. In just the first year, investors could make a deduction of $3,445 on kitchen items.
Air conditioning offers the next greatest deduction, with $12,300 available over five years. Televisions and audio-visual equipment, window coverings and gas heating all also provide thousands of dollars in deductions.
The tax deductions peak for each couple's projects in the second year of ownership, with almost $60,000 potentially deductible in Tim and Anastasia's project in the second year.
<ul>
<li>Tim and Anastasia's depreciation:</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/depreciation-april-14-two.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Josh and Charlotte's depreciation:</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/depreciation-april-14-one.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Ayden and Jess's depreciation:</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/depreciation-april-14-three.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Darren and Dee's depreciation:</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/depreciation-april-14-four.jpg" alt="">
Source: BMT Tax Depreciation
The Block Triple Threat townhouses go to auction on 28 April.
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The Block Triple Threat's depreciation tax treat for investors

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

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The four properties in The Block Triple Threat will be going under the hammer on Tuesday 28 April, with each team listing their renovations.
The open for inspection has been set for the weekend of 11 April, and as <a href="/expert-insights/the-block-on-show-at-this-weekends-open-for-inspection">in previous seasons</a> fans and spectators will be able to tour through the South Yarra townhouses.
<a href="/expert-insights/building/david-wood-of-hockingstuart-to-auction-charlotte-and-joshs-the-block-triple-threat-apartment">Josh and Charlotte</a> have chosen hockingstuart's Mark Konishi and Georgia Whitford to market their unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119439203" target="_blank">1/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured below). David Wood of Hockingstuart Albert Park will auction their renovation. Wood has appeared on previous seasons, notably securing <a href="/expert-insights/buying/steve-and-chantelles-auctioneer-david-wood-on-the-blocks-record-breaking-win">the winning result for Steve and Chantelle</a> in The Block Fans v Faves.
<img src="/images/2015/04/02/south%20yarra%20ap%20one.jpg" width="800" height="600">
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/27-darling-street-south-yarra-vic-3141-2011881553" target="_blank">Apartment Two</a> (pictured below), renovated by Tim and Anastasia, has been listed with Biggin &amp; Scott agent Russell Cambridge. Last season, Cambridge worked with Deanne and Darren for the campaign of their Glasshouse apartment.
<img src="/images/2015/04/02/south%20yarra%20ap%20two.jpg" alt="">
Ayden and Jess, who have renovated <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119448343" target="_blank">3/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured below), are going with Joel Ser and Adam Joske of Gary Peer &amp; Associates.
<img src="/images/2015/04/02/south%20yarra%20ap%20three.jpg" alt="">
The unit of returning renovators Deanne and Darren at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119444079" target="_blank">4/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured below) <a href="/expert-insights/building/dea-and-darren-decide-on-damien-cooley-for-the-block-triple-threat">will be auctioned by Damien Cooley</a>, while their apartment is marketed by Jellis Craig's Andrew McCann. McCann and Cooley teamed up last season to secure a win for brothers Simon and Shannon.
<img src="/images/2015/04/02/south%20yarra%20ap%20four.jpg" alt="">
Deanne and Darren and Ayden and Jess's listings are the only ones so far that make a mention of their reality television heritage.
The three storey townhouses each have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with two parking spaces.
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The Block Triple Threat units listed and auction date revealed

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Auctioneer David Wood of hockingstuart Albert Park is set to return to The Block this season to sell Charlotte and Josh's apartment.
Mark Konishi of hockingstuart South Yarra is the listing agent.
Wood's greatest success on The Block so far came when he auctioned off Steve and Chantelle's winning apartment on The Block Fans v Faves. The Albert Park apartment in the former Dux Theatre sold for $2.47 million, a record price for the show.
Steve and Chantelle, dubbed the season's "renovation rookies", pocketed the $636,000 above-reserve "profit", along with a $100,000 prize.
At the time, Wood told Property Observer that he would be "delighted" to return to the show.
However, he didn't make an appearance last season, on The Block Glasshouse, where two teams only sold their apartments for a disappointing $10,000 above reserve.
Previously, he appeared on <a href="/news/agents-back-at-the-block-hockingstuart-set-to-sell-in-the-block-albert-park">The Block Sky High</a>, auctioning Trixie and Johnno's penthouse apartment at 142 Park Street, which sold for $1,605,000.
Charlotte and Josh, a chippy and food stylist from Manly in New South Wales, won the show's most recent room reveal with their en suite. The black and white tiled room featured a timber vanity, double black and white sinks, and white plantation shutters.
According to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.therealestateconversation.com.au/2015/03/24/the-blocks-first-apartment-auction/1427198400" target="_blank">The Real Estate Conversation</a>, Josh and Charlotte's apartment will be listed with a price guide of $1.4 million on 30 March. The property will be open for inspection on April 11 and 12.
Meanwhile, it appears returning couple Darren and Deanne are considering careers in property development. The <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-3007202/The-Block-double-Ds-eye-renovation-career" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a> reports that Darren Jolly is hoping to become a registered builder, while Deanne has been "inundated with requests" for her redecorating services from both commercial and individual clients. She also told AAP that she has been considering future television appearances.
 
 
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David Wood of hockingstuart to auction Charlotte and Josh's The Block Triple Threat apartment

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Last night’s Buyers’ Jury on The Block Triple Threat had contestants and viewers on the edge of their seats as potential buyers came in to inspect their handiwork.
The area attracts a high-end clientele so The Block bought in a diverse mix of people, at different stages of their lives and all with different intentions for the property.
Frank Valentic presented two serious property investors looking to rent out the apartments. Nicole Jacobs presented the properties to a retiring couple looking into the area for its attractive atmosphere, prime for people in later stages of their lives.
My buyers were two very different couples. Mature couple Jenny and Murray were looking to add to their property portfolio. Contrastingly, Sophia and Damien were a young professional couple looking to upgrade to the premium lifestyle the South Yarra area has to offer.
The lesson here was to demonstrate there is no point in designing a space with a specific buyer in mind as this only serves to limit your potential market. Blockheads learnt through first hand experience, the buyers market is a vastly varied one, and this should always be kept in the back of their minds when designing and renovating.
When taking a look at the contestants’ ensuites, not only did the buyers appreciate aesthetics, they also highly valued functionality. To their credit, all Block contestants had very strong ensuite designs to their advantage with the buyers.
In keeping with the South Yarra property market, the spaces all had a luxury feel - important to all the potential buyers. All contestants hit the mark with this, cleverly manipulating the functionality of each space.
Ayden and Jess stood out to the buyers as they provided a door around the toilet, considering the need for privacy in a shared space. Charlotte and Josh could have further improved their room (pictured above) by providing more storage. Both Tim and Anastasia and Daz and Dea could have carried more favour by considering the needs of their potential tenants in closer detail, such as providing towel racks that were closer to the shower.
What the buyers thought:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh – 24.5</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia – 26.5</li>
<li>Ayden and Jess – 25</li>
<li>Dea and Daz – 26.5</li>
</ul>
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.
Feature photo courtesy of Elizabeth Allnutt Photograph/Channel 9.
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Buyers know best: The Block's Greville Pabst

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The Block Triple Threat last night had the buyers’ advocates judging the contestants’ living rooms and dining areas.
Blockheads learned very quickly that the smaller touches made a big impression with the judges.
Committing to creating a look that appeals to a wider buyers market as possible creates value. By assigning budget to high quality fittings, furnishing and finishes, the Block contestants discovered they would be more likely to attract a wide range of potential buyers. While these details are important to some buyers, natural light and open living areas also provide extra space for buyers keen on entertaining and living in a spacious apartment.
Charlotte and Josh demonstrated how to creatively execute design continuity. Their rooms had a great flow between the dining to living area. Because the living spaces connected into the terrace, it gave the property a great openness that will appeal to buyers. Their digital setup was also well in tune with the contemporary, savvy South Yarra demographic.
Ayden &amp; Jess and Tim &amp; Anastasia were let down during judging due to minor details which could turn into issues for potential buyers. These details needed to be fixed before buyers view the property. For Ayden &amp; Jess, their floorboards and Tim &amp; Anastasia, their ceiling were both issues in this instance. Dea and Darren showed how large spaces can make a great impression, but their incomplete, low ceilings detracted from the openness of their living areas.
Making an impact in the living room is one of the most important areas of renovating so renovators need to consider carefully who will be using the property as needs will be different. Whether it will be families, single occupants, senior-aged occupants or tenants, living rooms, the space needs to warm, inviting and relaxing.
<div>Contestant scores</div>
<ul>
<li>Charlotte &amp; Josh – 22</li>
<li>Tim &amp; Anastasia – 24</li>
<li>Ayden &amp; Jess – 21</li>
<li>Dea &amp; Daz – 18</li>
</ul>
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.
Feature photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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Finishes make first impressions: The Block's Greville Pabst

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The former NAB banker Lukas Kamay has been sentenced to jail for seven years, three months. The minimum served with be four years, six months.

Kamay was accused of using insider Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) information to make over $7 million by trading in the Australian dollar online over 10 months.

Police alleged Kamay, of Melbourne, used confidential ABS statistics to trade online, betting against foreign exchange derivative movements in the Australian dollar after allegedly being in receipt of national economic, retail trade and labour-force statistics before the normal 11.30am release.

Kamay plead guily to the charges. His accomplice, former ABS analyst Christopher Hill, was sentenced to three years and three months, to serve a minimum of two years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=600]

Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said it was "the worst instance of insider trading to come before the courts in this country".

Kamay spent some of the proceeds on an apartment in The Block Albert Park.

His headline grabbing Albert Park purchase was the luxury apartment decorated by the runner-up Adelaide twins, Alisa and Lysandra which sold at its April auction for $2,375,000 —<a href="https://www.dinglepartners.com.au/index.cfm?pageCall=property&amp;propertyID=2618525" style="line-height: 1.3em;" target="_blank"> a massive $616,000 above the reserve of $1,759,000</a>. 

The Sunday Herald Sun <a href="https://ow.ly/i/5wuz5/original" target="_blank">uncovered Kamay's $2,375,000 purchase</a>.

<img alt="HS_cover_SUN.jpg" src="https://static.ow.ly/photos/original/5wuz5.jpg" title="HS_cover_SUN.jpg">

Source: Ow.ly

The three bedroom apartment was marketed for Alisa and Lysandra, the former SA police officers, by the Melbourne CBD agents, Anton Wongtrakun and Rochelle Wilson from Dingle Partners.

Apartment 3 at 47 O'Grady Street (feature picture above) was resold mid-2014.

Investors paid $2,375,000 to buy after the televised initial purchase did not proceed to settlement.

The replacement buyers had the apartment advertised for rent at $2,500 a week through Dingle Partners.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Seven years jail for The Block Albert Park-buying ABS insider trader Lukas Kamay

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Last night’s buyers’ advocates on The Block Triple Threat saw three rooms that have the potential to add immense value to the contestants’ properties: a laundry, a powder room, and a wine cellar.
Here is a rundown of the scores the Buyers’ Jury gave the Blockheads last night:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh – 20.5</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia – 25.5</li>
<li>Ayden and Jess – 23</li>
<li>Dea and Daz – 26.5</li>
</ul>
The rooms that we saw in last night’s episode are non-essential spaces – not every property has them. But my biggest advice is that if they are to be included, they need to be perfect in order to add real value to the property.
The wine cellar is a Block first, which meant that not everybody got it right.
When including a wine cellar, it’s important to know what buyers are looking for and more importantly, what functionally constitutes a wine cellar. Dea and Daz’s outstanding cellar (pictured above) entices buyers with its vast stock, which is enough to draw a potential buyer in. However, Tim and Anastasia stand out with this room because they were the only ones to include temperature control systems – making it a proper wine cellar that will not be compromised by the South Yarra demographic.
<img src="/images/2015/03/11/IMG_19413.JPG" alt="">
Buyer's advocate judges Greville Pabst (left) and Frank Valentic (right) in Dea and Daz's cellar.
While laundry facilities can be found in most properties, a private laundry room is not always included in every home. The rest of the buyers’ jury and myself agreed that a laundry is at the very least, a functional room.
This means they need to have space. Charlotte &amp; Josh as well as Daz &amp; Dea could have greatly benefitted if they took priority over space across all three of their rooms, rather than including an extra storage space. When thinking about putting in extra storage areas, Blockheads need to ensure that their rooms have enough space first.
Additionally, powder rooms are extra bathrooms that can be highly sought after as well as adding to the luxe of a property. What the contestants across the board managed to do well is that they ensured their powder rooms flowed on from the rest of their previous finished bathrooms. Buyers appreciate continuity between the rooms’ styles, this is especially important.
As finishes are particularly critical to buyers, contestants need to be aware that laminates are not going to cut it for the South Yarra demographic.
All in all it was agreed that these non-essential rooms might tip a potential buyer over to be the last bidder standing. 
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a>.
Feature photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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Non-essential rooms have to be perfect to add value: The Block's Greville Pabst's room reviews

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The Block South Yarra is slipping.
It had a poor 609,000 viewers Wednesday night, it’s lowest Block ratings this season outside of its Thursday night Unlocked show. 
There were 191,000 Sydney metro viewers and 183,000 in Melbourne, according to the five city metro OzTam ratings. There were 127,000 in Brisbane, 61,000 in Perth and 47,000 in Brisbane.
Last night's regular Thursday Unlocked show made way for the NRL season opener on Channel 9.
Title Tattle reckons the boss David Gyngell, with more series in the pipeline for late this year, must be possibly considering replacing the reality show with The Big Bang Theory instead, with The Block over to the Gem channel.
Let's not forget that The Block started out as one night a week, with then proprietor Kerry Packer not being sure as to its likely success. "You're kidding me...What viewers watching paint dry?," is the cleaned-up version of Kerry's initial thoughts on the program idea. Episode one attracted more than two million viewers!
Interestingly the viewers who have turned off more of late have been from its new adopted home town, Melbourne.
They were underpinning <a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency">it </a><a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency">in the</a><a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency"> early weeks</a>. 
Crikey television ratings columnist Glenn Dwyer noted yesterday The Block was doing "miserably".
Noting 7.30 on ABC had more metro viewers twice this week.
"This version of The Block is a dud," wrote Dwyer.
"Being beaten by 7.30 didn't happen last year." 
He added that The Block was suffering from viewers being too familiar with its formula.
 
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