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

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
This week on The Block: Triple Threat the contestants renovated a second bedroom.
Scoring by property buyers advocate jury:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh - 24 
</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia – 24.5 
</li>
<li>Aidan and Hess – 19.5 
</li>
<li>Dee and Darren – 23.5</li>
</ul>
The general consensus from myself and my fellow buyer’s advocates this week were:
<ul>
<li>Natural light</li>
</ul>
The level of natural light is an important factor that can impact enjoyment of the room. The best rooms are those light filled via northerly light. This week saw a divide between both the buyer’s advocates and the contestants on whether Dee &amp; Darren’s and Tim &amp; Anastasia’s bedrooms were too dark.
I think that light rooms are more appealing to a broader range of buyers.
<ul>
<li>The inclusion of a dressing table</li>
</ul>
Either built-in or freestanding greatly benefits a bedroom and gives it an extra level of luxe, which is another factor that made Tim &amp; Anastasia’s room the top scoring one for the week for us. Attention to detail to window furnishings can make or break a bedroom
I agree with the other buyer’s advocates that Charlotte &amp; Josh’s window finish was lacking and therefore detracted from the room. Contrastingly, Tim &amp; Anastasia’s excellent finishes on their windows added to the luxury feel of the space.
<ul>
<li>Bedrooms should have an abundance of storage for clothing, shoes, accessories and more</li>
</ul>
Aiden &amp; Jess could have greatly benefitted from having more space. Renovators should think ahead to make the room versatile for buyers.
Renovators should not speculate on the demographic of the buyer – they might be a young couple or a retired couple that will use a spare room as a guest room – but it also could be a family that needs a room for their children.
Greville Pabst is CEO of <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CEAQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbpproperty.com%2F&amp;ei=Jb4hUevODOyamQX6mIGYDQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNH0u8Ji9ymluq8AKARfB-KjHZ-aFA&amp;sig2=DNsIKQR7tQj4PtYuiJOHPA&amp;bvm=bv.42553238,d.dGY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WBP Property Group.</a>
Picture of Tim &amp; Anastasia courtesy of Channel 9.
</body></html>

gpabst-nAfzC8fgsR

The key ingredients for a great bedroom: The Block's Greville Pabst

<html><body>
Guest observation
On The Block: Triple Threat this week, Charlotte and Josh and Deanne and Darren received the highest scores from the property buyer's advocates jury.
I advised the contestants then to renovate to the area's demographic, and compare their renovations to hotels in the local area.
The scores from the buyer's advocate jury:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh: 26</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia: 19</li>
<li>Aidan and Jess: 23.5</li>
<li>Dee and Darren: 26</li>
</ul>
Below are a list of features for renovators and investors to consider when it comes to bathrooms.
Some will pertain to powder rooms specifically, while others are more general comments about bathrooms.
<ul>
<li>Quality of finish</li>
</ul>
Consider tiles, bench tops and vanity / cabinetry, tiles and flooring, lighting, tap fittings, basin, glass screen fittings or shower screen, toilet (porcelain with soft close), metal towel racks and toilet roll holders (not plastic or imitation), soap dishes.
<ul>
<li>Design should be sleek, simple and practical. </li>
<li>
Bathroom should be well-lit, preferably with natural light, but also with white practical lighting. If there's no external window, could a skylight work? 
</li>
<li>
Space should be functional With practical basin (not something too shallow), adequate storage and bench space, as well as sufficient power outlets. Also, include a power point on the inside of the vanity, or behind the mirror if used for storage. Shower heads should be practical too, with sufficient water pressure. Check the pressure! 
</li>
<li>
Separate toilets are preferable, if possible. 
</li>
<li>
Use of natural materials Such as real timber, granite and porcelain. 
</li>
<li>
Frameless showers are popular and easier to clean. However, ensure the return adequately collects the water so the bathroom isn't flooded. 
</li>
<li>It's ideal to have external windows and adequate ventilation to allow light and air circulation. </li>
<li>
Have sufficient privacy with privacy glass and/or window furnishings, and perhaps a lockable door. 
</li>
<li>
Include a heated towel rack. Heated floors and heated lighting and exhaust fan should also be considered. 
</li>
<li>
Ensure bathroom is practical and not difficult to use for elderly or the young. If a toilet is too close to the wall it may be hard to access. Are there sharp corners that could cause injury? 
</li>
<li>
Baths and spas shouldn't be too close to the wall if freestanding. Make sure the bath can be cleaned easily and to facilitate air flow to reduce or prevent the occurrence of mould. 
</li>
<li>One basin or two? </li>
<li>
Non-slip tiles or flooring. Greville Pabst is CEO of <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;ved=0CEAQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wbpproperty.com%2F&amp;ei=Jb4hUevODOyamQX6mIGYDQ&amp;usg=AFQjCNH0u8Ji9ymluq8AKARfB-KjHZ-aFA&amp;sig2=DNsIKQR7tQj4PtYuiJOHPA&amp;bvm=bv.42553238,d.dGY" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.</li>
</ul>
Above: Deanne and Darren's bathroom, courtesy Channel 9.
 
</body></html>

How to renovate a bathroom: The Block's Greville Pabst

<html><body>
The Killarney Vale couple Kara and Kyal Demmrich – contestants on Channel Nine's The Block Albert Park series – have bought again on the NSW Central Coast.
Their new home is a cottage at Bateau Bay in the Wyong municipality that cost $580,000, with the prize money they earnt coming in handy. 
<div id="description" class="stackItem">
It is an original cottage,<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-bateau+bay-117226003" target="_blank"> </a>with a north facing front yard on a level 639 square metre block, within easy walk to Shelly and Blue Lagoon Beaches.  
</div>
They sold this week for $735,000 at Killarney Vale, which is five ams away from their next project.
They bought, then renovated their first home in 2008 having paid $285,000, after getting married in February 2007.
Agent Chantel Laing-Chadwick at George Brand Real Estate Avoca Beach/Copacabana described their recently sold house as an "architectural masterpiece".
Last year the couple appeared in The Block: Fans v Faves as the so-called Super Ks.
Around the time of the April Albert Park auction, the couple indicated they were planning to launch a boutique renovations company called Diverse Design and Construct.
The couple also suggested they were considering a move from their home in the Tuggerah Lakes precinct.
“We haven’t thought about it too seriously, but our long-term goal is to get ourselves as close to the coast as possible. So we’re thinking about selling, maybe in the next 12 months," Kyal told Property Observer.
The Super Ks were given the highest reserve of any apartment – $1.9 million – after a stellar number of winning challenges and room reveals.
But they finished third behind Steve and Chantelle and Alisa and Lysandra on auction day.
They indicated they could pay off the mortgage with their $567,250 in prize money.
Bateau Bay's médian house price sits at <a href="/news">$500,000</a>, record levels, while Killarney Vale's median house price likewise tav record levels, but <a href="/news">$375,000</a>, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

The Block's Kyal and Kara buy at Bateau Bay and sell first home

<html><body>
The Killarney Vale couple Kara and Kyal Demmrich - contestants on Channel Nine's The Block Albert Park series - have sold their NSW Central Coast home for $735,000.
They bought it in 2008 for $285,000, having married in February 2007.
The opening bid was $650,000 with seven registered buyers at the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.au.open2view.com/properties/341968" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">24 February auction</a> offering. Agent Chantel Laing-Chadwick at George Brand Real Estate Avoca Beach/Copacabana described it as an "architectural masterpiece".
She emphasised the soaring high ceilings and generous use of open plan living.
"This cleverly designed home is drenched in sunlight from the floor to ceiling windows," said Laing-Chadwick.
It features four bedrooms, plus a study and separate loft area, set on a level 715 square metre block with room for a pool. 
Last year the couple appeared in The Block: Fans v Faves as the so-called Super Ks.
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The Block's Kyal and Kara sell on the NSW Central Coast

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Returning Block couple Deanne and Darren have selected veteran auctioneer Damien Cooley to sell their apartment on this season of The Block.
Their decision is no surprise, given Cooley <a href="/news/the-strategy-that-won-simon-and-shannon-the-block-glasshouse">secured the winning sales price</a> for brothers Shannon and Simon last season. Their $1.9 million apartment delivered them a profit of $335,000, $325,000 higher than Deanne and Darren's.
The "Triple Threat" moniker for this series seems to extend to Cooley. He's a three time Block winning auctioneer (selling Shannon and Simon's, Andrew and Jamie and Phil and Amity's apartments), who also happens to be tossing up between <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/damiencooley/status/562854250464956417" target="_blank">running three marathons this year</a>:
<img src="/images/2015/02/18/Picture%2050.png" alt="">
In total, Cooley has appeared on The Block six times, making him the most popular auctioneer on the show. This time, he's teaming up with Andrew McCann and Carla Fetta from Jellis Craig.
Fetta and McKann, who worked with Cooley to sell Shannon and Simon's apartment on The Block Glasshouse, said: "The combination of Damien's auctioneering skills paired with Jellis Craig's marketing and a great local presence with the South Yarra Office definitely makes us a dominating team for this series."
Cooley points to the team's track record, saying: "Andrew McCann and Carla Fetta were instrumental in last years win and Darren and Deanne recognised us as a formidable force in this series."
After their disappointing result on The Block Glasshouse, Deanne and Darren say they "realised the importance of an auctioneer".
"We went into this series six days later and he was the first phone call that I made – we wanted to lock him in straight away. He is the best of the best."
They're hoping Damien can help them get "every last dollar".
Cooley debuted on The Block in season two, auctioning the winning apartment of Andrew and Jamie. The then couple earned $78,000 plus an additional $100,000 winner's prize.
He then returned for season three, auctioning Mark and Duncan's renovated apartment. The duo made the lowest profit of any of the teams that season, with a $47,000 profit.
But Cooley was vindicated with the sale of Phil and Amity's apartment in The Block All Stars. The winning couple made a $295,000 profit when Cooley secured a $1.67 million bid for the two bedroom Bondi apartment.
Cooley also auctioned Matt and Kim's apartment on The Block Sky High, delivering a $1,205,000 million price for the couple, who took home a $250,000 profit.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Dea and Darren decide on Damien Cooley for The Block Triple Threat

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When the apartment Charlotte and Josh made over on this season of The Block was passed in at auction this weekend, many wondered if it was another case of The Block curse.
It seems, however, that it was merely a case of market forces at play.
The apartment, passed in at $390,000, <a href="/expert-insights/buying/curse-of-the-block-how-the-other-caroline-street-apartments-have-performed">was sold after auction for $445,000</a>, some $92,222 higher than the average apartment price Frank Valentic's syndicate of investors paid when they purchased the 18-apartment block.
Jarrod McCabe, buyers agent associate director of Wakelin Property Advisory, says the location of the one bedroom apartment "ticks many but not all the boxes".
"South Yarra is a wonderful suburb," says McCabe.
"Caroline Street is great as well in places, given its proximity The Domain and so on. However, the property is directly opposite a major school (Melbourne's Girls' Grammar) and there is likely to be a significant traffic issues at peak times."
McCabe explains that Wakelin Property Advisory chooses properties according to their location first, then the property type and its presentation.
The apartment's position within the block itself could also impact its potential for capital growth.
"The property itself sits within a catwalk, three storey block, in a top corner.
"Often, catwalk properties aren't a great investment as there can be a lot of pedestrian traffic past occupants' windows which can be a privacy and security issue, deterring buyers. However, in this instance, the property is at the top of the building and is not a through route to other apartments," says McCabe. The apartment block has been recently renovated, with new paint, and offers dedicated off-street parking, an inclusion McCabe says "is a mandatory requirement in our opinion for apartment investments".
McCabe also notes that Charlotte and Josh's renovation of the 47 square metre, one bedroom apartment meets a "reasonably high standard", and is "contemporary without being too avant garde". However, the apartment has not been fully renovated, with the front door and laundry both "needing attention".
While McCabe thinks the 85 Caroline Street block is one of the better investments that has appeared on The Block in Melbourne, it doesn't quite meet the investment advisory group's standard, with Wakelin seeking the "best 5% of properties in the market from the investment perspective".
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Charlotte and Josh's apartment on The Block "doesn't tick all the boxes"

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Apartment number 18 at 85 Caroline Street in South Yarra - better known to the public as the apartment Josh and Charlotte renovated on The Block - was passed in at auction on the weekend.
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/sold/apartment-unit-flat/vic/south-yarra/?adid=2011650147" target="_blank">The apartment</a>, owned by buyer advocate and upcoming Block judge Frank Valentic through his company Advantage Property Consulting on behalf of investor clients, was passed in at $390,000 and sold after auction for $445,000, according to Fairfax reports.
Valentic's company bought entire block of 18 one bedroom apartments at 85 Caroline Street – unrenovated – for $6.35 million in June last year, meaning that each apartment on average cost Valentic and his clients $352,778.
While apartment 18 is the first to sell after The Block renovations, it isn't the first to be offered to residents to live in.
Since the complex was purchased by Advantage Property Consulting (in December 2013, presumably settling in June 2014) half of the apartments have been listed to rent – some of which came with The Block makeovers, prior to the series even coming to air.
Here's how the apartments at 85 Caroline Street have paid off for investors:
<ul>
<li>2/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
The apartment renovated by Tim and Anastasia on The Block was advertised to rent on 4 December for $410 per week. It no longer appears on online rental listings, so has presumably been secured by a tenant. Taking an average price of $352,778, the apartment would yield 6.0% at $410 per week.
<ul>
<li>4/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
Advertised to rent at $380 per week in November 2014. Potential rental yield: 5.6%
<ul>
<li>6/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
Advertised to rent at $300 per week in November 2014. Potential rental yield: 5.6%
<ul>
<li>8/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
Advertised to rent at $350 per week in mid-July 2014. By the end of July, the asking rent had been adjusted to $290 per week. Potential rental yield: 4.2%
<ul>
<li>9/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
Advertised to rent at $390 per week in early December 2014. By 24 December, the asking rent had been lowered to $365 per week. Potential rental yield: 5.7%
<ul>
<li>11/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
Advertised to rent at $330 per week in November last year. Potential rental yield: 4.9%
<ul>
<li>13/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
Advertised to rent at $370 per week in October 2014. Potential rental yield: 5.4%
<ul>
<li>14/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
Advertised to rent at $360 per week in December 2014. Potential rental yield: 5.3%
<ul>
<li>17/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
The apartment made over by eliminated contestants Luke and Ebony is currently advertised to rent at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-rent/apartment-unit-flat/vic/south-yarra/?adid=9563511" target="_blank">$400 per week on Domain</a>, though listed at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-south+yarra-415048003" target="_blank"> $395 per week on realestate.com.au</a>. At $395 per week, it would yield 5.8%.
<ul>
<li>18/85 Caroline Street:</li>
</ul>
The apartment renovated by remaining contestants Josh and Charlotte. Passed in at auction and sold after auction for $445,000 - a gain of $92,222 or 26%, before taking into account renovation costs.
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Curse of The Block? How the other Caroline Street apartments have performed

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It seems Sydneysiders have tired of The Block Melbourne.
There has been a marked deterioration in Sydney metro viewers with the latest series, its 10th season. Last night, The Block's Triple Threat overall metro viewership slumped to its lowest audience yet, 739,000 and sitting outside of the metro top 10 shows of the night.
The Block series trends - Sydney Only
<img src="/images/2015/02/04/block-feb-4-two.png" alt="">
Source: OzTAM (Metro).
There were just the 208,000 Sydney viewers last night, while in Melbourne 270,000 tuned in to what appears to be the very elongated introductory elimination episodes. Up against the tennis on its debut there was a 223,000 Sydney audience with 283,000 tuning in from hometown Melbourne.
Perhaps everyone is awaiting Deanne Jolly's arrival, with Darren in tow, but Triple Threat has not got off to a good start, only five episodes in and it’s by far their poorest Sydney audience.
The first four episodes of Triple Threat contrasted to the first four of Glasshouse – it’s down 40%.
Cheaper property acquisitions has been offered as the major reason The Block has been based in Melbourne for several years now, but it is also on the back of close relations built up with planning authorities, councils, suppliers and tradies, such as former contestant turned 'foreboy', Dan Reilly.
They have fitted so well into Melbourne they even managed to stop the trams along the number 6 High Street route on their Prahran Glasshouse open day last year.
The series arrived in Melbourne for its bitter-sweet Richmond series in 2011 and has only been back in Sydney once since 2011, the cottages on the hillside at Bondi, delayed after months of Waverley Council haggling. The series had started in 2003 at Bondi Beach, then went elsewhere within Sydney to Manly and Vaucluse.
The first three Sydney seasons of The Block aired once weekly.
And with The Block Octogon series coming up, again in South Yarra, it doesn't look like Sydney is on their immediate radar, although wikipedia says season 11 will be in Sydney without any confirmation. No apparent purchases through Watercress Productions appear to have been made in NSW.
Last night, My Kitchen Rules had a 1.4 million five capital city audience in top spot, with a 414,000 Sydney audience and 379,000 in Melbourne. Channel Ten’s best was I am a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here back on 685,000, continuing on its downward spiral.
Tonight, Wednesday The Block goes up against My Kitchen Rules contestants, the Blue Mountain based Texan cattleman and his heart-breaker daughter.  
UPDATE: The Block attracted 683,000 metro viewers on Wednesday with just the 179,000 Sydney viewers. MKR won with 471,000 Sydney viewers amid the 1.69 million in the OzTam five city metro ratings. Fast disappearing into the jungle, I am a Celebrity wained to 588,000 with 169,000 viewers in Sydney.
{mijopolls 87}
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Sydney audiences shun The Block's lengthening Melbourne residency

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The Killarney Vale couple Kara and Kyal Demmrich - contestants on Channel Nine's The Block Albert Park series - have listed their NSW Central Coast home.
It is home to the keen surfers and their kelpie Jonah, since they bought in 2008, <a href="https://instagram.com/p/ykn5G9yo63/" target="_blank">having married in February 2007</a>.
It has been listed for <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.au.open2view.com/properties/341968" target="_blank">24 February auction</a>. 
Meanwhile the latest Block series The Block Triple Threat fell short in its first real test, beaten by My Kitchen Rules with a 1.59 million debut audience and The Block watched by 802,000, in Monday night's OzTam ratings. I am a Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here - was watched by 755,000.
Agent Chantel Laing-Chadwick at George Brand Real Estate Avoca Beach/Copacabana says its is an "architectural masterpiece".
She emphasised the soaring high ceilings and generous use of open plan living.
"This cleverly designed home is drenched in sunlight from the floor to ceiling windows," said Laing-Chadwick.
It features four bedrooms, plus a study and separate loft area. 
There is a level 715 square metre block with room for a pool. 
Last year the couple appeared in The Block: Fans v Faves as the so-called Super Ks.
Around the time of the April Albert park auction, the couple indicated they were planning to launch a boutique renovations company called Diverse Design and Construct. The couple also suggested they were considering a move from their home in the Tuggerah Lakes precinct.
“We haven’t thought about it too seriously, but our long term goal is to get ourselves as close to the coast as possible. So we’re thinking about selling, maybe in the next 12 months," Kyal told Property Observer.
The Super Ks were given the highest reserve of any apartment – $1.9 million – after a stellar number of winning challenges and room reveals.
But they finished third behind Steve and Chantelle and Alisa and Lysandra on auction day.
None the less they indicated they could pay off the mortgage with their $567,250 in prize money.
And the couple started their own business to help others with home renovations, a goal they had before entering the show.
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The Block fans Kyal and Kara list Killarney Vale architectural masterpiece

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A triple level set of South Yarra townhouses is the set for the latest series of The Block.
Last night's premiere introduced audiences to the show's six new couples, who will be whittled down in elimination rounds to finally compete against one of three returning couples.
From Busselton in Western Australia come Luke and Ebony, pictured below. Ebony is a 23 year old interior designer, while Luke is a carpenter. Host Scott Cam reminds us that they are something the Block has never had before – a brother and sister team.
<img src="/images/2015/01/28/luke%20and%20ebony.jpg" alt="">
Victorian cousins Brooke and Aimee have the least renovation experience, with one a 000 call operator, and the other a full time mother (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2015/01/28/brooke%20and%20aimee.jpg" alt="">
Given The Block's punishing three weeks of elimination rounds before the game begins proper, they may be the sacrificial lambs of the series. Cam again notes that they are a Block first, as cousins (lest you think they and their fellow contestants seem exactly the same as every other person who has ever graced the set of The Block).
Tim and Anastasia, pictured below, are from South Australia.
<img src="/images/2015/01/28/tim%20and%20anastasia.jpg" alt="">
Tim describes Anastasia "in one word" as "hard working", noting that she "can probably put most blokes to shame with the effort she puts in". In the world of The Block, this is very impressive (just ask "hardest working woman in Block history" Jenna, from The Block Glasshouse).
Ayden and Jessica, pictured below, hail from Queensland.
<img src="/images/2015/01/28/ayden%20and%20jess.jpg" alt="">
Ayden is a self employed cabinet maker, while Jessica is a sales manager. Having previously renovated a house, they now own a block of land which they plan to build a home on.
From Manly are JJ and Mark, a structural landscaper and a property developer, pictured below.
<img src="/images/2015/01/28/mark%20and%20jj.jpg" alt="">
They have renovated external areas of their Queenscliff apartment.
Charlotte and Josh, below, are also from Manly. Charlotte is a food stylist and caterer while Josh is a carpenter. The couple look like they could be the Kyal and Kara, or Maxine and Karstan, or Jessica and Mark, of The Block Triple Threat.
<img src="/images/2015/01/28/josh%20and%20charlotte.jpg" alt="">
The teams' first challenge is to design and renovate a bedroom in 24 hours. Three of the six teams introduced will be eliminated at the end of the week, after renovating three rooms: a bedroom, a living and dining room and a bathroom.
They are given $10,000 to produce their first bedroom. What ensues is a lot of driving around, gasping at the modest brick townhouses, questionable decisions regarding suspended chairs, pendant light shopping (a Block staple).
The results of their labour, of course, were not revealed in the premiere episode, with producers saving that for tonight. With all this drawn out drama, The Block's triple threat may be the three long weeks of elimination rounds – which might just test the patience of viewers.
{mijopolls 83}
All pictures courtesy of Channel 9.
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