One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

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fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

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FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
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First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

Appointment

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ING Australia has announced the appointment of Dr John Laker to the position of Chair of ING Australia, effective January 2020.
Dr Laker has served on the ING board since January 2019.
Dr Laker’s career in finance spans more than 45 years and includes roles in the Commonwealth Treasury, the International Monetary Fund (Washington), the Reserve Bank of Australia (Assistant Governor Financial System) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (Chair).
Dr Laker is currently Chair of the Board of the Banking and Finance Oath, Deputy Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney, member of the Experts Panel of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Director of Cancer Council NSW and Cancer Council Australia.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Dr John Laker appointed as chair of ING Australia

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Fifth generation real estate veteran Geoff White has been appointed CoreLogic's national head of real estate. 
White has been a prominent member of the Victoria real estate industry and has been CoreLogic Group Sales Director since 2017. He previously headed up the Real Estate Institute of Victoria.
He said his time with CoreLogic Victoria has help him understand CoreLogic's numerous technologies.
“I’ve learnt first-hand the importance of the tools we deliver to our real estate clients for better business practices - particularly how our rich data and analytics is used, and also how our products support the day to day operation of real estate professionals, groups and the industry as a whole," he said.
White said he is looking forward to developing partnership as the sector continues to grow.
“Sales and listings data is at the core of our business, and we value our extensive relationships with the real estate industry," he said.
“Through onthehouse.com.au, provides a unique opportunity to educate consumers whilst linking them to real estate agents. As a result we’ve already started generating substantial interest from agents looking for alternative opportunities to connect with engaged consumers whilst promoting properties for sale and rent.”
“We partner with all sectors of the real estate industry from Real Estate Institutes, to Franchise and Marketing groups through to individual agencies and sales and property management executives.
“I’m looking forward to continuing and developing this further, ensuring everyone has the best possible real estate solutions available to them.”
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CoreLogic CEO International Lisa Claes said CoreLogic's investment focus is toward smart tech.
"CoreLogic is investing a phenomenal amount into the industry, with a focus on smart tech to make agent delivery of next-level customer service a reality...and that’s really saying something given the real estate industry is often the first to embrace digitisation trends," she said.
“There’s a huge amount coming up. With 7,000+ real estate clients nationally, 4,650 independents and 2,500 franchisees, CoreLogic already offers a critical market function. A major refresh to RP Data Professional is underway on every front: how it looks, how it feels to use, how fast it runs on whichever device you choose.” 
“The mobile functionality within RPP will be head and shoulders above the rest - which, given the nature of real estate: we’re very excited about given some high performing agents are interacting with our tools thousands of times a month.” 
“Our recently launched Signature CMA is market leading, and we continue to improve on it: allowing Real Estate agents to personalise their CMAs and really stand out from the crowd. Ultimately, this makes it easier for agents to win listings, while at the same time ensuring it is quicker and easier to produce CMAs in the format, and with the content, that they choose. 
“We have superior depth and breadth of data so whether an agent is regional, town, or city-based, we genuinely offer more data than anyone else does. We’re now focused on making all that data more consumable and easier for agents to share it with their prospects and clients.” 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

CoreLogic appointed Geoff White to head of real estate

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McGrath Estate Agents has appointed James Hayashi to a newly created role of regional sales leader for its sales team across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
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Hayashi has more than 13 years experience from sales, auctioneering, recruitment and sales management.
He worked initially in real estate at BresicWhitney, but says he really kicked off his career at Cooley Auctions, and then more recently for his three years at Phillips Pantzer Donnelley (PPD).
Kon Stathopoulos, head of company sales at McGrath, said this was a very considered and important appointment.
He said it was one that has been met with much enthusiasm within the three offices under the Eastern Suburbs footprint – Edgecliff, Coogee and Maroubra. 
“When searching for someone to lead such an experienced and high performing sales team, we were committed to finding a person of outstanding calibre that would without a doubt add value to each of our agent’s businesses," Stathopoulos said.
"James will provide the leadership, support and coaching required for our current sales teams, and will be charged with growing our agent numbers across the three offices. 
“James comes to us with a wealth of real estate experience, having worked himself as an agent and more recently as a coach and sales manager. He’s an outstanding auctioneer, having been trained by Damien Cooley, and I believe will be a great addition to the incredible talent pool we have with our exclusive auctioneers.” 
In joining McGrath, James said he was attracted by its current leadership and management team, and the company’s focus on learning and development. 
“McGrath is a truly iconic and respected brand and this is a fantastic opportunity for not only my own personal development, but where I’m provided with the support systems necessary to drive internal growth and focus on external recruitment. I plan to hit the ground running,” said James.
The Cranbook educated agent recently appeared in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBccBF8TQQg" target="_blank">first Carpool Proptech video</a> when he indicated one of the relentless PPD principals had made 400 landline phone connections within a recent three day period to seek listings.
"The more people you connect with.... the more listings and sales you make," Hayashi noted.
Hayashi advised that many agents started out like this, then get a reputation, "then drop off from connecting with the data base...they feel they don't need to put the hard work in."
McGrath's eastern suburbs top performer has been pinpointed as Peter Starr, who was placed 12th in the REB top 100 this year.
The next highest McGrath eastern suburbs agent was the 32nd placed Lorraine Crawford.
  
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James Hayashi joins McGrath to regrow eastern suburbs footprint

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Australia’s third largest real estate platform, VIEW.com.au, has appointed Toby Balazs, as their new CEO.
Balazs joins VIEW having served as a key member of REA’s leadership and online strategy teams since 2004. He worked with property developers and project marketers for the Richmond-based realestate.com.au for a decade and more recently was its manager of online strategy and execution.
Balazs will take over in mid-July from VIEW’s Enzo Raimondo, who has been closely involved with the property listing portal for over 16 years, first as CEO of Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) and later taking over as CEO of RealestateVIEW in 2016. A VIEW spokesperson advised Raimondo's next step was "undetermined."
Announcing Toby’s appointment, VIEW Chairman John Piccolo said Mr Balazs is a dynamic thinker and leader. 
“His track record in executing transformative digital programs has been exceptional and he embodies VIEW’s values of innovation, integrity and fostering strong family ideals”, he said.  
Balazs said he was "honoured and excited" to have been selected.
"Growing VIEW from the 3rd largest player is a challenge I accept with both confidence and determination,” he said. 
Homehound has historically been ranked as 4th ranked listings website, with homely and thehomepage closing in.
“I am committed to continuing VIEW’s momentum based on a differentiated offering, which is resonating strongly in the market — by offering lower fees for real estate agents to list property, and importantly, delivering consumers an exceptional level of real estate industry information on a platform that is free and easy to use.
"My mission is to lead VIEW to even greater things,”  the Perth born, Ivanhoe Grammar, Melbourne-educated executive said. Born in 1975, he completed a bachelor of business at RMIT in the 1990s.
The Hawthorn East-based VIEW recently launched of Property-360, a price estimate tool for over 13 million properties across Australia.
The site calculates Balazs's two bedroom modern Richmond terrace has an $836,000 value, with a $600,000 to $1 million potential value range. He paid $760,000 in 2008, suggesting the calculation algorithm needs refinement. Realestate.com.au put the likely value as between $1,100,000 to $1,374,999. Domain suggest the prospect of $975,000, with an estimated range between $845,000 to $1.11 million. 
The website, which has struggled to get traction outside of Victoria, initially launched in 2001.
Its rebrand last year included an editorial partnership with Independent Media Publishers (IMP), regional and suburban publishers across Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. 
It also has a partnership with the onsite news website, The New Daily.
The Alexa website's back of an envelope calculation puts the VIEW site as the 1000th busiest website in Australia, with realestate sitting 26th, and domain 74th. Homehound sits at around 17,000.
Franchise group websites were not included on the list of portals.
 
 
 
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Toby Balazs appointed CEO of VIEW.com.au

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Robert Maher, one of Australia's top performing commercial real estate agents, has joined @realty.
The national real estate network has signed more than 500 agents to its banner over the past four years.
Maher has been ranked in the top two per cent of Australian real estate agents by sales volume.
He moved to <a href="https://www.atrealty.com.au/" target="_blank">@realty</a> from his role as a commercial property specialist for Gunning Real Estate in the Sutherland Shire.
Maher says he will represent both commercial and residential listings across the Sutherland Shire and surrounding areas. Agents at @realty's can work independently in any region due to their unrestricted zoning policy.
Maher says he chose to work with @realty, which sold a total of $861 million in property in 2017, due to the company's business model, which benefits both agents and their clients.
"@realty is based on the Gold Coast and unlike other franchise agencies, there are no regional offices, which means agents have much more autonomy to work in the way they want to," Maher said.
"It's an excellent alternative system for smaller independent agents  to operate under," he said.
"Vendors benefit from @realty's purchasing power, which allows agents to provide lower cost marketing and a more premium and personalised service than what may be offered by larger franchise groups, which impose numerous restrictions on agents.
"I have only been on board with @realty for a few weeks but I have found the executive team to be highly responsive, led by James and JJ Taylor who have a strong vision for the future of the business.
"The network of agents is also very collaborative. For vendors it is almost like having 500 agents all working to achieve the quickest and best result for every @realty client."
@realty director JJ Taylor says the company has a suite of bespoke software, which gives agents an edge on industry competitors.
"Because the @realty model is the first of its kind in Australia, we actually had to commission  a cloud-based platform to  connect our agents, head office and compliance management teams.
"We then built in to this system bespoke software which automatically searches all listings and compares them to potential buyer profiles to find a match, which effectively means that all 500 of our agents are working to make a sale.
"In addition to this, we have Click2Buy - an eBay style platform, which allows buyers to compete on an even playing field by viewing any offers made by other prospective purchasers in real-time.
"Another tool we offer is Home Booster - a social media platform, which has  generated a total of more than 21,000 leads for the 50 vendors who have listed their home on the platform in recent months.
"Home Booster allows agents to target homebuyers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter within proximity of the listed property, retarget buyers who have previously visited @realty listings or have demonstrated online activity suggesting an interest in real estate, so it's highly targeted.
"@realty recently won the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) Innovation award and we try be innovative in all that we do.
"We believe @realty has been a game changer not only for agents but also for buyers and vendors who benefit from our approach to selling real estate using custom technology and a unique business model."
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Robert Maher moves to @realty

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Former Marshall White director Adrian Wood has joined The Agency's Albert Park office.
He teams up with recent addition Michael Paproth and Peter Kakos.
Last year Wood sold $70 million in residential property and has a 97% clearance rate over the last two years.
Just last week he transacted $13.6 million in off-market sales.
Wood has a reputation for achieving a high rate of off-market sales, and repeat sales of the same property.
Based in The Agency’s new Albert Park office, Adrian Wood specialises in the $2 to $6 million residential category across Port Phillip and the surrounding markets.
General manager Peter Kakos said Woods is one of the best agents in the area.
“Our focus from day one has been to attract the very best people who fit well culturally and will live our values,” Kakos said. 
“Adrian Wood’s exceptional customer focus marries beautifully with his 20 plus years of experience, incredible drive and significant level of success. 
The Agency’s model and inherent flexibility attracted Adrian Wood to the brand. 
“The Agency business model is the right model for real estate moving forward," Wood said.
"Agents run their own business within the model, representative of our view that brands don’t sell property, people do.
 “Buyers and sellers want transparency, they want an agent who understands current market trends and can be nimble, fresh and exciting enough to design a campaign focused on attracting and engaging the right buyers based on the client’s needs and not a company need.” General manager Peter Kakos said The Agency offers agents more freedom with agents "rewarded for their services and skills" through a number of verticals with The Agency, particularly the ability to build equity through property management asset sharing.
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Former Marshall White director joins The Agency in Melbourne

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Aqualand Australia has lured high-­profile former Mirvac head of residential, John Carfi, to run its Sydney-focused operations.
Cafri has spent the last 18 months in the Middle East where he was the CEO of development at Dubai-based real estate firm Emaar Properties where he delivered multiple large-scale, mixed-use developments.
There was an end value of more than US $120B and annual turnover of more than US $15B.
Prior to his move to Emaar in 2016, Carfi had been Mirvac's CEO of residential development for 15 years.
He began his career in the real estate industry back in the late 1980s at Lendlease.
Carfi will become chief executive of the Chinese-backed Aqualand from July, The Australian reported.
Aqualand managing director Jin Lin told The Australian Carfi's appointment is the next step in Aqualand's long-term strategy.
“We’ve been speaking with John for a number of months because we truly believe he is one of the few in the industry with such a high level of leadership and ingenuity.
"This is a result of a very controlled strategy that has allowed us to meet our milestones to trigger our next growth stage. 
“While John will transition into our CEO, I will transition to Group Managing Director," Lin said.
"Already Aqualand has grown a significant portfolio of sites, recycling assets to improve future investment opportunities and we are now on the verge of a new frontier with a significant appetite for large-scale, masterplanned projects.
"John has delivered numerous masterplanned communities throughout Australia and internationally, and I believe with him at the helm, Aqualand is well-positioned to increase its market dominance.”
 
Carfi has held senior positions across industry organisations including Australian Chairman of the global property association Urban Land Institute (ULI), Member of The Urban Taskforce Executive Committee, Fellow of the Australian Property Institute and Director of the Australian Residential Development Council. 
He has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Building) degree from the University of Technology Sydney, along with business related qualifications from INSEAD and Chicago University.
 
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John Carfi takes top job at Aqualand

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John Flavell, chief executive officer at Mortgage Choice Limited, has stepped down from his role immediately after the appointment of Susan Mitchell as the new CEO.
Susan Mitchell was most recently chief financial officer.  John Flavell has been there for just over the past three years. Mortgage Choice Chairman, Vicki Allen thanked John for his leadership and efforts at Mortgage Choice during his tenure as CEO, "and wish him well in his future endeavors”. Ms Mitchell’s extensive experience and existing senior role within the Company meant she was very well placed to step into the CEO position. Ms Allen said she was delighted Susan has reconsidered her recently announced intention to pursue another opportunity and instead lead our business. 
"The Board has confidence that she has the necessary skills to lead Mortgage Choice. 
"She is a very talented executive and her in-depth experience with the company will ensure a smooth transition of leadership."
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Mortgage Choice CEO John Flavell steps down

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Former Simeon Manners agent Scott Thornton and wife Jade have joined The Agency.
Scott Thornton, a 20 year veteran, left the Simeon Manners franchise where he was briefly a partner according to his LinkedIn profile.
He was previously at McGrath and LJ Hooker.
He said he is looking for to being part of the company as real estate and technology grows.
“We are in such an interesting time, we are evolving as a city, as a landscape and as an industry," Scott said.
"I think we are going through huge change and that’s exciting. To be a part of a company that is connected in understanding that change, means we can service our clients in the best possible way."
The Agency's CEO Matt Lahood said he is looking forward to working with the couple. 
“Scott and Jade are immensely talented and we are so excited to have them on the team, they are also very well known and respected in their local area.”
National sales director Thomas McGlynn says that in the new age of real estate, agents require a broad skill set and an innovative approach which is what he see's in Scott.
 
 
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Scott Thornton moves to The Agency

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The Agency has entered Sydney's Northern Beaches with agents David Rothschild and Lincoln McCarthy.
"David’s market knowledge in the broader Seaforth area is unparalleled and in my view, he is one of the most experienced negotiators in Sydney,” says Matt Lahood, The Agency’s CEO.
“And when it comes to Lincoln McCarthy, well he is one of the future ‘super stars’ of real estate in my opinion.”
David Rothschild has specialised in the premium property market across Seaforth, Clontarf, Balgowlah Heights, Balgowlah, North Balgowlah, Fairlight and Manly, having transacted over $750 million in local residential sales. 
“The Agency’s innovative systems, and new approach to selling and listing real estate, translate into real value for the client by removing unnecessary red tape,” he suggests.
<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/2018/1/23/David.jpg" alt=""> Lincoln McCarthy has achieved results across the Northern Beaches setting multiple block, street and suburb records.
“We believe the uniqueness of The Agency offering is locked into its own motto, ‘people sell houses not companies or brands’, linking agent and client by creating a platform that is not an obstruction,” David Rothschild says.
 
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