The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 41-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 41-storey tower, which has 229 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Estate Agent

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We can educate “ignorance” but “stupidity” is another ball game.
Allow me to share with you two scenarios. I will in turn give you the opportunity to ponder which of these is made through ignorance and which one is made through stupidity personified. Like always, pour a cup of coffee and read on.
First scenario: 
I attended to a home in the Northern Beaches to provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and bid for the vendor’s custom. Like always, local agents were also called in.
After discussing the process and the method of sale with the vendors, they began to enlighten me about my competition. Names withheld to protect the dummies. 
The following is a short transcript of the discussion. 
Agent (A): What has the out-of-area agent (Me) told you the home is worth? 
Vendor (V): After recommendations made; fixing and cleaning parts of the home, he felt $1,500,00-$1,600,000 is achievable and would advertise along these lines. 
V: What do you believe the home is worth?
A: The figures sound right. But we would not advertise it like he suggests.
V: What do you suggest? 
A: We would auction the home and ask for offers above $1,350,000.
V: But you told me the house was worth between, $1,500,000-$1,600,000. 
A: Yes that’s right, but we don’t want to scare any buyers/enquiry and we can work them up at the auction. 
Second scenario: 
We have on the market a home for sale, in Eastlakes. As usual, other than normal enquiry, we also receive enquiry from agents that are curious. Agents that work in the area, their patch. 
The conversation went along these lines.
Local Agent (LA): Hi, I noticed you have a property in the area, I was told you had sold it? If so, what did it sell for? 
Me: Not sold as yet, but presently working with two offers. How can I help you?
LA: Well, I’m a local agent and I have listed a home around the corner, just wanted to see what you sold your home for? 
M: Nice, how does it compare with my one?
LA: Very similar but land a bit smaller. Also fully renovated and 4 bedrooms, single level. 
Me: If I can ask, what’s your price guide? 
LA: We are quoting $1,500,000-$1,800,000.
Me: Wow, that’s a very broad price-guide isn’t it?
LA: Well it’s hard to determine the value of property.
Now, you tell me which one of these agents is ignorant and which one is simply stupid. Or do you think both fall in the same category? Or perhaps the words arrogant and deceptive spring to mind? 
One thing is for sure; not all vendors are sympathetic to “under-quoting” and deceitful marketing strategies. Nonetheless, is it up to the vendor to guide the real estate industry into best practice, or up to the professional? 
What I can say to most of my realtor friends is; if the kitchen is too hot, then go back to selling used cars and take the nonsense of charging vendors for the sale and marketing fees with you.
 
EDWIN ALMEIDA is licensee in charge of <a href="https://www.just-think.com.au/" target="_blank">Just Think Real Estate</a>.<a href="https://www.just-thin.com.au/"> </a>
He is also the creator of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/JustThinkProperty" target="_blank">Oz Real Estate.TV</a> and a presenter for <a href="https://propertyinvestingvault.com/" target="_blank">propertyinvestingvault.com</a>.
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ealmedia-arK4DBYLjS

Ignorance or stupidity? Edwin Almeida

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The Australian estate agent Ken Jacobs has joined the launch of Forbes Global Properties, a curated consumer marketplace that connects high networth buyers directly to the world’s finest homes.

Forbes, one the world’s most-recognizable business media brand, announced the launch of Forbes Global Properties last week.

Established as an invitation-only consortium of leading real estate firms, the start-up will capitalize on Forbes’ engaged audience of 140 million monthly global visitors to connect, inform, and inspire high-net-worth potential homebuyers and sellers about the finest properties for sale around the world.  

It is entering the arena occupied by Global Mansion, operated within the News Corp group as a marketing platform. 

But spearheaded by Jeff Hyland, co-founder and president of Hilton &amp; Hyland, and Bonnie Stone Sellers, an accomplished real estate industry veteran, Forbes Global Properties is primarily broker owned and led.

Forbes is also invested in the initiative.

Hyland and Sellers have appointed Alex Lange, an industry veteran who most recently served as the CEO of UpstreamRE, as its chief executive.

Jacobs is on the board of directors, though his recently established entity Private Property Global. He retains the Christie's International Australian affiliation through his Prestige Homes of Australia office in Double Bay.

“Unlike other branded real estate groups, Forbes Global Properties is not merely a listing tool for agents — it offers direct and measurable access to potential high-net-worth buyers through Forbes’ worldwide media penetration,” Hyland suggests.

Membership in the network is reserved for 100 elite brokerage firms with homes being presented to potential buyers across Forbes and Forbes Global Properties print, digital, and social media channels.

The current membership spans more than 75 locations across the U.S., Asia and Europe with the network accepting new member brokerages in the coming months "after a rigorous vetting process." 

Founding member brokerages are established leaders in their local luxury property markets and have offices in more than 75 locations across the U.S., Asia and Europe. The network will begin accepting new member brokerages in the coming months after a rigorous vetting process.

The Forbes Global Properties brand also has another Australian connection — the founders tapped Tracey Atkins of Australian-run firm Goldeneye Media to make the launch film, available here. 

Reserved for luxury properties, forbesglobalproperties.com currently showcases thousands of high value homes available for sale around the world, including homes priced above USD$160 million.

More than 200 homes are priced above USD$10 million, but none yet from Australia.
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Forbes, one the world’s most-recognizable business media brand, announced the launch of Forbes Global Properties last week

jchancellor

Ken Jacobs joins Forbes Global Properties network

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Following spells at both LJ Hooker and Cobden &amp; Hayson, Brigitte Blackman has returned to property group BresicWhitney after six years away, alongside Amber Riethmuller.
Blackman (pictured) works in the inner Sydney market, with a 20-year career.
“In a changing market it’s good to have the right people on your team,” Blackman says.
“It’s inspiring to know you can come back into an office with renewed energy, working with Ivan Bresic, Shannan Whitney and sales leaders I’ve known for so many years.”
Over the same period, BresicWhitney has evolved with locations across Darlinghurst, Balmain, Glebe, Hunters Hill and Rosebery.
BresicWhitney has ranked in the top 20 Great Places to Work.
Co-founder and director Shannan Whitney said Blackman would work across city fringe locations in the east and west.
BresicWhitney’s recently announced three new directors joining the existing shareholding group of Ivan Bresic, Shannan Whitney, William Phillips and Adrian Oddi.
The incoming directors include sales agents Andrew Liddell and Maclay Longhurst, as well as a non-transactional member of the senior leadership group, Will Gosse.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Inner Sydney estate agent Brigitte Blackman rejoins BresicWhitney

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Sid Morgan, the Hills Shire estate agent shot in the face during a dispute allegedly involving Irish accented tradies may not have been the intended target.
Morgan was found <a href="/news/hills-shire-sydney-estate-agent-sid-morgan-shot-at-point-cook">lying in a pool of blood</a> on the road outside a friend’s Point Cook rental home, in Melbourne's south-west, about 11pm last Thursday.
Nine Entertainment suggest the alleged duo were allegedly chasing an unpaid debt.
<div class="_1665V undefined">
It has been reported Morgan travelled to Melbourne to help a friend, a building contractor, who was allegedly being threatened by tradesmen.
The friend and his family had fled their Spraypoint Drive rental home following the alleged threats, but Morgan stayed behind alone.
</div>
<div class="_1lC_G">Morgan who answered the door when the tradesmen arrived, allegedly demanding money.</div>
<div class="_1lC_G"> </div>
<div class="_1lC_G">Morgan is still in a critical condition at Royal Melbourne Hospital.</div>
<div class="_1lC_G">
Nine reported Morgan had a newly created Twitter account where he wrote: "I love life and live it to the fullest. I take great delight in seeing people happy ... life is far too short for regret and unhappiness."
Since this article was posted Victoria Police have advised two men have been charged on warrant with one count of attempted murder following the shooting.
Homicide Squad detectives yesterday charged the 30-year-old and 26-year-old men from Point Cook.
They are due to appear at Byron Bay Courthouse later today.
</div>
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Sid Morgan may not have been intended target of shooting

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Gayla Currie, who worked for Century 21 Max Comben real estate agency in Perth, has been caught presenting more than 20 fake contracts for fake property sales.
The real estate agent has been banned from working in the industry for life after being found guilty of fabricating purchase offers on numerous properties.
The forged contracts pretended to be prospective buyers.
The punishment was imposed by the State Administrative Tribunal on Currie, who worked as a sales representative in 2015 and 2016.
Ms Currie began working for the agency as a sales representative in February 2015 and was supervised by Mr Comben. Ms Currie held a sales representative certificate from October 2012 to October 2015 but failed to renew her certificate of registration until February 2016. She continued her sales activities with the agency between October 2015 and February 2016, despite not holding a certificate of registration.
Currie’s employer and sales supervisor Maxwell Comben were also fined by the SAT for breaching the Real Estate and Business Agents Act.
The SAT found as supervisor, Comben had failed to notice that signatures on the offers were in Currie’s handwriting, finance letters from banks were forged, phone numbers were made up and none of the sales ever settled.
Consumer Protection commissioner David Hillyard said there had been a serious lack of proper supervision on Comben’s part.
"Property owners who put their trust in the agency have endured great inconvenience and financial disadvantage,” he said.
Max has been selling in the Real Estate industry for over 41 years and all of these 41 years have been in the local area.  Max Comden commenced selling in 1975.  Max has been inducted into the prestigious Century 21 Hall Of Fame which is the highest individual award offered by Century 21. He is a "Centurion" level salesperson putting him in the top 2% if sales people in the largest real estate system world wide.
Currie’s employer Sakar Pty Ltd, trading as Century 21 Max Comben, was fined $2,000 and sales supervisor Maxwell Comben was fined $3,000 by the SAT for breaching the Real Estate and Business Agents Act by failing to exercise due care, skill and diligence and continuing to employ a sales representative in the time period that the sales representative’s certificate of registration had expired and was therefore no longer valid. The agency and Mr Comben were reprimanded and ordered to also pay costs of $1,200.
The SAT findings:
<ul data-reactid="103">
<li data-reactid="104">Sixteen fake contracts of offer and acceptance to the owner of a Westminster property between May 2015 and February 2016;</li>
<li data-reactid="106">Two fake contracts of offer and acceptance to the owner of a Balcatta property in October 2015 and January 2016;</li>
<li data-reactid="108">Three fake contracts of offer and acceptance to the owner of a Morley property between December 2015 and March 2016; and</li>
<li data-reactid="110">One fake contract of offer and acceptance to the owners of a Stirling property in February 2016.</li>
</ul>
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Century 21 agent banned after fake sale contracts on Perth homes

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Real estate agents’ commissions are the lowest in South Australia and highest in the cheapest housing market, Tasmania, according to a new report.
The insight revealed the national commission average was 2.07 percent in metro areas and a higher 2.5 percent in regional areas.
Tasmanian vendors pay at an average commission of 3 per cent, while in South Australia the average commission is 2 per cent.
NSW and Victoria both had average rates of 2.05 per cent, Queensland 2.61 per cent while Western Australia averaged 2.31 per cent.
The average commission on a NSW $500,000 house eased, according to LocalAgentFinder.com.au.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/07/27/wa_graph_2.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/07/27/wa_graph_2.jpg" alt="">
LocalAgentFinder chief executive Matt McCann said the average commissions in NSW and Victoria were a reflection of the robust markets
“It’s interesting to see Western Australia is at 2.31 per cent, given the market’s current state,” Mr McCann said. 
“Prior to commissions being deregulated in Queensland, they were capped, so a high average commission could still be carrying on as an effect of that,” Mr McCann said.
The rival Openagent website had previously calculated the average commission real estate agents charge varied between the lowest of about 1.6 four percent and the highest about four percent.
It noted across the country the average charge was around 2% to 2.5% of the sale price of your home, or from $10,000 to $12,500 when selling a $500,000 house.
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How much should your estate agent's commission fee be? New Australia-wide survey

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Former LJ Hooker agent Judy Nguyen, charged with misappropriating more than $2 million of customers’ money, is working as an agent in Melbourne.
According to a report in Domain, an advertisement in a local suburban paper advertisement featured Judy Nguyen is an agent at OZ Capital Real Estate in Springvale, due to open next week.
Consumer Affairs Victoria charged her in January with 216 offences. 
Ms Nguyen was originally charged with 216 breaches of the Estate Agents Act. The Office of Public Prosecutions was granted approval to 113 charges, with the case returning to court 19 May for a committal mention.
According to the Domain report, a Consumer Affairs Victoria spokesman said the watchdog was aware of the advertisement regarding Ms Nguyen and “is assessing all options available under existing legislation”, with Oz Capital Real Estate officer Dixon Lim saying he was in discussion with Consumer Affairs Victoria and could not comment further.&gt;
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/04/6/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-07%20at%209.45.26%20AM.png" alt="">
"Last month, Ms Nguyen and her husband Tri Duc (Jospeh) Ngo appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a committal mention following the collapse of six Melbourne LJ Hooker offices last April," Domain noted.
"Mr Ngo’s lawyer, Erol Cinar, told the court that Mr Ngo was the only one with access to the trust accounts and he was the one who committed the offending. Ms Nguyen would plead not guilty to all charges."
Picture courtesy of Domain.
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Court-bound estate agent Judy Nguyen joins new Melbourne agency

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Estate agent James Lyons has been sentenced to six years jail, with a possibility of parole after two years, after he pleaded guilty to defrauding clients of $1.6 million.
The Brisbane real estate agent pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court to three fraud-related charges.
The charges relate to nine complaints over a two-year period. 
Judge Brad Farr set a parole eligibility date of August 23, 2018.
Lyons was on a base salary of $800,000 but would earn as much as $2 million a year on commissions as a commercial real estate agent.
Lyons was a finalist as “commercial salesperson of the year” at the Real Estate ­Institute of Queensland’s 2009 industry awards after broking multimillion-dollar deals around the Brisbane port.
He was bailed in late 2013 after being charged by detectives from Mt Gravatt CIB on seven counts of fraud allegedly committed at Chase Commercial’s Newstead office. 
The fraud-related charges related to nine victims from his time working for Chase Commercial between 2011-13.
The Crown prosecutor Jane Shaw told Judge Brad Farr that more than $1.05 million had been paid to the victims out of a compensation fund. Lyons had not made any repayments.
His legal-aid barrister, Saul Holt advised he was a diagnosed pathological gambler.
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Jail for guilty Brisbane estate agent

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Rumoured winner of The Bachelor's last rose, Nikki Gogan has been spotted at her real estate agency office in her WA home town of Northam.
Gogan has been in the Northam Real Estate industry for 12 years and works at Howlett and Lawrence First National Northam.
Her <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/agent/nikki-gogan-91250" target="_blank">profile on realestate.com.au</a> advises she is currently studying to achieve her diploma in real estate and further her career to become a licensee.
Her last sale came at the end of July when she <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-northam-122087366" target="_blank">sold a four bedroom</a>, one bathroom house for $230,000.
She has a number of properties still on her books, her most expensive being a four bedroom, two bathroom <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-wa-northam-122220222" target="_blank">Art Deco era home</a> which is on the market for $595,000.
Fellow Western Australian and The Bachelor Richie Strahan will pick a winner in the coming weeks, and Gogan is tipped to be one of the front runners of the show.
Gogan owns an impressive property portfolio in WA, all focused in Northam.
She shares two properties with her ex-fiance and partner of 12 years Tim Verlinden, and also has one of her own.
The ex-couple spent $540,000 on a four bedroom home in 2007 and then $406,000 on a three bedder in 2013.
Gogan's own purchase was a four bedroom, two bathroom property which she paid $350,000 for in 2008, which has been up for rent for between $390 and $420 a week.
Numerous hints have been dropped that Gogan hasn't been able to keep the fact she is the winner of the show a secret.
The most recent is that ex, Tim has placed a $1000 bet on her to win.
Above image from Instagram.
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Bachelor contestant Nikki Gogan goes back to work at Perth real estate agency

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Sarah Penney-Filippini, the Gold Coast real estate agent faces disciplinary action for allegedly allowing her struck-off agent mother to act like an agent in her business.
Penney-Filippini sells million-dollar homes on the The Sovereign Islands through Island Realty.
She is facing disciplinary charges in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) after an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.
In a decision handed down on July 19, QCAT member Tina Guthrie ruled there were “sufficient grounds” for disciplinary action against Ms Penney-Filippini for breaking industry rules.
"I consider that by breaching the provisions of PAMDA and the relevant Regulation, Ms Penney-Filippini’s actions have fallen short of the standard expected of a licensee," Member Guthrie ruled.
Ms Penney-Filippini had acted unprofessionally in allowing her unlicensed mother, Heather Filippini to interact with a potential purchaser during an open home and to negotiate a sale of another home.
Heather Filippini was banned from operating as a real estate agent in 2009 after defying a suspension in 2006.
Her unlicensed mother was alleged to have engaged in negotiations to sell a home in 2012 and that her mother spoke to a potential buyer during an open home in 2012.
Mrs Filippini denied she was acting like an agent simply attending the open home with “polite chitchat”.
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