While most developers are aiming high across the Gold Coast, John Kearney’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/immerse-projects">Immerse Projects</a>&nbsp;has scaled back its plans for its Kirra Beach project.

As first reported by Apartments.com.au in April 2025, Immerse <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-immerse-projects-plan-new-apartments-at-kirra-beach">lodged plans for 105 apartments</a> on its 2,026 sqm Haig Street site.

The developer has now revised the proposal, reducing the 14-storey building to nine storeys and cutting the total number of apartments from 105 to 65.

The new scheme will also feature a broader mix of apartments. It will comprise 23 two-bedroom units, 17 three-bedroom units, and 25 four-bedroom apartments, the latter a configuration that was not included in the original proposal.

<img alt="Lot 11 C2859, 7 Haig Street, COOLANGATTA QLD 4225" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="972e3bbf-c3e6-4308-b098-5821e571f829" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Haig%20Street%20perspective%201.png?VersionId=3jkyNU0n7TW08DpkoEsY62bXWTb3UHxY" />

The building will rise to a compliant height of 29 metres, aligning with the Building Height Overlay.&nbsp;

The built form incorporates three basement levels accommodating 197 resident car parks and 13 visitor spaces, alongside storage and servicing areas. Level two is dedicated in part to communal amenity, including a lap pool along the western boundary, pool deck, spa and cold plunge pools, gym, work-from-home and meeting spaces, and landscaped areas designed to enhance privacy and outlook.

The typical floorplate will have eight apartments per level.

<img alt="Lot 11 C2859, 7 Haig Street, COOLANGATTA QLD 4225" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="002d2594-9cf4-4ee4-bb2a-9a0546ac1cc5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Haig%20Street%20site.png?VersionId=Qk.Cm0K9RziXrWu0Q4u2eOjEM3CwNhhC" />

The subject site is currently occupied by two 1970s-era walk-up buildings, Giraween and Caribbean, comprising 14 apartments.

Immerse Projects, led by building veteran John Kearney, who also heads construction firm Greyburn, has become increasingly active in the Kirra and broader southern Gold Coast market. The group recently completed Rhyhthm Kirra Hill on Garrick Street. They have another site locally, on McLean Street, which has approved plans for 58 apartments.

Joel Robinson

First Look: Immerse favours four-bed apartments in Kirra Beach switch

The development wave is continuing in the affluent suburb of Woollahra following last year’s planning reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government.

In early 2025, the NSW Government implemented significant changes to its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, altering planning controls to allow greater density for new apartment projects within an 800-metre walking distance of stations and town centres in the Woollahra Local Government Area, overriding existing local controls. Buildings are now permitted to rise up to six storeys within 400 metres of a station or centre, or eight storeys where affordable housing is incorporated, and up to four storeys within the 401 to 800 metre radius, which can increase to six storeys with affordable housing.

Since then, a significant number of development applications have been lodged, and numerous sites have transacted, some at record highs, with the increased density provisions now working in favour of developers.

Lower North Shore developer Abadeen are behind the latest project. They are planning a six-storey residential building at 101–115 Edgecliff Road, on the border of Woollahra and Bondi Junction.

<img alt="First Look: Lindos Group plans six-storey adaptive reuse apartment project in Woollahra’s Fletcher Precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="17a75a04-3ecd-4b0f-af9f-54514690721b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Edgecliff%20DA%20front.png?VersionId=r0MiKualBGqKrjVj6hJZHsEiwl9QzF0D" />

The proposal would replace a trio of interwar flat buildings on the amalgamated 1,514 sqm site, which has three street frontages to Edgecliff Road, Adelaide Street and Australia Lane.

Importantly, as noted in the documents, the project represents a 200 per cent increase in bedroom density, from 32 bedrooms to 66, rather than a significant increase in the number of apartments, which will rise only slightly from 28 to 29.

The scheme proposes four one-bedroom units, 13 two-bedroom units, and 12 three-bedroom apartments. The submitted planning documents note that, based on market research and background analysis, one of the primary target markets will be downsizers seeking to remain in the local area while moving out of larger freestanding homes they no longer require.

“This allows for new housing supply opportunities beyond just the subject site,” the Design Report by architecture firm Squillace states. The current unit mix comprises 24 one-bedroom apartments and four two-bedroom units.

The top level of the new development will feature a rooftop deck with a pool, barbecue facilities, integrated seating, and a communal vegetable and herb garden.

“Providing these facilities is beneficial in encouraging increased interaction between occupants, which in turn fosters a greater sense of community,” Squillace’s report notes. The firm adds that the vegetable and herb garden, in particular, offers social value, with volunteering opportunities creating further interaction among residents.

<img alt="First Look: Lindos Group plans six-storey adaptive reuse apartment project in Woollahra’s Fletcher Precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9619b7bb-291d-417a-a006-f36d14a97cb1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Edgecliff%20DA%20perspective.png?VersionId=PYeMKcgOnEV7XVztARQ_YVDlvHcuyZaW" />

Squillace describes the intent as delivering additional housing supply while maintaining the heritage character of the Fletcher Precinct.

“Our objective is to design a high-quality benchmark building that enables considered additions and the adaptive reuse of the existing three brick residential flat buildings,” the architecture firm states.

The site is located within a heritage conservation area, with all three existing buildings identified as contributory items in the Woollahra Development Control Plan. Rather than pursuing wholesale demolition, the proposal retains the primary brick façades and tiled pitched roof forms along Edgecliff Road and Adelaide Street. New upper-level additions are set back from the existing parapets and articulated with horizontal and vertical shadow lines to provide visual separation.

“The proposed design seeks to retain the primary brick façades and roof forms to the street, demonstrating how existing building fabric can be preserved while increasing housing density within conservation areas,” the report adds.

Prior to Christmas, around <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/rose-bay-apartment-market-fires-up-with-200m-in-new-developments-filed">$200m of new projects</a> were filed in Rose Bay alone, within the Woollahra LGA.

The suburb of Woollahra is subject to the most change in the Woollahra LGA, with the&nbsp;Minns Labor Government to deliver&nbsp;Sydney’s first new heavy rail station in more than a decade, enabling up to 10,000 new homes by rezoning land around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/woollahra-nsw-2025" target="">Woollahra</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/edgecliff-nsw-2027" target="">Edgecliff</a>&nbsp;stations.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/next-stop-woollahra-train-station-delivering-up-to-10-000-new-homes-in-the-heart-of-sydney">Next stop Woollahra train station - delivering up to 10,000 new homes in the heart of Sydney</a>

First Look: Woollahra development wave continues as Abadeen plots six-storey apartment block

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-broadbeach-13-armrick-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Crest Broadbeach</a> continues to record strong sales momentum more than a year after launch of second tower, reinforcing buyer confidence in the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/morris-property-group">Morris Property Group</a> development as construction progresses on site.

The two-tower project on Armrick Avenue is now around 70 per cent sold. Around 90 per cent of the apartments in the first tower have been snapped up, with more than 40 per cent of sales achieved in the second tower since its mid-2025 release. With both towers now under construction and completion targeted for late 2027, Crest continues to attract buyer interest well after its initial launch.

The project’s sales success reflects Morris Property Group’s long-standing commitment to premium locations, delivery certainty, and apartments designed for long-term owner-occupiers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343113]

Crest occupies a rare position on Armrick Avenue, a leafy Broadbeach address that has seen minimal apartment development despite the suburb’s wider growth. The site overlooks expansive green space, including Broadbeach Park and the neighbouring bowls club grounds, offering leafy outlooks and immediate access to open space just moments from the beach.

That scarcity has been a key driver of urgency, particularly among buyers seeking a full-time coastal residence in an area where new supply opportunities are increasingly limited.

Delivery certainty has also played a central role. Morris Property Group is delivering Crest using its in-house construction team, with both towers being built concurrently, providing buyers with clear construction visibility at a time when confidence in project timelines has become a decisive factor.

The developer’s long-standing presence in Broadbeach has further reinforced buyer confidence. Crest is Morris Property Group’s ninth apartment development in the suburb since 2006, following recently completed projects such as Malo Broadbeach and with Maison Broadbeach currently under construction nearby.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=5430]

Pricing has also been carefully positioned relative to comparable beachfront and near-beach product. With two and three-bedroom apartments starting from $1.199 million, Crest has attracted both local downsizers and interstate purchasers seeking value without compromising location or build quality.

According to Apartments.com.au enquiry data, interest has remained broad-based, with Queensland buyers forming the core market and New South Wales accounting for around 20 to 30 per cent of enquiries since early 2024.

Apartments have been designed with owner-occupiers in mind, prioritising generous floor plans, practical storage, and low ongoing costs. Hybrid timber flooring, Bosch appliances, ducted air conditioning with condensers positioned away from balconies, and low body corporate levies, averaging around $90 per week for two-bedroom apartments, have resonated with buyers planning to live in the building long term.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=286005]

Resident amenity has been curated to support everyday use rather than short-term spectacle, with a gym, pool, barbecue facilities and landscaped outdoor spaces integrated into the development.

As broader market conditions continue to reward projects that combine location discipline with delivery certainty, Crest’s sales performance highlights where buyer demand is consolidating in Broadbeach, towards established streets, proven developers, and apartments designed for permanence rather than turnover.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112024]

Sustained sales momentum underpins demand at Morris Property Group’s Crest Broadbeach

<article data-scroll-anchor="true" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:2cd0935f-64f2-4642-8736-f0c056a17aa8-1" dir="auto" tabindex="-1">
South East Queensland developer SIERA has lodged a development application for a 27-storey residential tower on Chevron Island, marking its third project in the Surfers Paradise area and second within the island precinct.

Designed by Gold Coast-based BDA Architecture, the proposal comprises 130 apartments across a slender tower positioned opposite Chevron Island Park. The 1,518 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/17-19-anembo-street-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">17-21 Anembo Street</a> sits at the western entry to the island and offers protected view corridors towards the Nerang River and hinterland.

According to SIERA Founder Brent Thompson, the design intent has been to create what he describes as “a Queenslander in the sky,” with a narrow floorplate to minimise overshadowing, maximise cross-ventilation and respond to the subtropical microclimate.

The podium has been articulated with layered materials and cascading landscaping to provide a transition between the park frontage and the residential tower above. A full-floor communal amenity level on level four will capture elevated park and river views, providing residents with wellness and recreation facilities in a private setting.

<img alt="Siera" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d1008c8-e1b5-4923-a568-29f356068e3f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-02-16%20at%204.06.44%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=p_0qI12aHgz3M8aHFbUoduXBOKDhcrqV" />

Thompson said the project continues the developer’s focus on Chevron Island, a precinct he believes has been “significantly underrated” but is now gaining broader recognition.

“The demand we’ve seen at Tapestry, nearing sell-out and completing later in 2026, confirms this is where Gold Coast residents want to live,” he said.

“It offers something rare: quiet neighbourhood character with wide, tree-lined streets, genuine local amenity, cafes, quality restaurants, medical services, daily necessities, and excellent connectivity to the light rail, beaches, river and HOTA, without feeling touristy or transient. As one of only two true island residential communities on the Gold Coast with limited development opportunity, this will become one of the coast’s most coveted addresses for those seeking a genuine residential lifestyle.”

Chevron Island has undergone steady evolution in recent years, benefiting from its proximity to HOTA and improved connectivity to Surfers Paradise and the light rail network. Thompson described the location as presenting “a unique window of opportunity”, noting that while buyer activity is strong, “pricing hasn’t yet caught up to comparable locations.”

“For buyers who understand the precinct’s trajectory, particularly its proximity to HOTA and the cultural activation happening there, this represents compelling value,” he said.

Apartment configurations will comprise two- and three-bedroom layouts targeted primarily at local owner-occupiers. Thompson said the homes are designed for “practical living,” with natural light, cross-ventilation and generous outdoor spaces central to the planning approach.

“We’re not chasing volume,” Thompson added. “We’re focused on delivering projects in the right locations for genuine owner-occupiers. Chevron Island offers an incredible combination of lifestyle, connectivity and value that we believe is significantly underappreciated in the broader Gold Coast market.”

The Anembo Street proposal follows SIERA’s 113-apartment Tapestry development on Chevron Island, currently under construction and due for completion in 2026. The developer recently completed Pipis in Bilinga and is preparing to commence construction on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a 54-apartment project in Northcliffe, Surfers Paradise, in the second quarter of 2026, with 40 per cent of apartments reportedly secured ahead of its formal launch.

SIERA operates as a vertically integrated builder-developer, managing acquisition, design, sales and construction in-house.

“We’re builders at heart who develop exclusively for ourselves,” Thompson said. “We don’t build for others; we refine what we do for our residents and owners. That focus allows us to control and oversee every detail, every communication, every interaction with stakeholders from neighbours to owners to council. We’re relentless in pursuing thoughtful design for practical living.”

Pricing for the Anembo Street project has not yet been released and remains subject to development approval. The application is currently under assessment by Gold Coast City Council. If approved, construction is anticipated to commence in late 2026, with completion targeted for 2028.
</article>

First look: SIERA doubles down on Chevron Island with new tower plans 

Brisbane's riverside suburb of Hamilton is set to grow into the next apartment development hotspot.

Already favoured by GRAYA and Fortis for their upcoming projects, two more site transactions have taken place, firmly putting Hamilton on the map for new apartments in the short to medium term.

South East Queensland developer Frank Developments is stamping its authority on the suburb, paying $16.5 million for 60 Kingsford Smith Drive, a 1,640 sqm site directly opposite the Breakfast Creek Hotel.

It is the second site Frank Developments, led by Frank Licastro, has secured on the prominent riverfront strip. He also controls 92 Kingsford Smith Drive, where he and joint venture partner Signature Property Partners are preparing to launch Alba, a 72-apartment project comprising two, three and four-bedroom residences designed by BYCulprit.

MP Commercial said the latest transaction represents a “natural evolution” for Frank Developments as it continues to expand its presence in the area. The agency has exchanged on $53.5 million worth of prime inner-city development sites across three deals in the past fortnight, signalling sustained appetite for well-located infill opportunities despite broader market caution.

The Kingsford Smith Drive corridor has long attracted developer interest given its river frontage, proximity to the CBD and established amenity, but tightly held ownership has historically limited supply. Sites with uninterrupted views across the Brisbane River to Newstead Park and the city skyline are particularly rare, placing a premium on scalable parcels with favourable planning controls.

Also securing a new site, its first in Hamilton, is Rhett Williams’ Vector Property, the developer behind BANKSII in East Brisbane, a 72-apartment project opposite Raymond Park that it is developing alongside joint venture partner Core Property Partners.

Vector has secured a 2,325 sqm site at 12 Hercules Street, zoned mixed-use high density within a Priority Development Area, providing planning flexibility for a residential-led outcome.

Vector said the acquisition aligns with its focus on “disciplined capital deployment, downside protection, and strong risk-adjusted returns,” pointing to depth of demand and proven absorption in the inner-ring market.

The Hercules Street site is fully serviced and positioned close to established retail, dining and public transport, as well as major employment nodes including the CBD and Brisbane Airport. Hamilton’s connectivity, combined with its riverside setting and ongoing urban renewal, continues to support demand from both owner-occupiers and investors seeking proximity to lifestyle amenity.

Luxury developer GRAYA is hoping launch its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-graya-expands-hamilton-presence-with-the-gallery-apartments">Racecourse Road apartment development</a> this year, which will add another 53 apartments to the Hamilton pipeline, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/fortis-doubles-down-on-brisbane-files-boutique-apartment-plans-on-hamiltons-racecourse-road">Fortis has approval</a> for its 12-unit shoptop next door.

Hamilton primed for growth as apartment developers jump in

Estate Agents

<html><body>
Gold Coast estate agent Nick Slater has been confirmed as the victim of Tuesday's shark attack off Greenmount Beach.
Slater worked at London Estate Agents Mermaid Beach, ran by principal Ron London.
He had been there since last November, having previously worked as a sales manager in Ray White's Projects Gold Coast division.
He spent the vast majority of his career at McGrath in Canberra. He was an agent and business development manager for nearly a decade.
Slater had secured two sales this year, both in Mermaid Beach, two villas. He secured $1.42 million for four bed home and $741,000 for a three bedder.
“While I’m focused on getting the best possible sales result, I want the journey to be as a pleasant as possible," Nick said about his approach.
“I feel privileged to be entrusted with client’s business, and I like to repay that trust by delivering a superior service experience.”
 
 
</body></html>

wdavis-8cCN98p7xp

Local estate agent Nick Slater confirmed as Gold Coast shark attack victim

<html><body>
A former Varsity Lakes real estate agent has been fined $5,000 in the Southport Magistrates Court after charges were laid by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
Kylie Beecroft-Wilson, former sole director and principal licensee of Beecroft‑Wilson Real Estate Pty Ltd, pleaded guilty to operating as a real estate agent without a licence and making false representations that she held approval to supply real estate agency services for a period of time when she did not.
Mrs Beecroft-Wilson was fined $5,000. A conviction was not recorded.
The court heard that Mrs Beecroft-Wilson’s real estate agent’s licence, which she had held since February 2013, expired in December 2018 and that the licence of her company, Beecroft-Wilson Real Estate Pty Ltd, also expired in December 2018.
However, despite the expiration of these licences, Mrs Beecroft- Wilson continued to manage 11 properties for clients and operate a real estate trust account in her corporation’s name into which rent money was paid before being dispersed to owners.
Mrs Beecroft-Wilson also operated a business account into which she deposited rental commissions, management and letting fees, and she continued to advertise she represented a licensed real estate corporation on correspondence, receipts and new tenancy agreements, despite Beecroft-Wilson Real Estate Pty Ltd being deregistered by ASIC on 2 June 2019.
Mrs Beecroft-Wilson ceased trading in January 2020 when the OFT became aware that she was managing properties without a licence. The OFT appointed a receiver to manage and wind up the trust account.
In sentencing, Magistrate Mark Howden took into account Mrs Beecroft-Wilson’s early guilty plea, that there was no consumer detriment in relation to funds held in trust, and noted a fine would show that unlicensed conduct will not be accepted.
Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said Mrs Beecroft-Wilson’s continued operation of a real estate business despite the expiration of her licence and the winding up of her company presented dangers to both her and her clients.
“Large sums of money can change hands in property transactions so it is vital that agents are licensed to minimise the risk to consumers,” Mr Bauer said.
“The type of conduct demonstrated by Mrs Beecroft-Wilson risks undermining the confidence of consumers who have investments in the property industry.
“The OFT will take appropriate action against any individuals or agencies who are found to be not complying with fair trading laws.”
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

No conviction recorded as former Varsity Lakes real estate agent fined $5,000 

<html><body>
A Hope Island real estate agency, Hi Care Real Estate Group Pty Ltd, has been ordered to pay $1,044 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 17 July 2020 for failing to lodge an audit report on time with the Office of Fair Trading.
Under the Agents Financial Administration Act 2014, real estate agents have four months from the end of their audit period to lodge a report with the OFT.
The Hi Care Real Estate Group’s audit report was due in March 2019 but it was 79 days late in submitting it.
The court heard that the OFT issued Hi Care Real Estate Group Pty Ltd an infringement notice for the offence but the agency elected not to pay it and instead have the matter heard in court.
In sentencing, Magistrate Judith Daley said the licensee held public money and the trust account required stringent oversight to ensure defalcation did not occur, therefore audit reports were required to be submitted on time.
No conviction was recorded.
Fair Trading Executive Director Brian Bauer said this court action should act as a reminder to real estate agents about their legislative obligations when it came to operating a trust account.
“Reports of agents who fail to follow their trust account obligations are taken very seriously by the OFT,” Mr Bauer said.
“Audit measures are in place to ensure the integrity and accountability of the industry.
“Agents are able to get assistance from legal or financial professionals, or even the OFT if they have questions regarding the operation of their trust accounts.”
</body></html>

No conviction recorded after Hi Care Real Estate fails to meet audit requirements

<html><body>
<div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
The global pandemic has dramatically changed the way real estate agents do business but the role they play in helping buyers to find the right property and representing sellers in navigating the sale of their home for the best possible price has never been more important.
For varying circumstances, there are still buyers in the market that need to buy and sellers that need to sell. These people are looking to real estate agents for their expertise, local knowledge and importantly, to help them in a time which commands working together towards a common goal.
Agents have been forced to be more agile, get creative, leverage technology and go the extra mile in building client relationships. Former marketing strategies no longer work and determining how and where they spend their clients’ money to advertise their properties is reshaping how agents do business.
Proptechs like ListingLoop.com.au have become a lifeline in supporting agents to maximise their time, grow relationships with their buyer database, save their sellers thousands of dollars and help them earn an additional recurring revenue stream.
ListingLoop.com.au, which recently announced a partnership with the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV), and calls NBA and NBL basketball legend Andrew Bogut as an ambassador and investor, is Australia’s first buyer industry database. Agents can advertise their sellers’ properties for sale on ListingLoop.com.au under a no sale, no charge success-based advertising model where they pay for a result, not an advertising space. If there’s no buyer on ListingLoop.com.au, there’s no fee.
ListingLoop.com.au CEO Rhett Dallwitz said that “no sale no charge advertising provides an appealing, no risk solution during this current market. We understand that sellers don’t want to pay upfront advertising fees, while agents are not in a position to carry these fees on behalf of their sellers. Our model provides a safe digital solution that connects motivated buyers to the right properties faster than ever before”.
The ListingLoop.com.au platform saw a 23 per cent increase in buyer registrations last month demonstrating that there’s still serious buyers out there ready to take action. The company anticipates further buyer sign ups as people become more and more accustomed to our ‘new normal’ way of living.
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Buyers receive superior and timely service by registering their homebuying criteria and receiving an alert in real time the moment there’s a just listed or exclusively listed property that matches their needs. It’s a fresh and efficient take on the traditional model of property ‘searching’, especially now that not all properties listed for sale are on the major real estate websites due to the upfront advertising fees.
A property listing and property photos taken from a smartphone can be uploaded to ListingLoop.com.au in less than 30 seconds, including immediately after an agent has got the job and signed the listing authority. Registered matching buyers are notified instantaneously.
For sellers that need to sell but don’t want everyone knowing, all property information such as the address and the sale price are protected behind a login. The property is only seen by registered matching buyers on ListingLoop.com.au and is not visible in search engines such as Google and Bing, shutting out the window shoppers.
Unlike markets such as the US, real estate agents in Australia typically generate revenue through their sellers. ListingLoop.com.au is the first industry platform to financially reward agents for the work they put into helping buyers find their home. Up to 50 per cent of ListingLoop.com.au’s advertising revenue is paid back to an agent when a buyer purchases a property from within the ListingLoop.com.au network and from outside of their agency. If that buyer purchases property through ListingLoop.com.au multiple times in their lifetime, the agent receives a recurring revenue stream.
If a buyer purchases a property that’s the agent’s own listing, or if the listing falls under the agency that the agent belongs to, there is no fee. ListingLoop.com.au’s ‘community over competition’ approach to real estate has never been more relevant.
Agents are working more closely than ever with buyers as we collectively recognise the value of home and how much our homes matter. ListingLoop.com.au provides agents with free buyer intelligence tools that helps them instantly identify the buyers within their database that are actively looking for properties and those that could also be potential sellers.
“Despite a substantial drop in transactions, the role of a real estate agent has never been more important. Home is where we are eating, sleeping, playing, working and home schooling right now. An agent can tap into new tools and technologies to help buyers find the place that’s right for them, while supporting their sellers with targeted and cost-effective solutions that generate sales,” Mr Dallwitz said.
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>

Real estate industry needs agents to rise to the occasion: Listing Loop

<html><body><div class="tg-tlc-storybody_intro">
Former Double Bay estate agent Ryan Watsford has been sentenced to four years in jail for his part in an alleged drug smuggling operation.
Watsford had been an estate agent during the events which are alleged to have taken place between 2016 and 2017.
The Sunday Telegraph reported he used his industry knowledge and industry mates to find empty houses in Sydney's eastern suburbs which were then used in the mail shipment of more than 580g of cocaine by a US drug syndicate.
One of the empty houses was the <a href="/news/rose-bay-trophy-villa-tivoli-sold-to-entrepreneur-john-szangolies">waterfront Rose Bay mansion which was being bought by the restaurateur John Szangolies</a>, who had paid $16.8 million to the Bartley family with plans on knocking it down.
Watsford has been sentenced to a maximum eight years and six months in jail, with a non-parole period of four years.
The smuggling ring was accused of attempting to bring in 800 kg of MDMA and millions cigarettes in to Australia.
Police found a photo of three US Postal Service receipts relating to packages that had been sent to three Sydney address; 26 Tivoli Ave, Rose Bay, 51 Towns Rd, Vaucluse, and 22 Chisholm St, Darlinghurst.
The Rose Bay trophy, Villa Tivoli, had been listed with more than $20 million hopes by the family of racing identity "Melbourne Mick" Bartley.
It was sold in March 2016, with settlement scheduled for July 2016. Neither the vendors or buyers, the Bartley and Szangolies family, knew that their home had been pinpointed for the purpose of the clandestine postal delivery.
Watsford had directly called the owner of the Tivoli Ave property in early July who advised him when she'd be moving out within six days, ie ahead of the July 16 settlement by the new owner.
According to documents tendered in the Downing Centre District Court, eight packages containing 985g of cocaine were sent to “Hayes Alan” at 26 Tivoli Ave, Rose Bay.
Australian Federal Police intercepted the packages of cocaine on July 13, 2016, at the Australia Post facility at Alexandria.
The parcels were delivered July 15 when Watsford dropped off another member of the syndicate to collect the delivery from the postman. The US pickup guy was immediately arrested.
On June 27, 2016, police had previously intercepted a phone call where Watsford asked another Double Bay estate if the agency was holding any vacant properties, the court documents show.
The agent, who isn’t accused of any wrongdoing or knowledge of Watsford’s plan, advised on the property at 51 Towns Rd, Vaucluse.
The Sunday Telegraph's Brenden Hills coverage recently took out the Scoop Of The Year at the News Awards 2019 for his reporting work.
</div></body></html>

Former estate agent Ryan Watsford sentenced to four years jail

<html><body>
Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay are among the many real estate agency's across the country who will be helping to raise money at the upcoming the Real Estate Sleepout at Bondi Beach.
The <a href="https://youthoffthestreets.com.au/event/real-estate-sleep-out-2019/" target="_blank">Real Estate Sleepout</a>, held on the Bondi sand on Monday night, helps fight homelessness as agents and real estate employees sleep rough for the night on the beach.
Raine &amp; Hourne Double Bay's business development manager Matthew Serrao says he is hoping to raise $5,000 for the charity. 
“Whether the kids are homeless due to poverty or child abuse, the statistics are worrying. We want to do our bit to help,” said Mr Serrao, who has raised more than $1,000. 
“We have decided to contribute to at least three charity events each year, as we don’t want to take our good fortune for granted. Just last week, my water supplier cut the water off for 15 minutes, and I was caught short. 
“Then I stopped and thought about those less fortunate on the streets who we are supporting next week.”
With single-digit temperatures forecast for Monday, Serrao said his team is planning for the chilly conditions on one of Australia’s most famous beaches.
“We’re preparing as well as we can. But unlike the tens of thousands of homeless people, we are only living rough for one night,” he said.
“We could easily have just donated some dollars, but by sleeping on the beach for one night, we’re experiencing a little of the horrors of homelessness for ourselves.”
Patrick Cosgrove, associate director of Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay, is supporting the sleepout to promote greater awareness of youth homelessness. Cosgrove has also raised $1,000. 
“I support several charities. However, I’m troubled by the lack of community awareness about the 40,000 children sleeping on the streets every night,” he said.
“When we think of people living on the streets we think of adults, we never think of children.
“This is a great cause because we are helping to provide funding and awareness for people who can’t help themselves.”
Cosgrove said sleeping rough on Bondi Beach will prove to be a fantastic team-building exercise.
“Apart from the team members sleeping on Bondi Beach, most of the other members of our team have got behind the fundraising.”
The event is supporting the work of Father Chris Riley’s Youth off the Street, a nondenominational community organisation that is fighting to reduce the numbers of minors living rough.
On any given night, there are 116,427 homeless Australians, 43,555 of those being young people.
</body></html>

Raine & Horne Double Bay joins Real Estate Sleepout

<html><body>
The Fair Work Commission handed down a decision to change the Real Estate Award.
The decision affects how commission-only payments for salespeople apply and who they apply to. 
The changes apply in two stages. 
The first will be from the first full pay period on or after 30 April 2019.
The second will be from the first full pay period on or after 30 June 2019.
30 April 2019 changes
<ul>
<li>The phrase “was an active licensed real estate agent” in clause 16.3 has been replaced with “has operated his or her own real estate business”.</li>
<li>A definition of a real estate business has been included to mean “a business involved in the sale of real property or businesses”.</li>
</ul>
30 June 2019 changes
<ul>
<li>Employers will no longer be able to employ part-time employees as commission-only salespeople from the first pay period on or after 30 June. </li>
<li>There will be no ‘grandfathering’ of the clause, which means the payment method for all current part-time commission-only employees will need to change to the hourly rates provided in the award.</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Fair Work Commission amends rules for commission-only real estate agent employment

<html><body>
Real estate agents, lawyers and accountants won't face the toughest new anti-money laundering measures as the federal government has delayed its full crackdown on the professions.
Australia has been promising to introduce comprehensive "tranche 2" laws since 2006 – but the Department of Home Affairs confirmed it will instead seek "phase 1.5" laws as a transitional step.
The laws will clarify aspects of Australia's money laundering offences.
But anti-money laundering experts have warned that failing to crack down on illicit funds flows, including 'hot money' from China, has added significantly to Australia's housing affordability problem, Thomson Reuters head of financial crime intelligence Nathan Lynch said.
There was a <a href="https://www.afr.com/brand/chanticleer/oecd-warns-of-money-laundering-through-australian-real-estate-20171219-h07emq" target="_blank">highly critical report</a> from the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) three years ago that warned Australia's real estate sector was at significant risk for money laundering.
"The government is currently preparing a bill to amend the Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (AML/CTF Act)," a spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs told Fairfax Media.
"Timing for introduction is subject to the parliamentary schedule."
The new legislation is expected to include changes to the "tipping-off" rules and other secrecy provisions to allow more sharing of information between the government and private sector, including with foreign partners.
The bill will also simplify reporting requirements for cross-border movements of cash or bearer negotiable instruments.
But the government confirmed the laws will not include the long-awaited coverage of lawyers, accountants and real estate agents.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) estimates organised crime costs the Australian community $36 billion each year and "the most common professions exploited by organised crime include lawyers, accountants, financial and tax advisers, registered migration agents, stockbrokers, real estate agents and customs brokers", their report said.
</body></html>

Anti-money laundering legislation delay a let-off for estate agents

<html><body>
McGrath’s domination in the recent annual Real Estate Business Top 100 Agents ranking with 27 of the Top 100 agents in Australia was spotlighted when the listed estate agency reported its latest financial update.
<a href="/news/mcgrath-on-track-to-reach-forecast-earnings-despite-weakened-overall-property-market">The financial results</a> showed some signs of consolidation and recovery despite the weakened overall property market.
"Importantly, 37% of the female agents in the Top 100 ranking work with our company,” said Geoff Lucas, CEO of McGrath Estate Agents. 
Betty Ockerlander (pictured above) leads the agency's female agents in the sales list.
REB put her annual sales tally at $215 million, which ranked her the 15th best selling agent on the <a href="/news/alexander-phillips-lead-narrows-at-top-of-the-highest-selling-residential-estate-agents">top 100</a>.
The McGrath Epping agent has been president of Epping Rotary as well as the long standing position as the secretary of the Epping Chamber of Commerce. She also has a strong connection with the local schools.
Operating her own agency for over 20 years within Epping, North Epping, Eastwood and Beecroft, she is now ranked as the #3 agent in McGrath Australia 2017.
Around half her sales were through auction. 
Ockerlander's highest recorded sale price over the past year was $2.7 million for 15 Barellan Avenue, Carlingford, a four bedroom house which sold by auction in March.
Lorraine Crawford (pictured below) was in 32nd place with $170 million in annual sales.
She is based at McGrath's head office in Edgecliff specialising in the suburbs of Bondi Junction, Queens Park, Waverley, Bondi and Millers Point.
She has worked and lived in these suburbs over the past 11 years, having been involved in sale over the past 17 years.
<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/2018/7/31/lorraine.jpg" alt="">
Her record sales have occurred in suburbs including Queens Park, Bondi Junction and Malabar.
Lorraine's highest recorded sale price over the past year was $6.3 million for 46-48 Argyle Place, Millers Point, a five bedroom house.
Teena Vaughan (pictured below) was the third best selling McGrath agent on the REB top 100, with over 20 years experience.
She secured $124 million in sales. Her highest recorded sale price in the past year was $4.5 million for 4 Hillside Crescent, Epping, a six bedroom house sold by private treaty last December.
<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/2018/7/31/teena%20.jpg" alt="">
McGrath's top selling agent was Matt Steinwede with $271 million in sales followed by Peter Chauncy with $207 million in sales.
</body></html>

Women leading the McGrath agency recovery

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVER
Most agents - so the story goes - get into real estate because they love property and they love helping people. And the chance to earn a small fortune is pretty alluring too. 
But within just a few short months, they are destined to hate both houses and people - and be broke - burned out by psychotic vendors, ungrateful landlords, feral tenants and disgruntled buyers.
Why does it happen like this? What is it about real estate that brings out all the crazy people? And why does your agency seem to be the one that attracts them as clients?
A look at neurological and behavioural research provides some clues that indicate maybe it is not individual agents or offices that attract the unstable or unbalanced, but that the stress involved in buying and selling property is enough to make pretty much everyone feel unhinged.
<a href="http://www.researchhistory.org/2012/06/16/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs/" target="_blank">Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory </a>argues that human psychological wellness is served by the meeting key needs. Until we feel secure at the base levels, we cannot move towards more enlightened behaviour. 
<img src="https://corelogic.com.au/sites/default/files/styles/media_crop/public/2018-04/2018-04-09-realestatecrazy.gif" alt="">
 Shelter is one of our basic physiological needs according to Maslow. What does that mean for agents? It means that when humans feel their “shelter” is uncertain, they they feel their very survival is threatened on a subconscious level and are in a constant state of anxiety. Property is a key part of the second layer of needs – part of our safety and security. When property is insecure, this makes us feel endangered and unsafe. 
Selling a property is to walk headlong into these feelings of anxiety and distress that often refuse to be reasoned away. But so too is the feeling triggered for buyers who can’t find a property, or tenants struggling in the search for something suitable to rent. 
Want to know why your vendor is shouting at you? Or a potential buyer just slammed down the phone on you during the negotiation? It’s not because they’re nuts. It’s because subconsciously, there’s a voice telling them “You’re not safe. You have no shelter. You’re in danger!” and that anxiety is affecting their behaviour in a way that can’t always be rationalised away.
This is because new research from <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201603/how-does-anxiety-short-circuit-the-decision-making-process" target="_blank">neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh</a> has identified that anxiety disrupts the decision-making regions of your brain which can make it physically impossible to think clearly in some highly stressful situations, which in turn is likely to affect your behaviour. 
The study found that anxiety affects your prefrontal cortex – the front part of your brain responsible for understanding rules, the consequences of risk, problem solving and decision making. In doing so, it also affects our ability to regulate our emotions and control behaviour. 
So when you’re in the middle of an auction, pushing a vendor to accept the highest offer, when you’re negotiating with buyers who’ve missed out on numerous other properties, when you’re asking someone who has lived in a home for 40 plus years who has been prevaricating to sign the sales agreement – these are all times when our stress responses are in full flight and in fact, our brains are actively incapable of making a good choice or monitoring our behaviour.
But it doesn’t have to be like this. There are things real estate agents can do that can alleviate the stress their customers feel which will in turn improve the behaviour they demonstrate toward you. These include:
1.    Let people know what to do in case of an emergency
Every time you get on an airplane, the crew runs through the safety demonstration. You’ve seen it a million times, but it is based on the fact that in the event of an emergency when your brain is flooded with cortisol and you literally can’t think, you’ll revert to something that has been drummed into you. 
It’s a great approach that more agents could take too – because while there’s no way of avoiding the fact that buying or selling a property is stressful, as a real estate agent with extensive experience, you’ve seen everything before – so share that knowledge with your clients. 
Research from <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2016/03/29/uncertainty-about-the-future-is-more-stressful-than-knowing-that-the-future-is-going-to-suck/#b894b1f646af" target="_blank">University College London</a> identifies that the unexpected is more stressful, than the expected, even if what’s expected is painful. So explain to your clients what the selling (or buying, or renting) process looks like, where things sometimes go wrong, and how you proactively solve those things when they occur. Make sure you know their auction instructions well in advance and ensure they’ve been planned for quietly and rationally, so you can remind them of that decision, not ask for a new one. Hope for the best but plan for the worst is the mantra. Make solving the stress in advance part of your procedure. 
This has a two-fold affect – it reassures people that what’s happening to them is normal and it tells them that you’ve got their back and they are in good hands which goes a long way to establishing a relationship based on trust.
2.    Help clients take a break from the stress
What is the most stressful thing about the sale process that is upsetting your vendor? Is it having the property clean in time for each open house? Is it making sure the dog is out of the house? And are there ways that you could give your client a break, even just once – by offering to organise a cleaner, or a dog sitter? 
Research from the <a href="http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/manage-stress.aspx" target="_blank">American Psychological Association</a> identifies that taking a break from stressors can be hugely beneficial, even if it’s just short term. Even a small gesture such as a voucher for coffees and a snack at the local café during the open tells them that you are noticing their behaviour, have empathy for what they’re going through and you’re there to support them. (and you can meet them for a coffee afterwards and let them know how it went).
3.    Encourage mindfulness
Both Persian and Jewish philosophers are credited with the saying “This too shall pass” – so dealing with stressful situations has been going on for millennia. But rather than enduring, modern psychology has identified that being able to visualise what the end result both looks like and feels like in a positive way is hugely powerful to reducing stress.
Sometimes your clients may resist this – if they’re selling a long-loved family home, the idea of leaving may terrify them and increase feelings of sadness. But encourage them to visualise how exciting it will once the hammer has fallen on auction day and they know how much money is coming in, how lovely their new home is going to be, all the things they will be able to achieve as part of their new chapter.    If you’ve outlined your process for selling (or buying) in detail and your clients know what to expect each step of the way, they’ll find it easier to imagine positive outcomes. 
Kylie Davis is the Head of Property Services and Content Marketing at CoreLogic.
</body></html>

Estate Agents

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Estate Agents

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News