<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pitard-group">Pitard Group</a> has officially opened the doors at EVA Elsternwick Village Apartments, delivering a collection of move-in ready residences in one of Melbourne’s most tightly held neighbourhoods.

With only a limited number of residences remaining, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/eva-elsternwick-village-apartments-241-glen-huntly-road-elsternwick-vic-3185">EVA</a> presents a rare opportunity to secure a completed apartment in the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/elsternwick-vic-3185">Elsternwick</a>, situated on the coveted Glen Huntly Road.

Comprising 101 residences across a mid-rise building, EVA offers a mix of spacious two- and three-bedroom apartments. Community feedback on Apartments.com.au consistently highlights the project’s quality finishes and well-resolved floorplan design.

Created in collaboration with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/via-architects">VIA Architects</a>, the project reflects a design ethos centred on resident experience and contextual sensitivity. Each apartment has been crafted with an emphasis on natural light, practical functionality, and acoustic performance.

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Interiors channel a subtle Hamptons aesthetic, with engineered timber flooring, high ceilings, and soft, neutral finishes. Kitchens are appointed with ILVE European appliances, shaker-profile cabinetry, and stone benchtops, while bathrooms continue the same refined, understated palette.

Pitard Group, who also delivered the construction through their in-house team, has prioritised acoustic insulation through double glazing and noise-reducing materials - a quality noted by early residents and buyers alike.&nbsp;

Private outdoor space is a hallmark of each apartment, whether in the form of a balcony or sun-filled terrace. Many residences enjoy bay or city views, with floorplans that prioritise indoor-outdoor flow and functional layouts. Thoughtful inclusions such as Euro laundries, study zones, and abundant storage ensure the apartments are equally suited to downsizers and professionals seeking quality and low-maintenance living.

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EVA’s amenity offering extends beyond the apartments. A rooftop terrace, complete with in-built BBQs and panoramic views across Port Phillip Bay and the Melbourne skyline, invites residents to relax or entertain in style.&nbsp;

A fifth-floor residents lounge, with north-eastern orientation and floor-to-ceiling glazing, offers an ambient retreat enhanced by kitchen and bathroom facilities.&nbsp;

Ground-floor retail and dual lifts add further convenience, while basement car parking with secure storage rounds out the amenity offering.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=93073 project_image_fid=357529]

As a move-in ready address, EVA also benefits from its exceptional location. Just 130 metres from Elsternwick Station and within walking distance of tram and bus links, it places residents minutes from the CBD and the bay.&nbsp;

The surrounding neighbourhood is a cultural and culinary hub, with institutions like Attica and Bang Bang nearby, as well as daily essentials within easy reach.&nbsp;

Green spaces including Elsternwick Park and Rippon Lea Estate offer a sense of retreat, while top-tier schools and health services add to the suburb’s appeal.&nbsp;

Completed and ready to move in, EVA Elsternwick Village Apartments offers two-bedroom residences from $899,000.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=93073]

Staff Writer

Inside EVA: Pitard Group's completed apartments in Elsternwick

With Brisbane’s housing market soaring and home ownership becoming increasingly out of reach for many buyers, townhouses have emerged as the new urban dream, offering private, low-maintenance retreats complete with pools, parklands, and lifestyle amenities.

As Brisbane faces a growing shortage of quality new residential offerings, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/honeycombes-property-group">Honeycombes Property Group</a> has released to the market Songbird Terraces, a boutique development of just 34 terrace homes in the heart of the leafy residential enclave of Oxley.

Offering a more affordable option to the white picket fence house, buyers can purchase a brand new architecturally designed three bedroom terrace home overlooking park and bushland with a communal heated pool, BBQ terrace, private parklands and an on-site café, while being just minutes from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/oxley-qld-4075">Oxley</a>’s village centre, train station, and a range of schools and amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5241]

Each of the spacious three bedroom plus multi purpose room or four bedroom townhomes feature premium finishes, landscaped courtyards, designer kitchens, two-car accommodation, and optional upgrades for tailored living.

Honeycombes Property Group Managing Director Peter Honeycombe said with completion anticipated in early 2027, this was an incredibly rare chance to buy a fixed-price, brand-new, off the plan home in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held and liveable suburbs, without the stress of auctions and chaotic open homes.

“With prices starting from $1.195 million, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/songbird-terraces-oxley-10-honeyeater-circuit-oxley-qld-4075">Songbird Terraces</a> are designed for owner occupiers seeking space, style and lifestyle, without the maintenance,” Honeycombe said.

“Surrounded by natural bushland and close to manicured parks, walking trails, boutique shops, cafes, cinemas and golf courses, Oxley continues to stand out as one of Brisbane’s most liveable suburbs.”

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<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Residential Director Andrew Scriven said with a limited number of homes available, Songbird Terraces was attracting strong interest from families, upsizers, first home buyers and downsizers looking for quality, location and long-term value.&nbsp;

“Demand is high, supply is low, and the market is crying out for high-quality homes in established well connected areas like Oxley,” Scriven said.

“What was once seen as a compromise between a house and an apartment a townhouse has now become a lifestyle choice, more and more homebuyers are shifting their focus from traditional detached houses to modern, low-maintenance townhouses that offer greater value and convenience.

“As the city’s population grows and urban sprawl becomes less sustainable, Brisbane’s townhouse market is set to expand even further.&nbsp;

“There’s definitely a panic from buyers who’ve been pushed out of the house market but still want to stay in well-connected suburbs with great schools and amenities, they are worried they will miss out as property prices continually rise.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5238]

After eight years of calling Australia home, Agnes Skoraczewska and Matt Biskupski decided it was finally time to take the next step and purchase a home of their own. With property prices continuing to climb, the couple didn’t want to wait any longer and secured a three-bedroom plus multi purpose room townhouse at Songbird Terraces, locking in a fixed price ahead of their move in 2027.

“The truth is, we didn’t want to wait any longer,” Biskupski said. “Seeing what was happening in the market, we realised now was the right time to buy. It gives us peace of mind knowing we no longer have to worry about renting.”

When they discovered Songbird Terraces, the decision came easily.

“The area is lovely and quiet, yet still so close to the city, it’s the perfect balance for work and life,” Skoraczewska said. “It’s a place where we can recharge our batteries while staying connected to everything we need.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5237]

For Agnes and Matt, buying off the plan offered the ideal solution, the confidence of securing their dream home at today’s prices, and the excitement of planning for the future in a community that perfectly fits their lifestyle.

As the final residential precinct within the Songbird Oxley master plan, Songbird Terraces will continue to breathe new life into the area and help create a suburb destination rich in lifestyle amenity.

Colliers Residential Director Lily O'Connell said Songbird is positioned to take full advantage of elevated north and east-facing parkland views, the homes feature low-maintenance design and high energy efficiency to reduce ongoing costs while enhancing everyday comfort.

“And with an array of layouts, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles this is an offering for all,” O'Connell said.

“This is the final release in a masterplanned community that’s become one of Oxley’s most desirable addresses, offering a last chance to enter this community where opportunities are few and far between.”

The homes will be delivered by Clearcon Builders, specialists in premium townhome construction. They will commence construction before Christmas, and is aiming to complete the development in early 2027.

<h2>Songbird Terraces Snapshot</h2>

<ul>
	<li>34 architecturally designed 3 bedroom + multi-purpose room terrace homes.</li>
	<li>An array of layouts, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles.</li>
	<li>Perfectly positioned to take advantage of north and east views over park and bushland.</li>
	<li>A multi-purpose room, which can serve as a second living area, teen retreat, study or fourth bedroom.</li>
	<li>Designer kitchens featuring high quality engineered stone benchtops and European appliances.</li>
	<li>Spacious outdoor living areas and landscaped courtyards perfect for alfresco dining.</li>
	<li>Generous internal and external spaces, designed to take advantage of views overlooking park and bushland.</li>
	<li>Low maintenance, energy efficient &amp; two car accommodation.</li>
	<li>Access to a heated resort-style pool, outdoor entertaining terrace and beautifully landscaped gardens and park.</li>
</ul>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149443]

Songbird Terraces offer 34 architect-designed townhomes in private enclave, surrounded by bushland, parks and resort style amenity

Joel Robinson

Townhouse living, Brisbane’s new affordable urban dream?

Kirra Beach has been hot property since the onset of the pandemic in early 2021.

Development sites were snapped up, projects sold out, and many of those developments are now beginning to be handed over to purchasers.

The latest entrant to Kirra, timing its arrival perfectly with little to no new off the plan apartment stock currently on the market in the area, is <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pyco-group">Pyco Group</a>, which is expanding its South East Queensland footprint through projects such as Atelier in West End and Nouveau in Albion, both currently under construction and scheduled for completion next year.

They recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/onde-kirra-10-churchill-street-kirra-beach-qld-4225">Ondé Kirra</a>, quietly set on Miles Street just a stone’s throw from the sand and the world-renowned surf break at Rainbow Bay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143621 project_image_fid=337600]

The current release focuses on a wide variety of three-bedroom configurations, from layouts starting at $1.89 million and offering nearly 130 sqm of space, to larger three-bed options approaching 160 sqm and oriented north-east to capture views over the ocean and the length of the Gold Coast skyline.

Each apartment follows a layout that prioritises light, airflow, and connection to the outdoors. Interiors are shaped by a warm, coastal-inspired palette that balances soft neutral tones with natural timbers. Kitchens feature premium finishes and flow directly into dining and living zones, framed by full-height glazing. Many apartments offer wraparound views and corner orientations to maximise natural light from multiple angles.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143621 project_image_fid=337613]

There are just 90 apartments in the 14-storey building designed by DAH Architecture.

Beyond the apartments, Ondé’s offering is rounded out by a series of resident-only amenities designed for comfort and practicality. These include a fitness studio, outdoor pool, co-working pods, and lush communal spaces on the ground floor.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=143621 project_image_fid=337597]

Rawcorp kicked off construction on site just over three months ago, demolishing the two houses and two original walk-up unit blocks.

The award-winning construction firm is expecting to complete Ondé&nbsp;in mid-2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=143621]

Ondé Kirra times entry to booming southern Gold Coast market as apartment options shrink

The Wentworth Park Sporting Complex and its immediate surrounds will make way for new housing and sporting facilities, the latest rezoning play by the Minns Labor Government to meet Sydney's housing supply crisis.

The 3.3-hectare Wentworth Park Sporting Complex will be&nbsp;converted into community sporting fields and public green space, allowing for the rezoning of the surrounding area to support up to 2,500 additional well-located homes.

These are in addition to the 4,800 homes already planned or approved nearby, including around 2,000 homes on the old Sydney Fish Market and neighbouring sites, bringing the precinct total to as many as 7,300 new homes.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/mirvac-to-develop-over-1-400-new-homes-on-former-sydney-fish-market-site">Mirvac to develop over 1,400 new homes on former Sydney Fish Market site</a>

In addition to the new housing and sporting facilities, the Wentworth Park precinct will be immediately adjacent to transport links including a new ferry stop at Sydney Fish Markets, an upgraded light rail station at Wentworth Park, a continuous 15-kilometre coastal boardwalk from the Blackwattle Bay to Woolloomooloo, and the Pyrmont Metro station, which is set to open in 2032.

When the current greyhound lease expires in September 2027, the existing facilities will be demolished and the land transferred to the City of Sydney to be converted into community sports fields. Current estimates suggest around 20 additional sport fields are required in the city area by 2031 in order to meet the needs of the sporting community.

The new 14-hectare park will also be made available for hosting festivals and community events as a condition of the transfer to ensure the new harbourside parklands can be utilised by the whole community.

“We recognise Wentworth Park holds deep history and meaning for many people, and we know some will be disappointed by this change," NSW Premier Chris Minns said, adding however that "cities change, and we&nbsp;have a responsibility to plan for the future.

“Right in the middle of Sydney and connected by rail, light rail, ferries and the future Metro, our plan for the future of Wentworth Park will deliver much-needed new housing while also providing up to 20 new community sporting fields.

“This is more homes, more playing fields and better public spaces, alongside the infrastructure that makes neighbourhoods work. This is homes and community facilities delivered together, not one without the other.”

“This is how we build a fairer and more balanced Sydney. By creating new housing in well-serviced areas, instead of pushing growth to places without the transport and infrastructure to support it.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said&nbsp;Wentworth Park has a long and proud history.

"Today we’re securing its future for the next generation," Scully said.

"This plan keeps land in the public hands and delivers new homes, new sporting facilities and new open space for a community that is growing fast. Our city is changing, and we have a responsibility to make sure people can live near the jobs, education and transport they rely on. We’ll continue working closely with the City of Sydney to deliver this rezoning in a timely way, and we’re ready to step in with a State-led rezoning if it’s needed."

Minns Gov to demolish Wentworth Park Sporting Complex to make way for 2,500 new homes and sporting facilities

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/palm-beach-qld-4221">Palm Beach</a> has been reshaped over the past few years by an influx of migration.

What's now becoming more apparent, as new apartment developments beyond the beachfront start to take shape, is how new residents of Palm Beach will spend their days.

Take <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/villea-palm-beach-26-mawarra-street-palm-beach-qld-4221">Villea</a>, the debut Gold Coast apartment development by the now-national luxury apartment developer Abadeen. Abadeen has been delivering high-end apartments across Sydney's North Shore region for over two decades, and recently expanded into Melbourne where they are focusing on the same model that has served them so well over the last 23 years.

The developer is approaching completion of Villa,&nbsp;69 apartments on Mawarra Street. It sits&nbsp;400 metres from the northern stretch of Palm Beach, where mornings often begin before the suburb fully wakes. From upper levels, the sunrise casts across Burleigh Headland through to Snapper Rocks, a reminder of Palm Beach’s coastal orientation.

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For some, the start of the day may simply be coffee on the balcony; for others, a walk to the shoreline becomes the morning reset.

By mid-morning, attention shifts to everyday convenience. Abadeen is curating a ground-floor retail offering unrivalled in the local development space. It will host café options and small-format retail at street level. This complements the wider Palm Beach strip, where Canvas Café, 600 metres north, remains a local favourite for breakfast or lunch.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106840 project_image_fid=336445]

For households with school-aged children, Palm Beach State School is within a short walk, around 300 to 400 metres away, reinforcing the precinct’s appeal for families seeking proximity to daily essentials.

The suburb’s parks and waterways anchor the afternoon's activities. Tallebudgera Creek sits a 10-minute walk away, offering calm swimming spots and shaded pockets along the water’s edge. Small local parks and Melaleuca Dog Park provide low-key outdoor options, while Mallawa Sports Complex adds structured recreation with its fields and courts. These amenities capture the quieter side of Palm Beach, distinct from its busier beachfront corridor, but still central to why the suburb has become one of the Gold Coast’s most in-demand apartment locations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106840 project_image_fid=336450]

Late afternoons bring the focus back to the building. As construction progresses, Emicon’s team is completing interiors where light-filled layouts, timber flooring, and full-height glazing form the backbone of the apartments’ internal experience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a resort-style pool, gym, and outdoor entertaining spaces, amenities designed for practical daily use rather than spectacle.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106840 project_image_fid=336442]

Evenings wind down inside the residences, where kitchens feature stone benchtops and European appliances. The outlook shifts from ocean light to the hinterland’s slower fade, closing the loop on the day.

Residents will move into Villea in early 2026, with construction firm Emicon putting the final touches to the new address.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=106840]

Life at Villea: Morning to evening at Palm Beach's newest address

Federal Court

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Fractional property investment company DomaCom has announced the conclusion to the legal proceedings which the company has been supporting in the Federal Court of Australia.
The proceedings centred on superannuation legislation permitting investment in the DomaCom Fund by an SMSF where a related party was the tenant in the underlying property.
The ATO had (unless an extension of time is granted by the High Court) until 7 September 2018 to file with the High Court an application for special leave if it was to appeal the decision of the Federal Court of Appeal. 
DomaCom's lawyers have advised no such appeal or application for an extension of time has been filed.
Orders were issued last week by the Federal Court as follows:
<ul>
<li>There be a declaration that the leasing of the Burwood property by the DomaCom Fund would not cause Aussiegolfa Pty Ltd as trustee of the Benson Fund (Aussiegolfa) to breach the sole purpose test set out in section 62 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth);  </li>
<li>Aussiegolfa pay 40% of the ATO’s costs of the first instance proceeding (as agreed or otherwise assessed); and/</li>
<li>Aussiegolfa pay 40% of the ATO’s costs of the appeal (as agreed or otherwise assessed).</li>
</ul>
In relation to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Appeal, the Court orders that the ATO pay 100% of Aussiegolfa’s cost of the appeal.
DomaCom CEO Arthur Naoumidis said DomaCom will now focus on addressing the related trust matter and is reviewing its constitution and disclosure documents to address this issue with respect to future sub-funds.
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Investments loom after DomaCom's Federal Court win on SMSF investment 

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<div>
The Federal Court has imposed record penalties totalling $18 million against We Buy Houses Pty Ltd (We Buy Houses) and its sole director, Rick Otton, for making false or misleading representations about how people could create wealth through buying and selling real estate, following ACCC action.
The penalties of $12 million imposed against We Buy Houses, and $6 million imposed against Mr Otton personally, are the highest ever imposed for contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law by a corporation and an individual, respectively.  
The Federal Court also banned Mr Otton from managing corporations for 10 years in Australia and permanently restrained Mr Otton and We Buy Houses from further involvement in the supply or promotion of services or advice concerning real property transactions or investment.
“We Buy Houses and Mr Otton peddled false hope to people simply looking to get a foothold in the housing market or invest money in real estate for their future,” said ACCC Chair, Rod Sims.
"The record penalties imposed against both We Buy Houses and Mr Otton reflect their egregious conduct.”
“They have also effectively been permanently banned from any further involvement in real estate in order to protect consumers,” Mr Sims said.
“These record penalties demonstrate the determination of the ACCC to take strong and effective enforcement action against businesses and individuals who prey on consumers using the false hope of creating financial success. The judgement signals the Court’s condemnation of false and misleading property spruiking and get rich quick schemes.”
“This outcome also reflects a recent trend of higher penalties for Australian Consumer Law breaches. We can expect this to continue following recent law changes to increase maximum financial penalties under consumer law,” Mr Sims said.
We Buy Houses and Mr Otton taught real estate investment strategies via free seminars, and paid ‘boot camps’ and mentoring programs that claimed people could:
<ul>
<li>buy a house for $1, without needing a deposit, bank loan or real estate experience, or using little or none of their own money</li>
<li>create passive income streams through property and quit their jobs</li>
<li>build a property portfolio without their own money invested, new bank loans or any real estate experience, and</li>
<li>start making profits immediately and create or generate wealth.</li>
</ul>
In August 2017 the <a href="/news/court-rules-property-spruiker-rick-otton-has-broken-consumer-law-with-his-strategies-an-expensive-waste-of-time">Federal Court found these claims were false or misleading</a>, in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law.
“In her judgement on liability, Justice Gleeson said the free seminars were a waste of time, and that the boot camps and the mentoring programs were an expensive waste of time," Mr Sims said.
The Court also found that Mr Otton had made false or misleading representations that he had successfully implemented the wealth creation strategies he taught. In addition, a book authored by Mr Otton, and websites operated by We Buy Houses and Mr Otton, included testimonials from ‘students’ claiming they were able to buy a house for $1, which the court found were false or misleading.
We Buy Houses had been conducting training programs including free seminars, boot camps and mentoring programs throughout Australia since around 2000. Between 2011 and 2014, We Buy Houses generated the majority of its $20 million revenue from conducting these training programs.
Otton is also renowned in the UK as the creator of ‘How to Buy a House for a Pound’.
</div>
<div class="field field-name-field-accc-mr-release-number field-type-text field-label-above">
The ACCC instituted proceedings against We Buy Houses and Mr Otton in March 2015 following a coordinated investigation with New South Wales Fair Trading. On 11 August 2017, the Federal Court delivered judgment on liability, finding that Mr Otton and/or We Buy Houses had engaged in multiple contraventions of sections 18, 29(1)(f), 29(1)(g), 34 and 37 of the Australian Consumer Law.
 
 </div>
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$18 million fine after Rick Otton's property mentoring bootcamps ruled an expensive waste of money: Federal Court

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ASIC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Linchpin Capital Group Ltd (Linchpin) and Endeavour Securities (Australia) Ltd (Endeavour).
Linchpin and Endeavour operate two managed investment schemes. Both schemes are called “Investport Income Opportunity Fund”.
Following an investigation, ASIC alleges that:
<ul>
<li>Linchpin is operating the scheme without holding an Australian Financial Services Licence as required by the Corporations Act;</li>
<li>Linchpin has used investor funds for its own purposes without disclosing this use to investors;</li>
<li>Endeavour has entered into related party transactions in contravention of the Corporations Act;</li>
<li>Endeavour has failed to properly disclose those related party transactions to investors; and</li>
<li>monies invested in the schemes managed by Linchpin and Endeavour have been misapplied or misappropriated by Linchpin and Endeavour.</li>
</ul>
ASIC is seeking orders to:
<ul>
<li>restrain Linchpin and Endeavour from operating the schemes and providing financial services;</li>
<li>prevent Linchpin and Endeavour from dealing with assets or investor funds;</li>
<li>appoint receivers over the assets of Linchpin and Endeavour to identify and secure scheme assets;</li>
<li>wind-up Linchpin and Endeavour and the schemes; and</li>
<li>obtain declarations that Linchpin and Endeavour have acted in contravention of the Corporations Act.</li>
</ul>
The matter will be heard in the Federal Court in Brisbane on 24 July 2018.
ASIC's investigation is continuing.
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

ASIC takes action against Linchpin Capital Group and Endeavour Securities

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The Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria has begun civil proceedings against estate agency Hoskins (Maroondah) Pty Ltd (ACN: 095 367 712), in the Federal Court of Australia, for alleged contraventions of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) in relation to property sales on Melbourne's north east outskirts.
Consumer Affairs Victoria will allege that during 2015 and 2016, Hoskins advertised properties for sale at prices much lower than it believed they would actually sell for.
The alleged conduct relates to 26 residential properties located in Croydon, Croydon Hills, Croydon North, Mooroolbark, Park Orchards, Ringwood, Ringwood North, Warranwood and Wonga Park.
Consumer Affairs Victoria will also allege Hoskins misled two vendors it was acting for, by telling them their properties would sell for much less than it believed they would sell for, in order to claim ‘incentive commissions’ from the vendors when the properties sold at a much higher price. Such conduct, it is alleged, was also unconscionable.
The department will allege that, at various times throughout 2015-16, the company:
<ul>
<li>engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct towards potential property purchasers and two vendors who were clients of Hoskins</li>
<li>made false or misleading representations to potential property purchasers and two vendors who were clients of Hoskins</li>
<li>engaged in unconscionable conduct towards two vendors who were clients of Hoskins.</li>
</ul>
CAV will allege that Hoskins (Maroondah):
<ul>
<li>advertised 26 properties for sale at prices lower than the company believed they would actually sell for</li>
<li>misled two vendors it was acting for, by telling them their properties would sell for much less than the company believed they would - in order to claim ‘incentive commissions’ when the properties sold at a much higher price.</li>
</ul>
CAV will also allege that the company’s director, Brent Robert Peters, 43, of Croydon Hills, aided and abetted the company’s conduct. With over a decade in real estate, Brent Peters achieved Top 10 salesperson in his first year in real estate in 2001 and was recently named No. 1 salesperson out of the Hoskins network of 55 offices.
With 12 sales, Brent Peters won Croydon Hills Agent of the Year, in the RateMyAgent Agent of the Year Awards 2017. RateMyAgent is the largest independent review site in Australia and claims to be "trusted by agents and customers."
CAV is seeking orders that the company:
<ul>
<li>pays a financial penalty, plus legal costs</li>
<li>be restrained from repeating this conduct in the future</li>
<li>implements a compliance program to educate its staff about their ACL obligations to ensure no further contraventions of the relevant provisions occur</li>
<li>refund two vendors a total of around $25,000</li>
<li>publish details of any court orders on its website and display it in its office.</li>
</ul>
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Victorian Consumer Affairs accusing Hoskins agency of unconscionable incentive commission scheme

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The Doncaster office of the real estate agency Hocking Stuart has been fined $160,000 by the Federal Court for underquoting on property listings.
Hockingstuart Doncaster was ordered to pay the penalty, following an action brought by the Victorian Director of Consumer Affairs.
<div class="in-content-ad">The misleading prices occurred in advertisements published between June 2014 and December 2015 on nine offerings.</div>
<div class="in-content-ad"> </div>
<div class="in-content-ad">Justice Bernard Murphy it as “serious” and “plainly deliberate."</div>
<div class="in-content-ad">
The judge found their underquoting was widespread and a significant part of its sales strategy at the time.
It was intended to create the illusion of a bargain, Justice Murphy said.
“It involved the deliberate creation of an enticing, but illusory and misleading, marketing web for the sale of nine homes.
“The purpose of doing so was to attempt to generate a higher level of buyer interest in the property, in the expectation it would translate into a higher sales price.”
Hocking Stuart Doncaster’s defence that such practices were widespread in the industry.
Domain reported the franchise agreed it made the false representations and that it breached state and federal consumer laws.
The judge estimated the small business derived over $34,000 from the contravening conduct.
A Doncaster property advertised for more than $790,000 sold at auction for $1.01 million.
A Templestowe property, advertised at above $1.7 million after the owner signalled they wanted $1.8 million to $1.9 million.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-templestowe-120292541" target="_blank">The home </a>sold for $2.04 million at auction.
The court ordered the agency keep records of price estimates for three years, publish a public notice advising consumers of their misleading and deceptive conduct, and review its compliance program.
It follows a fine of $300,000 imposed on Hocking Stuart Richmond for underquoting last year.
</div>
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Underquoting fine on nine Hockingstuart Doncaster listings

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A Federal Court Judge has found the property spruiker Rick Otton has broken Australian consumer laws. 
Justice Jacqueline Gleeson concluded there was no evidence that the strategies spruiked by Otton could actually enable a consumer to buy a house for $1.
The judgement advised that the We Buy Houses seminars that students attended were an "expensive waste of time".
The claim by Otton's that his clients could "buy a house for $1" was misleading and and contravened the Australian Consumer Law.
Rick Otton's company We Buy Houses (WBH) had a turnover of more than $20 million.
Between January 2011 and June 2014, 3,400 people attended free seminars, 2,000 paid to attend a boot camp to learn more information, and 700 did another expensive course with mentors.
Would-be investors were given some information at the initial free session, then more if they paid $3,000 to attend the boot camp and the $26,000 mentoring workshops.
"For ordinary consumers seeking how to achieve the outcomes stated ... the free seminars were a waste of time," Justice Gleeson said.
"I formed the view that Mr Otton was a very unreliable witness who was prepared to maintain or defend statements that were obviously untrue or misleading and who is habitually careless with the truth."
"The headline 'how to buy a house for $1' indicates that [WBH and Otton] were directing their efforts principally towards people who were not property rich, but who would be attracted to the idea that they could make money from property without having to pay a significant amount for it," Justice Gleeson said.
"The message is sensational. It is designed to attract the attention of consumers who do not have sufficient financial resources to buy a house using mainstream bank finance."
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [ACCC] had alleged that WBH's further claims that a consumer could buy a house without needing a deposit, bank loan or experience, start making profits immediately, and create wealth were also misleading and deceptive.
Justice Gleeson's judgement said consumers enticed by WBH were given a variety of strategies and tips to achieve property ownership — some of which included "rent-to-buy", a "sandwich lease option" involving a middleman, and "sweat equity" option, where the buyer carries out renovations in lieu of paying a deposit.
Justice Gleeson accepted that some of the WBH strategies were theoretically possible, but added there was no evidence they had been used by its students successfully.
None of WBH's most successful students, known as "big kahunas", provided evidence to the court to show what they had claimed to have achieved, and while a number of testimonials were shown to the court, the judge said there was no evidence of the claims in them.
The ACCC called nine consumers as witnesses to describe how they had never achieved success by implementing what they learned.
One consumer and his partner attempted to buy properties in Bass Hill, Quakers Hill, Homebush West, North Bondi, Eastlakes and Lake Haven.
"Despite claiming that Mr Otton had been successful financially "in following these ideas and strategies", there was almost no evidence that [Mr Otton and WBH] had used the strategies, let alone used them to make money," Justice Gleeson said.
"I conclude that, in reality, the respondents' strategies do not and cannot enable a consumer to buy a house without needing a deposit, bank loan or real estate experience."
The ACCC instituted proceedings against We Buy Houses and Otton in March 2015 following an investigation with New South Wales Fair Trading.
"Today's judgment sends a strong message to 'property spruikers' that they must not make false or misleading representations about the success and profitability of their 'wealth creation strategies' to induce consumers to pay significant sums to learn about them," <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/property-spruiker-made-false-or-misleading-representations" target="_blank">ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said.</a>
In a statement, Otton said he was pleased that the court accepted it was inconceivable that an ordinary or reasonable person would take the phrase "How to Buy a House for a $1" at face value.
"As I so often explained, the technique was designed to help homeowners who can no longer pay home loan repayments and with the help of a turnaround specialist, ensures that they do not become mortgagee sale roadkill," Otton said.
"We accept Her Honour's findings that insufficient proof was presented to prove how this vendor finance technique can work in practice."
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