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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

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

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

Industry News

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Onthehouse Holdings Limited, the ASX listed online real estate content and services platform, has announced it is looking for a joint venture partner to assumed majority ownership of its consumer online division, the platform providing free access to property sale prices and estimated home values on most properties in Australia.
A strategic review of the company following months of internal company turmoil has resolved to keep and concentrate on its real estate solutions division that provides software tools for real estate agents, other property professionals and financial institutions through Console and Real Estate Ad Network. 
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It conclusions reached by the board have been touted as avoiding the need to raise capital and dilute the current shareholding, or obtain debt funding.
The board told shareholders:
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Consumer Online (COD) and Real Estate Solutions (RES) are distinct businesses and there is no compelling inter-dependency between them;
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As a consequence they need to be managed independently with a focus on an individual strategy for each business;
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Sharing of data will be by way of license agreements;
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The new COD subsidiary will have its own Board chaired by Onthehouse’s largest shareholder Michael Dempsey and will include current Board member Lisa Hickson;
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RES generates approximately $9 million in free cash per year and is able to self-fund implementation of its strategy;
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COD consumes approximately $7 million in cash per year that is currently being funded by the cash generated by RES;
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It said both businesses had "significant intrinsic value that is not currently recognised by the market."
Its COD will be developed in a non-listed JV vehicle in which OTH Holdings would maintain an interest, of between 30% and 49%.
The board anticipates JV partners could be one or several of the following:
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Like businesses that can add experience, technology or other industry assets etc. to the venture; and/or,
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Venture capital investors or other funders.
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"The board believes significant value can be created in this structure without the responsibility of funding the COD business.
"The search for appropriate JV partners has commenced and OTH is currently in discussion with a number of parties," chairman Tony Scotton told shareholders.
The Board expects that the separation strategy will take six months to execute. 
The new company structure, allowing the RES business to develop its potential without the constraints of funding COD, would see the listed company having a stable, profitable core business with a significant investment in the "potential upside of the COD business."
Over recent times activist investors have appeared on its share register and then its board following the abrupt mid-2014 departure of its founding shareholder and chief executive Michael Fredericks. Chris Meehan has been named chief executive officer having been acting chief executive since February. Other recent appointments include Emily Santucci as chief financial officer and Andy Antonini as chief operating officer.
Michael Dempsey who pocketed about $150 million from the sale of Ezidebit, took an 8 per cent stake in Onthehouse in December last year.
In 2013 it billed itself as Australia’s third largest real estate portal when it reached one million unique browsers per month. It is now more than three million.  
Onthehouse.com.au provides free access to 13.6 million Australian property data sets to its online and mobile visitors, including live sales and rental listings.
But the Consumer Online consumes about $7 million in cash annually triggering recent pre-tax impairment charges of $10.5 million, which led to a $9.1 million half-yearly loss for the company.
The $9.1 million loss for the six months to 31 December 2014 came after reporting a $587,000 profit the year before.
Disregarding the one-off costs, Onthehouse posted a $93,000 underlying profit – an 86 per cent drop on the previous year.
Onthehouse's total revenue sits at around $13 million - the group’s Real Estate Solutions division at $10.7 million.
The group’s Consumer Online and Data Analytics saw revenue at $2.3 million.
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Onthehouse.com.au seeks to sell unprofitable consumer website after strategic review

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Eight tips for professional estate agent service emerged from the 2015 Consumer Perceptions of Real Estate Agents survey.
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1. Be professional 
The number one behaviour highlighted by vendors as essential was professional behaviour demonstrated by being proactive, pre-empting their needs and delivering as promised. 
2. Regular feedback 
Vendors stressed the value of agents who were proactive about delivering a transparent sales process and who used data-based insights to support their processes. 
3. Be friendly and approachable 
Vendors appreciated agents being easy to talk to and with whom they felt safe to ask questions at any time. 
4. Know your market 
Vendors felt confident they were in good hands when agents demonstrated their market expertise, showed them the data they had used to determine price estimates and took the time to explain market behaviour to anxious vendors. 
5. Provide advice and help 
Vendors highly valued advice on presenting their homes in the best possible light especially when it was supported by recommending and helping coordinate tradesmen. 
6. Be on their side 
Vendors felt championed by agents who negotiated hard on their behalf and offered to assist them with the purchase of their next home. 
7. Be thoughtful 
Vendors were impressed by agents who demonstrated thoughtfulness – either by ensuring multiple agents were located around the home during opens, to offering bottles of waters to buyers on hot days through to thank you gifts at the conclusion of the sale. 
8. Don’t dump them at the end 
Many vendors flagged they felt dumped by their agents as soon as the sale was signed, while those whose agents who stayed in touch were more likely to be delighted and recommend their agents to friends. 
 
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The 2015 Consumer Perceptions of Real Estate Agents survey was commissioned by CoreLogic RP Data. It seeks seeks to understand the quality of real estate agent performance and service in Australia and how it matches - or misses - the expectations vendors have when selling their homes.
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Eight ways for estate agents to be more professional

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When it comes to achieving an expected or better price for a property, a new survey shows there is no difference between the sexes. 
But price is not everything, the 2015 Consumer Perceptions of Real Estate survey found.
Kylie Davis, head of Real Estate Solutions at CoreLogic RP Data, commissioned the survey that shows 24% and 22% of male and female agents respectively sold the vendors property above the expected price.
And 49% of male agents were found to sell around the expected price compared to 52% of female agents.
Both sexes were evenly represented at 21-22% in selling below expectations. 
But the survey revealed a difference in the satisfaction levels vendors experienced when dealing with a female agent compared to a male agent: female agents were more likely to deliver a consistent experience for vendors. 
"This does not mean female agents were better at various elements of the sale process simply because they were women. 
It does however correlate the finding that the better the skill levels of the agent, the more satisfied vendors are likely to feel. 
Female agents outperformed their male counterparts in the skills of handling open for inspections (41% women agents rated as excellent compared to 33% men), providing regular feedback (45% of female agents rated as excellent compared to 31% of male agents), following up of potential buyers and leads (43% of female agents rated as excellent compared to just 29% of male agents) and negotiation skills (38% of female agents rated as excellent compared to 28% of male agents). 
Female agents were more likely to be identified as excellent at managing the sales process – 42% for female agents compared to 28% for male agents.
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Female agents were more likely to deliver an excellent quality presentation (33%) compared to 22% of the male agents. 
Preparation levels of vendors who used female agents were also higher with 66% feeling very well prepared before going through the sales process, compared to 56% of vendors with a male agent. 
The take out of this insight is not to assume an agent will be better at various skills of selling simply because of their sex, but for vendors to be clear about the type of selling experience they expect, and to select an agent who demonstrates these skills. 
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Regardless of market conditions the majority of vendors – 66% – rated their overall experience when selling their home as either excellent (31%) or good (35%), according to recent research, though some 20% claimed the experience was average and 14% below expectations. 
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Some 68% of respondents said they would recommend their agent to friends or family, according to market research company, Roy Morgan which has been polling Australians about the trustworthiness of different professions since 1975. 
Real estate agents have always polled poorly - in its 2015 Image of Professions only 9% of those surveyed rated them as “very high” or “high” ethics and honesty. Only advertising people and car salesmen score worse.
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"The 2015 Consumer Perceptions of Real Estate survey wanted to test this stereotype by going directly to people who had experience of agents and their performance," the report advised.
"Popular mythology stereotypes real estate agents as being untrustworthy smooth-talkers who put their own needs above those of their clients," said Kylie Davis, head of Real Estate Solutions at CoreLogic RP Data,<a href="https://www.corelogic.com.au/news/file-download?id=39427689-a225-410e-bb81-dccc8b09592c" target="_blank"> who commissioned the report</a>.
"At CoreLogic, we wanted to understand whether this perception had any bearing on reality, or was it an urban myth? 
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"The 2015 Consumer Perceptions of Real Estate Agents is a new report that seeks to understand the quality of real estate agent performance and service in Australia and how it matches - or misses - the expectations vendors have when selling their homes.
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"It is our passionate belief that it is only through transparency that we can ensure the ongoing success of the industry by demonstrating how professional services are meeting – and exceeding - consumer expectations if we are to change the reputation of the industry once and for all," she said.Some 36% of respondents claimed they expected to stay in touch with their agent or use him or her again and an additional 26% saying they would consider it. 
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The survey identified that real estate agents are managing price expectations well with 23% of those surveyed selling above the expected price and 50% selling for the expected price. One in four sold below the expected price. 
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Some 38% of respondents said they interviewed just one agent before making their decision on which agent to use. Some 55% chose to interview two or three agents before making their decision. Only 8% interviewed more than three agents. 
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The survey showed very few real estate agents demonstrated their market knowledge using technology. Only 17% used an iPad or video to share market information, and 12% received market information in an email. 
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Some differences between the sexes? CoreLogic RP Data estate agent satisfaction survey results

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Dow Jones has launched Mansion Global, mansionglobal.com, a standalone, global luxury real estate website.
It brings together high-end property listings from brokerages and developers around the world, designed to empower international buyers to make intelligent purchase decisions and to engage the luxury real estate enthusiast.
The site will feature original content as well as news and information from News Corp publications and web sites around the world, including articles from The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, The Times of London, The Sunday Times, The Australian and realtor.com. Today it even carries a link to an Australian Fincial Review article.
The site will launch with English, Spanish and Chinese-language editions. 
Launch sponsors for Mansion Global include Sotheby’s International Realty, Extell Development Company and Sub-Zero and Wolf.
“News Corp’s shared passion and dedication to real estate makes them an ideal partner for the Sotheby’s International Realty brand,” said Wendy Purvey, Chief Marketing Officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. 
The concept for <a href="https://mansionglobal.com" target="_blank">Mansion Global</a> was first incubated at News Corp, led by chief executive Robert Thomson who retains a small apartment in Sydney.
Mansion Global is a Dow Jones product and is independent from The Wall Street Journal and its Mansion real estate section.
Australians listings on the site come from Sothebys, Christies International and Coldwell Banker.
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Mansion Global launched by News Corp

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The public believe real estate agents are less trustworthy than politicians, insurance brokers and lawyers, according to the latest Roy Morgan Image of Professions survey.
Real estate agents have been deemed the third-most dishonest professionals in the country, with only 9% of Australians aged 14 and over judging them the most trustworthy profession. Only car salesmen (at 4%) and advertising people (at 5%) are considered less trustworthy.
Real estate agents' honesty was also at the same level last year. Since 1987, agents' reputation has remained at a similar level, between 7% and 12%.
Real Estate Institute of Australia chief executive Amanda Lynch told <a href="https://www.rebonline.com.au/breaking-news/8986-agents-judged-less-honest-than-politicians-and-lawyers" target="_blank">Real Estate Business</a> agents' poor reputation is not based in reality.
"The only way to address this perception is to maintain high-quality training and standards, and continue to fight against the proliferation of three-day quickie qualifications which are offered by outliers in the industry," she told the publication.
Roy Morgan's telephone survey was conducted in the evenings between 8 April and 10 April, with 598 respondents aged 14 and over.
The most trustworthy professionals nationally were nurses, with 92% of respondents considering them the most trustworthy professionals.
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Real estate agents among the least trusted professionals in the country: Roy Morgan

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Stockland’s residential deposits are running at the highest levels in five years with the developer saying it is well placed to achieve full year lot settlements at the upper end of its 5,000-6,000 expectations.
There was "strong momentum" going into FY16, its chief executive Mark Steinert said, adding Stockland was on track to achieve 7.0 – 7.5% earnings per share (EPS) growth in FY15, tightening previous guidance, on presenting its quarter three stock market update.
There were 1,427 net deposits for the quarter, the strongest year to date result in over five years, with third quarter results impacted by moderation in Queensland though confidence re-emerging following the Queensland election.
Stockland reported Victorian market conditions remain robust while reduced net deposits were achieved in NSW due to limited Sydney releases and settlements delayed pending the delivery of trunk infrastructure.
The successful summer sales campaign drove WA volumes, where market conditions continue to moderate.
“We continue to be disciplined in implementing our strategy to grow returns and this has seen us achieve another positive quarter across all areas of our business,” Steinert said.
Expanded customer reach and continuing positive market conditions sees Stockland on track to settle at the upper end of its 5,000 to 6,000 lots through the cycle target range in FY15 with strong momentum going into FY16.
“Our focus on creating thriving communities that enhance the wellbeing of our customers continues to drive high satisfaction," Steinert said.
"A recent survey of residents in our masterplanned communities revealed that our customers have a personal wellbeing score well above the Australian average.”
Stockland has acquired around 4,000 new lots during the quarter, including residential lots and apartment sites.
The Group’s other core businesses also continued to perform well, with Retirement Living and Logistics and Business Parks making good progress implementing their growth strategies.
The Retirement Living business is on track to deliver an increase in sales in FY15, with the $160 million Cardinal Freeman redevelopment in Ashfield, Sydney, underway with the first stage of 28 apartments, due for completion in April 2016, already 65% reserved.
Construction of stage two has now commenced.
Stockland has reported strong retail sales during the third quarter, with comparable specialty sales showing the strongest growth since 2009.
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Queensland election boosts confidence (and the bottom line): Stockland

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The Victorian agent James Tostevin has taken the crown of Australia’s top selling agent.
Tostevin, of Marshall White &amp; Co, took out the win in industry websitE Real Estate Business’ Top 100 Agents rankings for the third consecutive year.
The annual rankings, now in their fourth year, is judged after agents submit their own entry, so excludes many leading agents who decline to participate.
The coastal eastern suburbs Sydney-based agent Alexander Phillips from Phillips Pantzer Donnelley and Marcus Chiminello, also of Marshall White's prestige eastern suburbs Melbourne office, secured the next two rankings.
Together the three accounted for nearly $1 billion in residential real estate sales.
To earn a spot in the top 100, agents are judged on the number of sales they made last year, the total value of properties sold and their efficiency.
In the last year, 8,610 properties were sold by the top 100 agents with revenue totalling nearly $6 billion, Tom Sullivan, publisher of Real Estate Business, said.
Real Estate Business’ Top 10 Agents
1. James Tostevin, Marshall White
2. Alexander Phillips, Phillips Pantzer Donnelley
3. Marcus Chiminello, Marshall White
4. Ric Serrao, Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay/Bondi Beach
5. Simon Harrison, Belle Property Lane Cove/Hunters Hill
6. Glen Coutinho, RT Edgar
7. Michael Clarke, Clarke &amp; Humel Property
8. Jason Boon, Richardson &amp; Wrench Elizabeth Bay/Potts Point
9. Adrian Bo, McGrath Estate Agents
Equal 10. Ben Collier, McGrath Estate Agents
Equal 10. Peter Chauncy, McGrath Estate Agents
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James Tostevin secures third win as Australia's top selling agent

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James Packer's Crown Resorts has been ordered to endeavour to resolve its trademark dispute with the burgeoning apartment developer, Iwan Sunito's Crown Group.
The Federal Court Justice John Griffiths ordered the parties to attend a mediation session held by a private mediator.
Crown Resorts is trying to stop Iwan Sunito's company from trading under the name Crown Group Holdings, claiming the apartment developer is cashing in on the $10 billion casino operator's brand.
Sunito's Crown Group filed a counter claim. Both seek wealthy Asian investors.
<img src="/images/2015/02/11/corwn-logogs-feb-11-two.jpg" alt="">
Crown Resorts logo (left), Crown Group logo (upper right) with logo for Crown Apartments (lower right)
The property developer has $3.5 billion of residential developments in its Australian project pipeline.
Spokesmen from Crown Resorts and Crown Group both declined to comment on the court case when contacted by Fairfax Media.
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Crown Resorts and Crown Group told to mediate name dispute

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Developer Villawood Properties has established new Queensland offices in Southport ahead of its launch of two new Gold Coast residential communities.
Founded in Victoria in 1989, Villawood has developed more than 60 award-winning residential masterplanned communities along the eastern seaboard.  
"This year, it is expanding its Queensland operations to diversify its land bank and take advantage of key growth corridors," Villawood Properties co-executive director Tony Johnson said.
The new Southport office is 110 square metres on level six of 64 Marine Parade.  It previously occupied an office at 11-13 Station Street, Nerang.
The relocation comes as Villawood Properties has appointed Christopher Ciuffetelli to the role of assistant development manager in Queensland.  
He joins Michael Williams, Villawood Properties state manager – development.
Villawood Properties co-executive director Tony Johnson said the new Queensland communities were part of its "aggressive three-year growth strategy" and combined represent a total land value of $50 million.
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Villawood setup for Gold Coast projects

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Nadia Karkar has tendered her resignation as the Kay &amp; Burton chief executive officer, effective 30 April 2015.
Michael Gibson and Ross Savas will now serve as joint managing directors as the CEO role will not be replaced.
In early 2014, Nadia Karkar took he job having been a corporate lawyer in New York and Hong Kong. She had also been an associate director at Hastings Funds Mangement having a MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, and a Melbourne University Bachelor of Commerce and Laws (Hons). 
“We are thankful for Nadia’s strategic guidance and leadership over the past 14 months," said Ross Savas. 
“We wish Nadia the very best in the next phase of her career.
"The company has undergone a successful transformation both from an operational and branding point of view and, no doubt, Nadia has set Kay &amp; Burton on an innovative course for changing times.”
“I am proud that we were able to successfully implement such a large number of strategic initiatives in such a short space of time," said Karkar.
"I have done what I set out to do and it is now time for me to pass the torch along to those who, without doubt, will make it shine even brighter.
“I am proud that we were able to successfully implement such a large number of strategic initiatives in such a short space of time.  I have done what I set out to do and it is now time for me to pass the torch along to those who, without doubt, will make it shine even brighter.”
<div><img src="https://kayburton.com.au/app/webroot/files/Our%20People/South%20Yarra/Nadia%20Karkar.jpg" alt="Nadia Karkar"></div>
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