<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/consolidated-properties">Consolidated Properties Group</a> (CPG) is approaching the launch of its latest Brisbane riverfront development, Castile, on the dress circle Skyring Terrace in Newstead.

VIP buyers are now being engaged, with a full public sales launch coming later this year.

Positioned as the final opportunity to secure a new absolute riverfront residence on the East bank of Newstead, Teneriffe or New Farm, Castile at 47 Skyring Terrace has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> as a timeless addition to the Brisbane skyline.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371113]

The name Castile draws on themes of permanence, sophistication and legacy, reflecting a broader vision centred on enduring architecture and timelessness in the rarest of riverfront positions.&nbsp;

CPG Chairman and CEO Don O’Rorke said the project had been envisioned as a future Brisbane icon.&nbsp;

“With 47 metres of direct river frontage and never to be built out views, 47 Skyring Terrace is the definitive address on the Brisbane River,” O’Rorke said.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150489 project_image_fid=371114]

“Rather than following trend-based apartment design, Castile draws inspiration from Brisbane’s great heritage buildings, reinterpreting classical architecture into a contemporary riverfront landmark designed to stand proudly for the next 100 years,” he said.&nbsp;

The approved development will comprise 227 apartments across a 25-storey tower alongside a boutique six-storey riverfront building of just 12 residences.&nbsp;

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150489]

Joel Robinson

CPG unveils Castile Newstead ahead of upcoming sales launch

Australia’s online shopping habits have shifted dramatically over the last decade. As eCommerce volumes surged, so too did the frustrations that came with traditional parcel delivery: missed deliveries, long Post Office queues, parcel theft and the challenge of being home during business hours.

Australia Post’s Parcel Lockers emerged as one of the more practical responses to that changing consumer behaviour.

What started as a relatively niche delivery option has evolved into a nationwide network of more than 1,400 self-service Parcel Lockers positioned at train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and Post Offices across the country. The system allows Australians to send, collect and return parcels 24 hours a day, fundamentally changing how many people interact with deliveries.

The appeal is relatively straightforward: flexibility.

Instead of waiting at home for a delivery driver or rushing to a Post Office before closing time, users can direct eligible parcels to a Parcel Locker location of their choice. Once the parcel arrives, Australia Post sends a notification with a collection code or QR access through the AusPost app, allowing customers to retrieve their package at any time within the collection window.

For apartment residents in particular, the system has become increasingly valuable.

Higher-density living has created logistical challenges around deliveries, especially in buildings without concierge services or secure parcel rooms. Missed deliveries are common, while parcel theft has become an increasing concern as online shopping volumes continue to rise.

Australia Post itself has repeatedly highlighted the growing issue of “porch pirates” during peak shopping periods, encouraging customers to use Parcel Lockers as a safer alternative to unattended home deliveries.

That security aspect is one of the key reasons the Australia Post Parcel Locker network has grown so rapidly.

Parcel Lockers are positioned as secure, monitored collection points that reduce the risk of theft while also improving delivery efficiency for Australia Post. Instead of multiple redelivery attempts, parcels can be consolidated into a single secure destination.

The Parcel Lockers themselves are free to use through a MyPost account and support a range of parcel sizes up to 16 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 35 x 44 x 61 centimetres.

Beyond receiving parcels, the system has increasingly become integrated into the broader eCommerce ecosystem.

Customers can now use Parcel Lockers to return online purchases, while retailers have embraced the model as a way to improve delivery success rates and reduce friction in the shopping process. Australia Post has actively expanded partnerships with major retailers and promoted Parcel Lockers as part of a broader out-of-home strategy.

The timing of that expansion aligns with broader changes in Australian shopping behaviour.

The acceleration of online retail during and after the pandemic placed enormous pressure on delivery infrastructure. Parcel volumes reached record highs, particularly during Black Friday and Christmas periods, with Australia Post delivering more than 100 million parcels during peak festive seasons.

That growth forced logistics providers to rethink the “last mile” of delivery, widely regarded as the most expensive and operationally difficult stage of the process.

Parcel Locker systems have increasingly been viewed as part of the long-term solution.

The concept itself is not unique to Australia. Parcel Locker networks have become common globally, particularly across Europe and Asia, where dense urban environments and apartment living create similar logistical challenges. But Australia’s geography and suburban sprawl made adoption slower initially.

Now, however, the convenience factor is driving mainstream usage.

For commuters, Parcel Lockers near train stations allow parcels to be collected on the way home from work. For apartment dwellers, they remove the uncertainty around access and missed deliveries.

The rise of the AusPost app has also streamlined the experience, centralising notifications, tracking and Parcel Locker access into a single platform. Australia Post has increasingly pushed customers toward app-based delivery management, partly as a way to combat phishing scams and fake delivery notifications, which have become more sophisticated in recent years.

The Parcel Locker model is also beginning to influence property development itself.

Parcel management has become a growing consideration in apartment building design, particularly as online shopping becomes embedded in everyday life. Many new residential developments are now incorporating dedicated parcel rooms or Parcel Locker systems into foyers and communal spaces.

For developers, parcel management is increasingly viewed as part of the broader resident amenity offering, alongside gyms, wellness spaces and communal work areas.

That reflects a wider evolution in how residential buildings are designed.

Apartment buyers are placing greater emphasis on convenience, security and operational functionality, particularly in higher-density urban environments. Parcel delivery, once considered a minor operational detail, has become an increasingly important part of that equation.

Australia Post’s Parcel Locker network sits at the centre of that behavioural shift.

What began as a simple alternative delivery option has evolved into a key piece of infrastructure supporting Australia’s growing eCommerce economy and changing urban lifestyles.

And as online shopping continues to expand, the role of Parcel Lockers is likely to become even more embedded in how Australians live, shop and receive goods.

How Australia Post Parcel Lockers changed parcel delivery convenience in Australia

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Marketing

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Given the impact of technology on our everyday life it’s not surprising that any list of the world’s top brands is tech dominated.
If you own a smartphone you might well interact with one of these brands as the first and last thing you do every day, as you check the time or check your emails. As you might already have guessed currently the world’s number one brand is Apple, followed by Microsoft, Google, Coca Cola and IBM, it’s the tech brands that dominate the top 50 brands.
Ikea is the highest ranked brand that could be related to homemaking, however the value of a successful brand is an important part of property marketing. One reason is that as more of us continue to live in cities we are also looking to secure our identity, and where we live is central to this. The branding of suburbs, apartment buildings, housing estates, different states and right on to brand Australia, all of these tie into the essence of our marketing and as a marketing tool and part of the sales path, this topic deserves a lot attention.
House Names to Brand Australia
Perhaps the most common property related brand would be the name given to individual houses, this has been a long tradition in many countries including Australia. While house names might have originally helped the postman deliver the mail, they are a popular part of our residential history.
It does appear, and perhaps not surprisingly, that Australian house names are often associated with the sea, or at least an association with being near to or having a view of water. Some of the more obvious examples include Driftwood, Bay Cottage, Lakeview, Seaview, Waterfront and Seacrest, and at least a few of these have been recycled as names and brands for apartment blocks. I am sure we have all at least seen more than one Seaview or Waterfront apartment project name!
House names and terrace row names are really living history and add interest and colour to many an inner-city suburb across Australia. Then as far as real estate is concerned we have brand Australia itself.
Brand Australia has some both familiar, and some lofty aspirations and these include core values like: friendly people, an attractive natural environment, resources, quality lifestyle, sunny, confident, creative, outward looking and talented, grand and impressive!
In a very matter-of-fact but interesting way, many of these same values are the very attributes that attract offshore buyers to our country and our local property market. Such brand values are almost priceless but they do underscore beyond the dollars and bricks and mortar why we are such a popular market with offshore buyers.
Creating Brand Value
Brands aim to create a personality, brand awareness and it’s an ongoing and complex task. I am not an expert, here my aim is to acknowledge how important brands are in project marketing. For the actual success of projects, in the eyes and mind-set of buyers, for developers and for the marketing agents, we all benefit and can I suggest need strong brands, and this also extends to personal brands. In today’s world a personal brand is no longer something just for a handful of personalities.
I think it’s useful if we tick off some of the key ways any brand is created and sustained. Firstly there is a need to create energy around the process and the wide participation of all team members. Creativity is not something you can buy in a bottle or a neat package, that’s why team involvement in particular with a major project is a good idea. While there has to be a lead taken, to avoid an endless round of likes and dislikes, involving the project team never does any harm and is usually positive.
There are also some well-regarded measures for how the success of a brand is measured and this includes longevity, a brand that is easy to remember, is unique, keeps things fresh, reflects passion and must have consistency.
For buyers there might also be another test. If you happen to live in a block of 100 or 200 apartments you want the brand to be well regarded, in particular that’s important when it comes time to sell.
I Can’t Imagine Living Anywhere Else!
If every buyer we have dealt with was happy to say these words, then in every respect we have doubtless created a building or a new estate with a great brand.
When thinking about a residential project brand, one aim is to create and build the project’s reputation, to humanise the brand and encourage a strong word of mouth connection.
While there are graphic and design considerations, the appeal of a brand should also aim to reinforce key aspects of a project’s lifestyle. Inspiration can come from how potential residents might interact with the environment, for example by having a morning ritual or relaxing at or near home.
The creation of a strong brand that reflects all of the key aspects of a project can have considerable appeal and will also aid social media and can directly help create more web traffic. For larger, longer-term projects this sort of brand awareness has big up-side advantages.
There is also strong synergy between individual project brands and the brand qualities of the developer because the two are intertwined. Strong brand values for any developer will pay off handsomely as they help sustain off-the-plan sales, where the buyer’s trust in the end product is important.
Buyers, the future residents of a building or an estate are not only attracted by brands that represent the height of fashion, the core idea is to create ownership of the project in the most positive light. The brand can also then galvanise and give focus to all aspects of the project.
Gentrification A Good Example
Looking for a good example we need to look no further than how clever branding has been used to re-cast the gentrification of many former industrial areas on the fringe of many of our capital cities.
In areas like Sydney’s south-east entire groups of suburbs have been ‘re-branded’ with a great mix of residential, commercial and social infrastructure and innovative building design to create very desirable areas. The combination of facilities has been important in building the brand in these areas, and new shops, cafes and even supermarkets with extended trading have all played their part. This process of gentrification is perhaps one of the best examples I could use to show the power of brands in our field.
Peter Chittenden is managing director for residential of Colliers International. He can be contacted <a href="https://www.projectagenda.com.au/" target="_blank">here</a>.
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The role of brands in marketing projects: Peter Chittenden

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I was invited to speak at a recent property event in Singapore. I was booked and ready to go – and then pulled out when it became clear it wasn’t a research-based seminar for investors but an event designed to flog Brisbane off the plan units to Asian buyers in an oversupplied market. 
The event organisers wanted to censor my presentation, eliminating any information deemed unfavourable to the selling objective – particularly the vacancy rate figures.
Vacancy rate data is unflattering for central Brisbane – and is set to get considerably worse, given the high level of new supply in the construction pipeline. The Brisbane inner-city unit market is one of the locations I warn about in my No Go Zones report.
Marketing companies who are earning big money selling inner-city Brisbane units to unsuspecting foreign investors have been putting a politician’s spin on the situation – with some even claiming the city isn’t building enough apartments.
A research paper published by Matusik Property Insights puts those claims into perspective. It confirms that Brisbane’s inner-city areas already have high vacancies and the city is making matters worse by building too many new rental properties.
According to the Matusik report, the highest vacancies are all in the inner-city and near-city suburbs, headed by 6% in upmarket Ascot/Hamilton and 4.6% in the CBD/Spring Hill precinct.
The lowest vacancy rates in the Brisbane City Council region, between 1.5% and 2%, are all in the outer reaches of the municipality.
Overall, says Matusik, the Brisbane LGA has about 155,000 rental properties, of which an estimated 4,600 are vacant. This makes the city's overall vacancy rate about 3%, up from 2.5% a year ago. 
“The vacancy rate is rising and Brisbane is already adding more new rental properties than is required,” the report says. “This trend is likely to accelerate as more new rental dwellings are built across the city.”
The number of Brisbane rental properties has increased by 3,725 over the past 12 months. The current rate of rental supply in Brisbane is growing at twice the rate than is needed. Two thirds of this new rental supply is apartments and a further 30% is in townhouses. 
“Apartments now dominate the rental market in Brisbane, with a 45% market share. Houses come in second with 38%, followed by townhouses with 11%.”
The average vacancy rate across inner Brisbane is 3.6%, compared to 3.1% in the middle-ring suburbs and 2.4% in the outer suburbs. 
“Typically, a rental market is tight (rents rising) if the vacancy rate is under 2%,” the report says. “Between 2% and 3% represents a balanced market and over 3% suggests oversupply. 
“An increasing number of locations in Brisbane, typically the inner-city postcodes, already have rental vacancy rates over 3%. And new rental supply, especially new apartments, is snowballing across Brisbane. 
“Brisbane is unlikely to see much in the way of generic rental growth for some time to come.”
Brisbane is not alone. The No Go Zones report also warns about the inner-city apartment markets in Melbourne, Perth and Darwin, while noting that the Gold Coast is hurtling towards another boom-bust scenario.
TERRY RYDER is the founder of <a href="https://www.hotspotting.com.au/">hotspotting.com.au</a>. You can <a href="mailto:%20&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20/n%20&lt;/script&gt;&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20%20&lt;/script&gt;This%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.%20You%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it.%20&lt;script%20type='text/javascript'&gt;%20%20&lt;/script&gt;">email him</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/hotspotting">Twitter</a>.
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Brisbane inner-city vacancy rate to get considerably worse: Terry Ryder

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Want to list your business online for free and get user reviews as well?
Log on to Wealthify.com.au. The site allows financial services providers to create a free listing for their business. Consumers can then search these listings for brokers and advisers as well as read or post reviews.
Darren Moffatt, founder of Seniors First mortgage brokerage and online marketing agency WebBuzz, is the site’s creator, reports Australian Broker. 
“The listings on the site are indexed by Google and because we use our digital marketing expertise to promote the site, it is becoming highly visible on the search engine. For example, if a consumer searches for a mortgage broker in the Blue Mountains they will find one of our listings,” he told Australian Broker.
“In addition to that, consumers can use the site to leave reviews – and reviews are really, really powerful in the online space. If a broker creates their own listing and sends an email out to their clients to leave a review on the site, what they will find is that the listings that have reviews will appear much higher in the Google results.”
Users can also upgrade to Wealthify premium options starting at $49 a month. 
In addition, the site has a marketing hub where brokers and advisers can purchase search engine optimisation packages and social media management packages through the online shop.  
Moffatt said the idea behind Wealthify was to help financial services providers with their online footprint. 
“The overriding thing was we wanted a place for brokers to promote their business and get marketing help online. Equally, we wanted an opportunity and a place for consumers to come and find brokers or financial service providers and be able to have a say about any good operators they might find.”
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Wealthify.com.au allows brokers to list and market their business for free, mostly

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<div>Contrary to some industry guru claims, offline marketing is far from dead, Riti Verma the founder and president of the US based <a href="https://www.rankmyagent.com/" target="_blank">RankMyAgent</a> suggests.</div>
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"Although the search to buy and sell real estate has largely moved online, reaching out to potential clients in the real world creates a sense of trust and connection that simply can’t be duplicated digitally," she recently blogged.
Even mailings and postcards were great for getting agent brand in front of homeowners.
"One reason is that most people deal with a lot less physical mail — even direct mail — than they do emails and online advertisements.'
"There’s no denying the fact that the internet is the most powerful marketing mechanism today. 
"It makes it easier for real estate agents to get in touch with a wider market of prospective clients than anything else we’ve ever known." 
She suggested all good estate agents must have social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to assist in connecting with target markets for listing purposes.
She said two out of three sellers, before choosing a real estate professional to work with, research potential agents extensively online first. 
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New and old world marketing remains key to agent success

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Savills Australia is marketing two showrooms occupied by national retailer, The Good Guys at Fountain Gate Super Centre in Melbourne’s outer east. 
The property is expected to fetch more than $7.25 million when offers close June 17.
The property at 48-50 Victor Crescent, Narre Warren, comprises showrooms 12 &amp; 13, totaling 2350 square metres.
Savills Australia industrial director Chris Jones says the property offers a secure income stream with a long established tenant of 15 years .
It comes with a ten year lease to Sheedy-Muirs Pty Ltd (The Good Guys) at a current net income of $561,605 per annum
"The property is part of a well-established showroom precinct including Snooze, Amart Sports Barbecues Galore, Ray’s Outdoors and Spotlight, which is located directly adjacent to a Bunnings Warehouse and the Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, the Monash Freeway, and Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road.
"The key driver for the co-location of such a plethora of national brand retailers has been the surrounding residential catchment in the City of Casey, one of Victoria’s fastest growing municipalities,’’ Mr Jones said.
Chris Jones said showroom properties had been popular with investors this year including the recent sales of a showroom in Epping which sold for circa $6 million on a 6.5% yield and a showroom at 1085-1087 Western Highway, Ravenhall which sold for $5.25 million on a 6.9% yield. 
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Savills selling Good Guys, Fountain Gate

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I was recently tagged on an article that did the rounds on LinkedIn. The article proposed the notion that professionals in the financial sector are fearful of being ostracised by developers. More to the point, John Collett of the Sydney Morning Herald wrotes “The brokers fear that they will be ostracised by developers if they go public…”.
Perhaps I’m totally misunderstanding the writer’s point and the genesis of the brokers’ fears. Have I missed something altogether? Let’s discuss.
I don’t disregard what Collett writes and I’m glad to accept that there is one more voice crying foul-play when it comes to overinflated commissions and the financial sector being induced to participate. I am however, bemused that none of Collett’s interviewees or article subjects, shed any light into the simple truth that selling real estate without a license is against the law.
If the single and only notion is that “the brokers fear that they will be ostracised by developers if they go public” then I believe the financial sector has totally missed the required need to be a “licensed real estate agent” to sell real estate.
For over 4-5 years I have been writing about the need to have Real Estate Commissions disclosed by one form or another. I have tracked over the last decade how “Marketing Fees” have moved from 4% to an alarming 10% value off the sale price of a property in the new construction sector. The average or typical real estate agent’s commission on a sale is 2%. In an overly heated market, these fees are added to the end values of the properties, which in turn only add more fuel to the property bubble.
Hopefully, we will soon hear the voice of the consumer crying foul-play, as the properties that were marketed by the financial sector and brought through SMSF property investment schemes, lose value.
We already have hints of such concerns, as new properties in mining-town sub divisions which were notoriously preferred by these schemes are now losing value due to high vacancy.
Soon enough and on the agenda, will be high rise apartments in capital cities and in particular projects that are still under construction. Presently there are properties being sold for $360,000, with "marketing fees" reflecting 10% or in real terms $35,000.
Huge losses incurred by the investors may be the trigger or the catalyst for the regulators to take more assertive action. These are actions that will hinder the sale of property by spruikers and marketing companies that don’t hold real estate licenses.
Nonetheless, it won’t stop most. However, if commissions were disclosed the consumer stands a better chance at discerning what is good value or not. Don't you think?
How this is allowed to happen and why is this so prevalent is no real secret. As to the how? It all comes down to one word. Replace the word “commission” with “marketing” and the fee payable need not be disclosed and anyone can sell real estate.
As to the why; the exaggerated fees are readily passed on to “property marketers and spruikers” mainly involved in the financial sector, all because they have an immense amount of influence over the purchaser. The spruikers assist with the decision making and place high recommendations on the development/project. This in turn allows the developer to inflate the price of the property to make room for the 8-10 percent commissions, sorry I meant “marketing fees”.
Again, please enlighten me, why brokers should fear developers? They get a commission under their job description as pointed out by Jan Kirstein and that is mortgage brokering. However, even Kirstein only refers to “something going wrong” as the main reason and conflict of interest, should things go pear shaped. Again, there is no mention of the need for a license. Leave the sale of real estate and reasonable commissions to the licensed real estate agents, is my suggestion.
At this point I ask, where are the Real Estate Institutes on this topic? I first raised this very issue and the need for agents to be protected against spruikers tainting the industry, over 4-5 years ago.
The financial industry was encroaching in our territory even before the “property boom” hit town. And before it was fashionable to set up SMSF schemes to buy property. Or better still, before they learned to by-pass the real estate agent and go direct to the source, the developers.
The further demise of the real estate industry and in this arena where simple regulations can also protect the consumer, is not due to lack of education on the part of the agents. We know very well not to make any reference to any financial gain, assertions about return on investment and capital gains. But, it seems clear that the financial sector are not well versed on who can sell real estate, legally that is.
One of the key rules I share with my friends and family, when it comes to being offered property by spruikers, accountants or mortgage brokers is; if they refer you to new property, then it’s just not worth the risk. If they in turn, refer you to a buyer’s-agent to help you find something other than new or off-the-plan, it would make more sense. However never avoid doing your own research. Nor underestimate, the power of simply calling a local agent in the area to ask what comparable properties are selling for and they don't need to be new.
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