<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

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The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
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Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

Mcgrath

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Property NSW, on behalf of Family and Community Services, has listed a further seven properties for sale in Millers Point.
The new listings include two apartment blocks and five terraces:
· 42- 44 High Street – 1 block of four apartments (to be sold as a single property)
· 66 Bettington Street terrace
· 46- 48 High Street – 1 block of four apartments (to be sold as a single property)
· 61 Kent Street terrace
· 15 Lower Fort Street – the last terrace to be sold on Milton Terrace row
· 75 Windmill Street terrace (pictured above)
· 36 Argyle Street terrace
The properties will be sold via auction through McGrath Estate Agents on 30 November.
The new listings follow the sale of 3 and 9 High Street, which sold late last week for $3.28 million and $3.44 million respectively.
105 Millers Point properties have sold so far, delivering circa $287 million for reinvestment in social housing across NSW.
Proceeds from the Millers Point sales program will fund 1,500 new social housing dwellings across the State, with more than 600 new fit-for-purpose social housing dwellings funded to date.
All purchasers of properties in the Millers Point sales program are required to adhere to NSW Heritage Council-endorsed Conservation Management Plans (CMPs), which set out in extensive detail the purchasers’ heritage maintenance obligations and the types of works that are permitted on the properties.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Seven properties at Millers Point for auction

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A significant off-market sales trend has emerged in Australian prestige property due to an undersupplied market, better use of database marketing, the rise of the buyers’ agent and increased opportunity for wealthy clients to maintain total privacy, according to McGrath's latest report.
Most popular in East Coast capital city markets, off-market selling is where a property is sold without any public advertising.
Instead, the McGrath report noted owners quietly list with a trusted professional who then introduces their home to pre-selected clients without ads or open homes.
Off-market selling is happening across all price brackets but particularly the prestige sector, where privacy is a priority for high profile clientele.
Impressive record prices have been set off-market, none more so than the $70 million Australian record for a single residence set in 2015 when Chinese-Australian developer, Dr Chau Chak Wing purchased James and Erica Packer’s former home in Vaucluse, Sydney.
This year, suburban records have also been set off-market in <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property/28-lucretia-ave-longueville-nsw-2066" target="_blank">Sydney’s Longueville ($11.88 million) </a>and Rozelle ($4 million); in Melbourne’s Northcote ($4.3 million); and in Brisbane’s New Farm ($10.5 million) – the city’s highest sale in 2016.
Lack of stock has been a major contributor to stronger off-market selling in 2016. Frustrated buyers are asking agents for early notice of new listings and making premium offers to snap them up and avoid open market competition.
Agents are approaching home owners directly off the back of clients’ requests for a particular street or a home with very specific criteria. This proactivity has given many owners the chance to sell for a premium, avoid marketing costs and remain off the radar.
In Brisbane, off-market selling is occurring more so because vendors are worried they won’t achieve their price in this current market.
They don’t want to pay for marketing then potentially face the risk of not selling.
The report noted agents are orchestrating deals using their databases to match listings to buyers in a far more discreet and personalised way.
Database marketing has facilitated the rise in off-market selling. In terms of sales strategy, database marketing is nothing new but today’s technology is enabling agents to do it better.
The size of agents’ databases, built up over many years as our industry has shifted to a more personalised style of marketing as part of the mix, means agents can create real competition and achieve solid prices while also meeting their vendors’ desire for privacy.
Agents are dedicating more time to developing personal relationships with buyers especially in the high end market, as our industry evolves from a largely transactional to relation relationships-based business.
Some agencies in Sydney and Melbourne have introduced password-protected online platforms that allow pre-qualified buyers to log in and view properties not advertised on the major portals.
The proliferation of buyers’ agents has also led to more off-market selling. Clients of buyers’ agents are time poor and looking for a more efficient way of finding a new home.
Selling agents often introduce new listings to buyers’ agents first and quick sales can ensue.
Chinese social media, particularly the Facebook equivalent WeChat is also enabling effective international marketing to buyers willing to move quickly to secure the best homes on offer.
"We believe prestige property will be the next growth story in Australian real estate. This sector did not move as much during the boom and the price growth is overdue," the report stated.
Demand for prestige property improved this year, with Chinese buyers continuing to move here for lifestyle and expats purchasing future homes in suburbs delivering solid rental yields until they relocate back home.
Growing demand from foreign buyers, expats and local upgraders should move prestige prices forward as long as the global economy remains stable
Volatility in the share market, which is directly and immediately hit by events such as Brexit, might also attract more investment into Australian real estate over coming years.
It also wouldn’t be surprising to see more people investing greater capital into their homes due to changes to superannuation and the opportunity for tax-free capital gains.
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Significant prestige off-market sales occuring: McGrath

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Australian home owners are staying put longer, with the average number of years that capital city residents hold their homes trending up since 2005 from 6.7 years to 10.7 years for houses and 5.9 years to 9 years for apartments, according to McGrath's latest report.
It noted the number of sales transactions has declined in line with this trend according to CoreLogic.
"Essentially it boils down to financial reasons and changes in the way we live today," John McGrath suggested.
Affordability and the costs of buying and selling are major factors.
"Stamp duty and agents’ fees alone currently run to about $55,000 on a median priced house in Sydney today."
Renovating is also on the rise, which tends to happen at the end of a boom when affordability falls. Instead of trading up, owners draw on new equity to renovate and extend instead.
"t’s not surprising that Melbourne and Sydney are our renovating hot spots right now," the report noted.
<a href="/images/2016/10/31/Renovation%20spending.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Renovation%20spending.jpg" alt="">
"A strong economy is also encouraging people to stay put.
"Despite the GFC, it’s been 25 years since our last recession so the biggest economic factors that prompt people to sell – unemployment and financial stress – are less at play. People in secure jobs can stay put until personal circumstances demand a change of address.
"Which brings us to the second major element affecting hold periods – changes in the way we live.
"There has always been a strong correlation between people’s life stages and their housing needs, however in today’s modern world the traditional trends in the way we live are shifting and this is reducing the necessity to move," it noted.
Couple-only households and people who live alone are the fastest growing types of households in Australia today and they don’t need to move as much as growing families.
Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show 46% of couple-only and lone person households have lived in their current home for 10 or more years compared to 28 percent of families with kids.
Young people are staying home longer, prompting many parents to delay their downsize or seachange.
When they buy their first home or rent with friends or a partner, they can stay there longer because they are delaying marriage and kids until much later in life.
Previously, as people’s incomes grew, they would look to upgrade to a better property but wage growth is not nearly keeping pace with property prices, so there are plenty of couples staying put in apartments or small houses until their first or second child comes along.
The average family size is also getting smaller, with a steady decline from 3-4 kids in the 1960s to 1-2 kids today.
"This means many families can stay put longer in properties with fewer bedrooms."
<a href="/images/2016/10/31/East%20Coast.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/East%20Coast.jpg" alt="">
We’re also seeing a rise in multi-generational households with couples and in-laws pooling funds to buy a large home that will suit them for the long term.
ABS data shows the majority of multi-family households stay put for 10-20 years or more.
The ageing population is also contributing to longer hold periods.
Mortgage-free home ownership is highest amongst older Australians and they prefer to stay put long term if they can, with 47% of owners without a mortgage living in their homes for more than 20 years.
<a href="/images/2016/10/31/Twin%20graphs.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/31/Twin%20graphs.jpg" alt="">
Staying put means avoiding moving costs and preserving pension arrangements, which can change after selling.
The GFC also prompted many empty-nesters to delay retirement and stay put while they continued working to replenish lost superannuation.
<div>
Buying and holding is the key to success in Australian real estate.
Although owner-occupiers are primarily motivated by lifestyle factors, it’s important to remember that your home is your greatest financial asset and the best capital growth always occurs over the long term.
</div>
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Homeowners are staying longer: McGrath

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Bell Potter has advised McGrath shareholders with an updated chart on auction volumes and clearance rates in Sydney which includes the results for last weekend.
<div class="x_WordSection1">
<a href="/images/2016/10/27/McGrathListings.png" target="_blank">Click here to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/27/McGrathListings.png" alt="">
"The key take-out is volumes dipped slightly last weekend relative to the weekend before and the clearance rate remained above 80%," broking analyst Chris Savage said.
"There has still yet to be, however, a meaningful uptick in volumes and we are now approaching the end of October (i.e one month of spring to go). 
"The good news, however, is that this coming weekend is looking good for Sydney with CoreLogic RP Data saying there are currently 968 auctions scheduled. 
"If this is correct, it will be the highest level for the half and easily surpass the previous highs of 863 (24th September), 835 (15th October) and 820 (22nd October). 
"Still, it is below the levels achieved last spring when auctions regularly exceeded 1,000 on a weekend. 
"We wait and see if the scheduled uptick in volumes this weekend continues into November and if there is is a late uptick in volumes for the spring selling period," he said.
Expansionary McGrath's volumes are up slightly year on year, against the overall market trend of less auction stock.
Property Observer is aware there were 111 auctions between 10 October 2015 and 12 October 2015. There were 95 McGrath auctions between 17 October 2015 and 19 October 2015. There were 111 auctions between 23 October 2015 and 26 October 2015.
Last weekend McGrath had around 127 weekend auction offerings, up on the prior weekend's 115 listings and around 108 on the October 8 weekend.
Property Observer suggests Saturday November 26 will be a bonanza, with many fresh vendors seeking to get a sale on the last Saturday of November. There is quite likely a busy December ahead too.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Good news on weekend volumes for McGrath but still no meaningful uptick in volumes: Bell Potter

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Elizabeth Brunton, who described herself as one of McGrath’s high performers with loyal dedication to the company for close to 20 years, has departed the estate agency.
She held the position of associate director projects.
There was no confirmation from the agency on the departure, although her profile no longer appears on the McGrath website.
<a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:hiSYlOIKQ28J:https://www.mcgrath.com.au/agent/1045-elizabeth-brunton+&amp;cd=1&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=au" target="_blank">The elite project marketer</a>, who declined to respond to approaches to comment on her intentions, had claims of notching up $2.5 billion of transactions.
Her success spanned the eastern seaboard of Australia with experience in the international markets of Asia and China. 
She was recruited to McGrath in 1995 from Ben Boyd Real Estate where she was a property manager.
Her departure was entirely predictable following the resignation of Stephen Chen, the head of projects.
Chen quit around the time that director of sales Matt Lahood departed after more than two decades at the agency. 
The departures of veteran agents appears at this stage to be mostly quarantined to a few of the eastern suburbs office although Derek Farmer, who had sold some 170 properties on the lower North Shore with his speciality Cammeray, has disappeared from the website recently.
A rumoured agency to be established by Lahood and Chen has yet to emerge. 
Nor has the rumoured "mass departure" which The Australian business gossip column, Margin Call has suggested would see 30 agents leave. The denied rumour was followed today by a slight dip in the share price in opening trade to hover around 99 cents, at three month lows.
Recently the Mark Redhill experiment at McGrath ended with the estate agent moving to another eastern suburbs estate agency.
Mark had been working in real estate for 23 years best known for his tenure at the Wentworth Courier before embarking on agency sales.
Mark worked with wife, Lorraine Crawford who "together leveraged their expertise in marketing and sales to offer a multidisciplinary approach."
Crawford remains at the agency.
The latest hiring at the agency is Walter Burfitt-Williams who is described as professional, reliable and highly experienced, an award winning sales agent. He was at BresicWhitney previously.
The group recently announced the opening of its new office in the bayside Melbourne suburb of Sandringham.
McGrath Sandringham is the sixth franchise office the company has opened since first launching in Melbourne in December last year.
The new office will be led by principals Mark Zammit and Fran Harkin with sales agents at the new office including David Picking, Simone Cumberlidge, Andrew Solomon and Melina Scriva.
Fran Harkin was at hockingstuart, as was Zammit who had a consultancy over the past year. 
It takes the number of McGrath offices to 93 on the East Coast.
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Elizabeth Brunton exits McGrath Estate Agents

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Stockbroker Bell Potter suggest the next few weeks are key to the profit for McGrath Estate Agents.
It has advised in an update to clients that the real estate market has yet to see a meaningful rebound in auction volumes.
"The positive is that there has been a rising trend in volumes over the last couple of months and clearance rates have been consistently strong between 70-80 percent," analyst Chris Savage said.
"But the negative is that volumes are still below (in some cases well below) what they were a year ago and we are now almost in the middle of spring.
"The next several weeks are obviously key for how the 1HFY17 result will look for McGrath," the latest update advised.
He said each week we get data on auction volumes and clearance rates for each capital city in Australia and the key focus in the case of McGrath is obviously Sydney. 
"It has been well publicised that, after reasonably strong volumes and clearance rates in Sydney in 1HFY16, volumes then fell away materially in 2HFY16 which caused McGrath to downgrade its FY16 prospectus forecasts.
"The key focus now obviously is what happens to volumes and, to a lesser extent, clearance rates in Sydney in 1HFY17 and whether there is a rebound or not. 
"Spring is a key period for auctions so right now is when we would expect to see a rebound in volumes if there is going to be one."
The report came with an updated chart for auction volumes and clearance rates in Sydney up until last weekend.  
<a href="/images/2016/10/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-14%20at%2011.32.56%20AM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/10/14/Screen%20Shot%202016-10-14%20at%2011.32.56%20AM.png" alt="">
"The key take-out of the chart is that we have really yet to see a meaningful rebound in volumes this half," it concluded.  
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Crucial spring weeks ahead for McGrath profit

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The McGrath Group has lost another senior estate agent with Steven Chen departing the listed estate agency.
The McGrath veteran Steven Chen's departure was announced internally on Monday.
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He has been the director of its besieged project marketing division. His most recent annual sales tally was $168 million, with a $1.2 million average sale price.
His career spanned over 19 years with the McGrath Group. He was a board member in 2011-12.
"I have to announce the resignation of Steven Chen as director of project marketing, from McGrath Limited," the newly installed McGrath Group chief, Cameron Judson advised staff Monday afternoon.
It followed the departure of the director of sales Matt Lahood.
"Both Matt and Steven have had a long and important history with McGrath. Since joining our business they have built and established lifelong friendships within the McGrath family and both will be greatly missed. Their commitment, contribution and dedication to the success of the McGrath brand, its people and business is immeasurable.They each continue to be shareholders in McGrath, with individual holdings in excess of 2% of the company," 
Chen boasted he had personally transacted in excess of $2.5 billion in projects and residential sales.
Establishing the McGrath Projects division, Steven lead a team of over 60 agents and support staff in Sydney, Brisbane &amp; Gold Coast.
He also directed a specialist team of 20 experienced Chinese agents catering for the local and international Asian market, selling Australian property in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Wuhan-China. 
His division attracted blame in April when the listed real estate group announced a profit downgrade, and lowered its dividend target following a revision to forecast volumes and sales.
Postponed project launches by the project division was one of the reason for the revenue decline.
Last week McGrath lost its Millers Point specialist, Richard Shalhoub, who was also involved in the sale of the former CEO John McGrath's personal portfolio of harbourfront apartments through the years.
In 2014-2015 he sold $92 million worth of property and in 2015-2016 he sold around $117 million, at a $2.5 million average.
Lahood, Chen and Shalhoub have worked a combined 50 plus years in real estate.
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Steven Chen follows Lahood and Shalhoub out the door at McGrath Group

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McGrath Limited has lost its head of sales, Matt Lahood, it announced to the stockmarket on Monday.
It announced the appointment of Kon Stathopoulos into the role.
The company shares slipped to $1.13 today, still well down on its $2.10 float price last December.
Lahood, who declined to respond to Property Observer's query last Thursday on the then rumoured departure, has been with the McGrath business since 1997. He was director of sales for 12 years.
The besieged group acknowledged he had been pivotal in driving the growth of company owned sales, and then leading the sales team through the turbulent period involving the recent listing on the ASX.
McGrath founder John McGrath said Matt has had a long and important history with the business.
Kon Stathopoulos has been with McGrath since the beginning of 2014, currently as McGrath’s general manager of sales, NSW.
Before joining McGrath he was with Neopost, the mailroom digital communications and logistics solutions company.
The new McGrath’s chief executive officer, Cameron Judson said he was looking forward to the "next exciting phase for McGrath.” 
Lahood's company profile advised he was a trusted mentor to a team of 300 inspired sales professionals, adding Matt Lahood had been "a driving force behind McGrath’s continued success in a competitive property industry."
"He is an esteemed real estate expert among colleagues and carries a multi-generational client base where he combines a wealth of experience acquired over 22 years in property sales with a clear passion for helping to generate a personal success for those whom he meets along the way."
Judson in the internal notification advised other staff that Lahood retained his shareholding.
Founded in 1988 by John McGrath, McGrath has been established as one of the leading residential real estate service providers in Australia with a strong market presence in NSW and the ACT, a growing presence in Queensland and entered the Victorian market at the end of 2015.
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McGrath Group loses head of sales Matt Lahood after two decades

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There’s generally more gain than pain in property, but John McGrath has reminded investors us that it’s possible to lose money if you make the wrong choices.  
He says the biggest contributing factors to re-sale losses in real estate are: 
1. Selling too soon after purchasing
For the ordinary buyer, real estate should always be a long-term play. Buy it, sit on it, maybe make some improvements along the way and don’t sell for at least 7-10 years. I say this because on average over the past century, Australian property values have pretty much doubled during this sort of timeframe. Given the costs of buying in, you don’t want to get out until you’ve made some really good money, so a good rule of thumb is a minimum 7-10 years because this is usually enough time for a full-growth cycle to occur. 
If you get really lucky and buy just before a boom, you might be able to sell in a shorter timeframe and still make great money, but even so, I still recommend holding for as long as you can to truly maximise your overall gain. 
2. Buying in second-tier locations
This can be avoided through rigorous research.
Don’t buy in towns with declining populations or areas that rely on just one or two major industries, particularly volatile industries such as mining and tourism. When it comes to choosing areas within a suburb, or particular streets, talk to agents and become an expert on your target neighbourhood to ensure you make the right purchasing decision.
3. Stretching your budget too far
When buying, don’t stretch your budget beyond what is reasonable for your circumstances. Look ahead 7-10 years. Can you afford the loan repayments at 7-8 percent interest (the long-term average)? Can you keep up the repayments if you lose your job or take time off to have a baby, for example? Do you have enough savings for other unexpected costs? You need a ‘yes’ answer to all these questions before you buy. If not, the likelihood is you’ll end up selling simply to liquidate funds and that will usually involve a loss.
"Real estate is an expensive asset class, but it’s also one of the safest and most reliable vehicles to wealth creation in Australia," he advised in his Switzer blog.
"If you keep it simple – buy good quality property in good quality locations and hold for the long term, you have every reason to expect a very positive outcome." 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

The three main reasons behind re-sale losses: John McGrath 

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Richard Shalhoub, who was integral in getting the McGrath Group's Millers Point near monopoly sales status, has departed the estate agency.
"After nine years with McGrath, I have decided to take a different direction and continue my real estate career outside of the McGrath brand," he told clients last week.
 "I look forward to continuing to service all of your real estate sales and property management needs," <a href="https://www.richardshalhoub.com.au/" target="_blank">he added</a>.
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<div>Richard Shalhoub's departure comes as 15 further Millers Point properties have been listed for sale by Property NSW, on behalf of Family and Community Services.</div>
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<div>The sales will include two duplex properties, 3 and 9 High Street, each comprising two, three bedroom apartments.</div>
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<div>Another 13 three bedroom terraces on Windmill Street will also be part of the sale program.</div>
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The High Street properties will be offered for sale by auction through Ray White and McGrath Estate Agents on 27 October 2016.  The Windmill Street properties will be sold via an Expressions of Interest process through McGrath Estate Agents, closing 1 November 2016.
Proceeds from the Millers Point sales program will fund 1,500 new social housing dwellings across the State, with more than 600 new fit-for-purpose social housing dwellings funded to date.
The properties for sale present an opportunity for residential living in a coveted waterfront CBD precinct, which also boasts historical significance.
All properties sold in Millers Point are accompanied by strict heritage protections including NSW Heritage Council-endorsed Conservation Management Plans.
The listings are part of the next stage in the Millers Point program involving a new product mix, including a diverse range of lofts and other apartments, and blocks of units, to be listed on the market over the coming months.
A total of 103 Millers Point properties have been sold to date.
 
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