<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Patrick Bright

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Prospective home owners and investors should be careful not to go overboard with the current low interest rate.
Last week the Reserve Bank cut interest rates to a historic low of 2.25% after weeks of speculation.
I encourage home owners to continue to pay off their mortgage with the same or higher repayments in order to build up a buffer to be used in tough times.
Prospective home buyers often get so excited about buying their own place that they forget about evaluating the future.
They base their home loan on their current financial circumstances and don’t take into account their future plans like starting a family or allowing for the fact that rates will rise at some time in the future.
While rates are at historic lows now, it’s important to keep in mind that they won’t stay at these levels for the long term.
There’s no downside to making repayments above your required level as it gives you a safety net in case of difficult financial times or allows you to pay off your mortgage sooner.
In contrast, borrowing to your maximum at this, or any, time is a recipe for disaster.
I recommend people follow my 20-25-20 rule if they want to avoid financial stress where you put down a 20% deposit, ensure no more than 25% of your income is required for repayments and have a term of no longer than 20 years.
Patrick Bright is the founder of Sydney-based buyer’s agency <a href="https://%20www.epspropertysearch.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">EPS Property Search</a>.
Patrick is the author of four best-selling real estate books known as “The Insider’s Guide to Buying Real Estate Series”.
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pbright-aNtgvRfvJN

Buyers beware the lure of low interest rates: Patrick Bright

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GUEST OBSERVATION
On Saturday, I witnessed two auctions that were marketed in two different ways and which resulted in very different outcomes.
The first property was advertised with a fairly typical auction marketing campaign which included the usual underquoting. The price guide that was provided throughout the marketing campaign was $1,050,000. At auction the bidding ran out of steam short of the reserve. The agent came and told me he needed more money to get it on the market as the reserve was $1.25 million. I said, "best of luck as you won't be getting that out of me".  
Frustrated the agent went inside to talk to the vendor again before coming back outside to tell me that he had convinced the vendor to reduce the reserve to $1,225,000.  He then told the auctioneer and it was called on the market at $1,225,000. No further bids were made and it sold for $25,000 under the vendor’s reserve to us.  
Anyone who did detailed research and looked at the comparables would know that the property was worth $1,250,000 to $1,275,000 but the underquoting attracted people with a budget closer to the guide of $1.05 million rather than those with a budget of $1.25 million or more. More than likely many of those people with a budget around the $1.25 million mark were attending auctions that had price guides around that point but reserves and values that were maybe closer to the $1.45 million mark?   
The fact is my clients loved the property so much that they gave me a budget of $1,330,000 to spend if needed to secure the property. Yes we purchased the property $105,000 below what my clients were prepared to pay for it which they are very happy about. However they are even happier we purchased it for $50,000 below what the comparables indicated the property was worth up to. 
In comparison at the second property auction I attended the vendor had decided to be transparent with the market. Whether he decided to do this of his own accord or read about my petition to make it mandatory to publish reserves and decided to take the idea on board, I don’t know.  What I do know is that he was transparent with buyers and attracted bidders who could actually afford the price he wanted for the property. He set and published his reserve at $570,000 and <a href="/expert-insights/buying/a-7-5-premium-above-disclosed-reserve-at-bexley-auction-experiment">the property sold for $613,000, some $43,000 over the reserve</a>.
The buyer was ushered into the house to sign the contract and so I spoke to the under bidder. I asked her if the publishing of the reserve price influenced her decision to bid on the property.  She said she would not have even attended the auction if the reserve price had not been disclosed as she was ‘fed up’ with attending auctions that had reserves set well over the price guide provided by agents.
The bottom line here is that transparency won the day.
Let’s hope it catches on for not only all the vendors’ sake but for all the buyers who keep wasting money and time attending auctions every week where the reserve is set in excess of the guide when in fact they should be one in the same.  
If you think my idea of publishing reserves prior to auction is a good move then simply <a href="https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/the-honourable-matthew-mason-cox-mlc-nsw-government-make-it-compulsory-to-advertise-auction-reserve-prices-to-stamp-out-underquoting-and-dummy-bidding" target="_blank">sign my petition</a> which is calling on the NSW state government to make it mandatory for all property auctions to have the reserve price advertised seven days ahead of a scheduled auction. 
Feel free to make your comments as to why you signed the petition in the comments box.
Patrick Bright is the founder of Sydney-based buyer’s agency <a href="https://%20www.epspropertysearch.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">EPS Property Search</a>.
Patrick is the author of four best-selling real estate books known as “The Insider’s Guide to Buying Real Estate Series”.
<a href="https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/the-honourable-matthew-mason-cox-mlc-nsw-government-make-it-compulsory-to-advertise-auction-reserve-prices-to-stamp-out-underquoting-and-dummy-bidding" target="_blank">Visit change.org to sign the petition</a> calling on the NSW state government to make it mandatory for all property auctions.
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No more excuses: Publishing the reserve price prior to auction works

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The petition begun by New South Wales buyer’s agent Patrick Bright asking for vendors to publish reserve prices a week out from auction to stamp out underquoting has reached 500 signatures.
This is a significant milestone for the petition, which was created in response to the underquoting claims making headlines after Queensland’s much-publicised debate, and now decision, to remove price guides entirely from auction real estate listings.
Bright told Property Observer that when the supporters for the petition reaches the 1,000 mark, he will be personally visiting Minister for Fair Trading, Matthew Mason-Cox, to discuss this proposal. You can <a href="https://www.change.org/petitions/the-honourable-matthew-mason-cox-mlc-nsw-government-make-it-compulsory-to-advertise-auction-reserve-prices-to-stamp-out-underquoting-and-dummy-bidding" target="_blank">see the proposal on the Change.org website here</a>.
<img src="/images/2014/06/16/image-june-16-one.png" alt="">
Noting that “Buyers right across Australia are sick of needlessly forking out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on pest and building inspections and legal fees when preparing for auction,” the petition notes that price guides are “more often than not significantly below the price a selling agent knows a property is likely to sell at and well below what the vendor would actually accept thereby enticing buyers to think they can afford a property that is well above their budget.”
“This is why I am advocating for a more transparent process where there is a legal requirement to advertise the reserve price seven days out from a property auction,” Bright explains.
<img src="/images/2014/06/16/image-june-16-two.png" alt="">
Starting slow, and with <a href="/expert-insights/buying/louis-christopher-and-patrick-bright-say-media-outlets-are-ignoring-underquoting-petition">discussion around the petition being ignored, it has gathered momentum in the past month</a> to reach its current 501 signatories mark.
It has also encouraged <a href="/expert-insights/buying/consumer-affairs-victoria-does-not-have-manpower-or-skills-to-police-underquoting-petition">a similar petition for Victoria from buyer’s agent Miriam Sandkuhler</a>, who is asking for reserve prices to be published from “day one” of the campaign. While this has received criticism for the length of time required for the reserve price to be published, it has currently reached 284 signatures.
The act of publishing the reserve price <a href="/news/should-auction-reserve-prices-be-published">seems to be largely supported by Property Observer readers</a>, who voted on our poll with an 84.5% support for the concept earlier this year.
<img src="/images/stories/2014/03/03/poll-results-march-3.png" alt="poll-results-march-3" width="470" height="111">
YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ Mark Armstrong's Underquoting: <a href="/expert-insights/investing/underquoting-the-clear-and-transparent-solution">The clear and transparent solution</a>
Room for debate: <a href="/expert-insights/investing/room-for-debate-are-melbourne-agents-underquoting">Are Melbourne agents underquoting?</a>
Letter from the editor: <a href="/news/qld/letter-from-the-editor-more-information-not-less-please-queensland">More information not less please Queensland</a>
<a href="/expert-insights/investing/legally-underquoting-how-agents-get-away-with-it">Legally underquoting? How agents get away with it: </a>Catherine Cashmore
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

New South Wales underquoting petition hits 500 signatures

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Personal insurance isn’t something that property investors should ignore, warns EPS Property Search director Patrick Bright.
Australia is one of the most underinsured developed countries in the world, Bright said, and many investors are failing to adequately protect themselves.
“Before you sign a contract to purchase a property you should have the appropriate insurances in place, at the very least income protection,” said Bright.
“You not only want to protect your 10% deposit in case something unforeseen happens between exchange and settlement but you want to know that you can complete settlement.”
He said that one of the quickest ways to lose your home is through unpredictable occurrences that stop your ability to earn. Many property investors consider burglary, tenant damage or natural disaster, but then fail to consider the possibility of dying or getting ill.
Pointing to an Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance study on the Victorian Black Saturday bushfires, he noted that for 171 people who died – less than $1 million was paid out in life insurance.
“You need to insure the person who is paying for the asset rather than just insuring the asset itself,” he explains.
“Ask yourself how your family will manage if one of the breadwinners becomes sick or dies? Do you have the necessary income protection and life insurances in place to protect your assets and allow your family to continue their quality of life rather than being forced to sell the family home?”
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Investor warning: Don’t ignore your personal insurance

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It seems that many think about retirement only when they’re nearing it, suddenly considering property investing as a viable option to quickly build themselves a nest egg.
However, EPS Property Search director Patrick Bright says that undertaking risky strategies, or going to “play the casino” with property, should not be an approach for those with little time until retirement day, despite the reality that most people will not have accrued enough super to maintain their current lifestyle.
“Often people who are getting closer to retirement have a lot of disposable income with many at the height of their career and the kids off the books,” said Bright.
“It’s incredibly important to take advantage of this situation and set yourself up with the right investments to ensure you can enjoy all that retirement has to offer.”
Those with a decade left who are now considering investing are fairly well placed, he said, pointing to those in their 50s still able to build a small portfolio with a range of investments. Property, in this dynamic, can be low-risk and insurable.
However, those looking for quick, high returns to catch up may see themselves going backwards.
"The greater the return the greater the risk,” he said.
“In your 50s you don’t have time to recover from a significant financial loss and secure your retirement if the investment goes pear-shaped,” Bright warned.
Instead, looking to preserve capital.
“You should be investing and protecting your financial position with reliable income producing assets that generate both capital growth and cash flow and property plays an important part in this strategy.”
Two key rules for 50+ investors
<ol>
<li>Protection and preservation of your capital is more important than the return on it Invest in secure, quality property primed for capital growth rather than speculating by chasing the latest ‘hot spot’. Investing in locations with upside is important however looking at a location’s history and track record is equally important. Capital cities offer the best opportunity for consistent capital growth, particularly in the inner ring around the CBD but not in it. Buy for high capital growth not high rental yields as these properties generally have high overall returns over the long-run. 
</li>
<li>Invest in the liquid part of the market It’s wise to invest in property that is easy to sell when and if you need to regardless of market conditions at the time. Here, I recommend buying investment properties around the median price for the suburb you’re investing into. I would stick to 20% above or below the median. There are always plenty of buyers and plenty of tenants in the middle of the market.</li>
</ol>
Source: EPS Property Search
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Older investors shouldn’t “play the casino” with property warns Patrick Bright

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GUEST OBSERVATION
According to news reports it looks like the ban on price guides for properties up for auction in Queensland will go ahead when Parliament sits in May - with one minor amendment.
Vendors and selling agents will still be able to categorise the property in a price bracket for buyers searching on real estate websites. 
How will it affect the auction climate in Queensland?  Not much - auctions aren't as popular there and price guides have always been frowned upon.  But the debate has captured the attention of the major players in Sydney and Melbourne where auctions are the sales method of choice for many. A change such as this in these markets would dramatically alter the real estate landscape and make auctions less popular - a result many in the industry don't want despite the flaws in the current process. 
<blockquote>
Underquoting is a cruel, misleading and deceptive practice that needs to be stamped out for good.
</blockquote>
This is why I believe so many industry players have been so outspoken against the proposed changes. Their main claim has been that "buyers want pricing information". Yes, they are on the right track - buyers do want pricing information - however, they have left off the most important words in that statement which I believe to be "honest and transparent". 
The Queensland government's position can be summed up as "no price guides are better than phoney ones", and I have to agree.
Underquoting, or bait advertising as it’s also known, is a cruel, misleading and deceptive practice that needs to be stamped out for good.  
However, I believe the Queensland government is set to miss the mark here. They have the opportunity to make a real change for the better with the eyes of Australia's real estate industry watching.
Instead what is proposed is a half measure that doesn't really address the lack of transparency issue.
Naturally I much prefer my idea of making it mandatory to publish auction reserve prices seven days prior to auction as I've outlined in <a href="https://www.epspropertysearch.com.au/go/eps/blog/bringing-down-the-hammer-on-dodgy-auction-price-guides" target="_self">previous blogs</a>.  I believe my proposed changes would achieve a much better outcome for both the buyers and sellers.  Further my proposed changes would more than likely make auctions more popular with buyers due to this transparency.  If they are more popular with buyers they will be more popular with sellers, so everybody wins. 
In just a few weeks my <a href="https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/the-honourable-stuart-ayres-mp-nsw-government-make-it-compulsory-to-advertise-auction-reserve-prices-to-stamp-out-underquoting-and-dummy-bidding" target="_blank">‘publish auction reserve prices’</a> petition has had hundreds of comments supporting the idea, but I believe it needs more support before the Minister is likely to look at the proposal - if you haven't already please take three minutes to read it and support it if you agree.   
Please let anyone you know who has recently purchased a property or who is currently searching for one know about it so they can also have their say! 
Patrick Bright is the founder of Sydney-based buyer’s agency <a href="https://%20www.epspropertysearch.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">EPS Property Search</a>.
Patrick is the author of four best-selling real estate books known as “The Insider’s Guide to Buying Real Estate Series.”
This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.epspropertysearch.com.au/" rel="nofollow">www.epspropertysearch.com.au</a>.
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Queensland's price guide bans don't go far enough, what we need is real transparency

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Underquoting is a hugely tricky topic for many in property, with the “quote [or price] it low, watch it go” mantra said to be the modus operandi of many in the real estate selling business, especially when it comes to auction sales.
Recently, <a href="/news/online-petition-for-mandatory-reserve-price-publishing-launched">EPS Property Search’s Patrick Bright began a petition against underquoting</a>, and encouraging the consideration of early publishing of the reserve price for properties heading to auction. Property Observer covered this petition upon its launch, and <a href="/news/should-auction-reserve-prices-be-published">discussed it with him prior to its inception</a>.
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SQM Research’s Louis Christopher has also expressed his dislike of the practice of underquoting and is vocally backing Bright’s petition.
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Property Observer recently attended an auction in Sydney where there was around a $200,000 discrepancy between reserve price and the price guide provided by the real estate agent. The property sold at auction just above the reserve, and we have clear reason to believe that the vendors would never have considered an offer around the price guide provided. Certainly, there may have been buyers that were unable to afford this price and that may have spent money on inspections and conveyancing to prepare for the auction, let alone time. As a buyer's agent, Bright says that this is all too common and that he sees underquoting at the majority of auctions he attends.
SQM Research’s Louis Christopher has also expressed his dislike of the practice of underquoting and is vocally backing Bright’s petition.
"I am personally sick to death of underquoting in real estate.  It wastes time, money and breaks people’s hearts once they know they have been deceived. Ultimately it is damaging to the property sector and all those who participate in it,” said Christopher in his recent newsletter.
"One thing Patrick and I share in common is that we have a very strong belief in property market transparency and ensuring people don’t get ripped off in property transactions. Recently, Patrick has gone so far as to get a petition going to make it compulsory to advertise auction reserve prices to stamp out underquoting and dummy bidding,” he said, noting he 100% agrees with the objective, urging others to <a href="https://www.change.org/petitions/the-honourable-stuart-ayres-mp-nsw-government-make-it-compulsory-to-advertise-auction-reserve-prices-to-stamp-out-underquoting-and-dummy-bidding%20%20" target="_blank">sign the petition</a>.
However, Christopher also expressed his dislike at media ignoring the petition.
"Sadly, I can tell you now there are some dark forces out there who don’t want to see this happen. Indeed, Patrick has recently told me of some media outlets who won’t give this petition coverage, even after promises they would! No doubt they are worried they may lose advertising dollars due to these dark forces,” he wrote.
He said he had a message for those outlets: "Please show a bit of spine on this issue and give it the coverage it deserves.”
He told Property Observer that despite the pain some interests may feel in the short term, price transparency will create overall benefits across the market, and it should be given a run and prominence.
Recently, mainstream media outlets went gangbusters writing about Queensland’s potential change to ban price guides from auctions – something<a href="/news/qld/dark-ages-descending-on-queensland-as-auction-price-guide-ban-defies-common-sense-john-mcgrath"> Property Observer also wrote about</a> – and he noted that it is startling to see the contrast between some experts’ exposure and others.
"[Underquoting] does come out in a rising market,” Christopher explained. “Markets can move quickly, but what Patrick has put forward is that the reserve price isn’t provided until a week out.”
Discussing the Queensland potential price guide ban, he noted that he sat on the fence, saying there were many pros and cons. However, he noted that no guide is better than a phoney guide.
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"They’re big businesses protecting their bottom line, and it’s completely their right to do that,” Bright said.
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While neither would disclose which media outlets said they would cover the petition and since changed their minds, Property Observer notes that online there have been stories from Australian Property Investor magazine. Patrick Bright confirmed that API had been in support of sharing news of the petition.
Bright said that he doesn’t want to criticise individuals as he is sure there are powers above them calling the shots.
"They’re big businesses protecting their bottom line, and it’s completely their right to do that,” he said.
He also said that he is getting a lot of support when he personally speaks to sales agents, but finds that many are concerned of ridicule from their peers if they support the petition.
Disclosure: Jennifer Duke has signed the petition for reserve prices to be published, as well as <a href="/news/qld/letter-from-the-editor-more-information-not-less-please-queensland">a petition opposing the Queensland price guide ban</a>.
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