<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.
</section>

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.

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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

Real Estate Agents

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The former Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) business development manager Karen Woodworth has joined the national real estate network @realty.
Ms Woodworth will assume the role of @realty business development manager, taking the reins following the company’s recent expansion in to Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
@realty now has more than 600 agents nationwide.
Last year it sold more than $1.5 billion in real estate.
@realty director James Taylor says Ms Woodworth was with the REIQ for over 12 years.
“Karen is a fantastic talent with an in depth understanding of the industry, which will  help in recruiting more agents  to @realty,” he said.
“Her strong focus on client relations and results-driven approach to business will be instrumental in helping @realty to achieve its growth targets over the coming years.
“This year we have achieved the milestone of having agents listed in every state and territory throughout Australia, and we are hoping to follow this with an expansion to New Zealand in due course.
Ms Woodworth says while leaving the REIQ was not an easy thing to do, she was impressed by @realty’s growth and potential.
“@realty’s innovative business model is changing the real estate landscape for both agents and vendors,” she said.
“The agents benefit by retaining up to 93 per cent of commission, and the vendors gain access to more affordable, high performance marketing programs.”
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wdavis-8cCN98p7xp

Karen Woodworth joins @realty as business development manager

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Real estate agent Ray Fayad has joined Daniel Mourad as co-principal of the new Laing+Simmons Oatlands and Carlingford offices.
Mr Fayad, long-term principal of Laing+Simmons Parramatta and Granville offices in western Sydney, said the new office would enhance the service customer in the area locals affectionately refer to as Kingsdene.
“This is an area currently undergoing significant change. The predominance of single-level freestanding homes on large blocks is being complemented by newer, luxury homes that are breathing new life into the established area,” Mr Fayad said.
“The Oatlands, Carlingford, Dundas and North Rocks areas are a beautiful, convenient and spacious place to raise a family and as such, demand for homes in the area is strong and growing.
"We’re investing in the local community now because we want to be part of the growth to come,” he said.
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Ray Fayad joins new Laing+Simmons Oatlands and Carlingford

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David Steel, a former Cobden estate agent has been sentenced to three months’ jail after pleading guilty to almost 40 charges relating to mismanagement of his clients’ money, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria
David Alexander Scott Steel, 57, was convicted last month in Warrnambool County Court of 37 charges concerning trust account deficiencies and defalcations. These included fraudulently converting trust money in breach of the Estate Agents Act 1980.
It was reported on his charging that Mr Steel was the sole director of the company when more than $450,000 was found to be missing from the account of Realestate Property Pty Ltd.
Mr Steel also gave an undertaking to the court to be of good behaviour for two years.
Judge Michael O'Connell said Steel's business approach was "inept and cavalier," The Warranabool Standard reported.
The company, Realestate Property Pty Ltd (ACN: 114 758 217), trading as 'David Steel First National', was also convicted and fined $10,000.
Mr Steel and the company also pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to lodge bonds, in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.
Under Victorian laws, an estate agent has strict obligations to deposit clients’ money into a relevant trust account.
The Warrnambool lawyer Kiernan Celestina represented Mr Steel who moved to Vietnam and was travelling back to Australia to attend court.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Former Cobden estate agent David Steel pleads guilty to mismanagement of clients' money

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The real estate agents of the land will be toasting the departure of upstart disruptor Purplebricks who are packing up and going home to Britain. Crisis over. No more nasty TV commercials playing to a nations’ already healthy distrust of traditional agents.
But it’s not that simple. Real estate agents still rank 27 out of 30 professions in terms of respect and reputation – below politicians and just above car sellers.
Purplebricks lost because they were even worse. They correctly targeted the problem – agents who will do anything to get you to sell your house so they can clip the ticket with fat commissions. A system which inherently mis-aligns incentives between provider and customer. Have you noticed now is always a “great time to sell” regardless of whether the market is going up, down or sideways? Yes, because it’s always a great time for an agent to trouser a healthy commission. Hence why the profession is held in such low esteem by its customers.
Purplebricks was a “disruptor” to use the favourite word from my second home, Silicon Valley. And they correctly belled the cat on the problem with the status quo. But their problem is they replaced it with something worse. You paid them whether or not they successfully sold your house. Now a problem that plagues the industry at the best of times – agents “buying your business” by giving you an inflated idea of what your house will sell for – had no constraints to hold it back. At least a traditional agent has to do what the industry euphemistically calls “vendor management” – talking you back down to the price it will actually sell at or they won’t get paid on commission. Purplebricks didn’t even need to do that – if your property didn’t sell at the (inflated) price they told you it would, they were paid anyway. All care but no responsibility. Indeed, a total lack of responsibility.
Too little too late they changed and near doubled their fee to include a second half that only got paid if you sold. And then they too got in the business of “vendor management” – indeed they had competitions internally to see who could talk their clients down by the largest discount to the original asking price. It wasn’t a good look when that became public!
So, I expect we’ll see a series of triumphant “I told you so” pieces in the real estate industry press celebrating the departure of the young bull and triumph of the old ones.
My counsel, having seen this movie in countless other industries over the last 30 years? Don’t celebrate too hard folks, the voting public still has a huge problem with the real estate industry – its incentives and its ethics. Winter is still coming. Just not quite yet. Not that the current market slowdown hasn’t been hard enough for a commission driven industry.
Amazon was not the first online retailer. Google was not the first search engine. Tesla was not the first electric car. Change will come, but not, as always, without some false starts. No less an authority than MacQuarie Bank – who banks more than half the industry - have told them so at a major conference late last year. Data and digital disruption will come, margins will compress, customers will demand transparency. It’s only a question of when and how those realities come to pass.
And if it’s true in real estate sales, all the more so in the poor cousin of the industry – rental property management. The quiet achiever of the real estate industry has been treated as a cash cow by the sales agents who own the agencies for decades now. It’s the only thing that is keeping many agencies alive in the current downswing.
But the incentives here are also misaligned. If the agent tells an owner they will get an (inflated) rental price for their property in order to secure the business, who pays for the error? The owner – with an empty unlet property until they are also “managed” back to a realistic price. If the agent doesn’t stay on top of their brief and collect the rent from a recalcitrant tenant, who hurts from the error? Not the agent again – the owner.
The message from Purplebricks is clear – the status quo is not OK – the customers are not happy – and just because one “disruptor” with an even more mis-aligned business model than the old guard failed, do not assume winter isn’t coming. It will. The good agents know this and are working on how they can build a sustainable model that is aligned with the interests of their clients. Those who don’t adapt will die. I just can’t tell you when yet.
That’s why some more innovative new participants in the industry are starting to do things differently by genuinely putting owners first, offering guarantees that if agents don’t quickly find a new tenant or collect the rent on time, then the agent, not the owner bears the cost.
Evan Thornley is the co-founder, investor and executive chair of new style agency LongView. 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Winter still coming for real estate agents despite Purplebricks departure

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After almost 11 years at BresicWhitney, Matthew Carvahlo has joined Ray White in the inner west.
Matthew Carvalho (pictured) has just joined Ray White Erskineville|Surry Hills &amp; Alexandria as an associate director.
The decision was made just before Christmas.
<a href="/news/nic-krasnostein-recruited-by-ray-white-double-bay-from-bresicwhitney">Nic Krasnostein</a>, one of the leading agents in Sydney’s east and inner-city precincts, quit BresicWhitney too over the break, recruited by Ray White Double Bay.
Krasnostein had been at BresicWhitney since January 2007, so just short of 12 years. 
Carvalho has the ambition of expanding their existing business to Glebe.
“I know the inner west like the back of my hand and my main areas of have always been Glebe, Pyrmont, Camperdown and Forest Lodge,” Mr Carvalho said.
“I have been friends with Ercan Ersan for many years and I have always clicked with he and Shaun Stoker.
"We are keen to grow our footprint onto the other side of Parramatta Road to cover the inner city fringe in yellow."
Ersan said Carvalho had joined their team to complete their "Golden Triangle”.
“We see Matthew as the missing link in our business. Shaun and I have a great hold on the Erskineville and Enmore area while Matthew services Glebe, Forest Lodge and Camperdown area so well. For us that’s the Golden Triangle,” they said.
Carvalho is the son of a veteran estate agent, Don.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Ray White signs on Matthew Carvalho for inner west expansion

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Jane Schumann, who has worked in real estate since 1990, has quit Di Jones for Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay.
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Schumann was part of the team at Di Jones Real Estate Eastern Suburbs for the past 13 years.
She was credited as the firm’s number one agent in the east. She was the group's top auction lister in 2017.
She had sold 27 properties in the last 12 months, with an average sale price of $2.4 million and total sales valued at $26.5 million, according to her now disappeared Domain profile.
Jane worked with son Samuel Schumann and Jean-Michel Rudsdale on 19 of these sales.
The Di Jones group sold over 400 properties during 2018, with sales totalling $700 million.
While it was more transactions than achieved in 2017, the Di Jones chief Rob Ward acknowledged there had been a decline in the average sale price of 14 per cent due to falling sales prices and the expansion into new markets.
The merger with LJ Hooker Wahroonga <a href="/news/di-jones-expands-to-sydneys-north-shore">took place in early 2016</a>, with the combined offices having separately reaped sales worth $530 million during 2015.
The real estate industry pioneer <a href="/news/sydney-eastern-suburbs-real-estate-doyenne-di-jones-dies">Diane Jones</a> passed away in June surrounded by family, having sold out of the business in 2016, but then staying on as an ambassador.
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Jane Schumann's highest recorded recent sale price in 2018 was $7.6 million for 1/56-58 Wolseley Road, Point Piper, a 4-bedroom apartment sold by private treaty in January which was on the market for 110 days.
Last year saw her sale of a Potts Point penthouse for just under $9 million, after she had 450 groups through, to Gretel Packer.
Schumann described it earlier this year as her "most memorable sale."
Shortly after the auction, Jane Schumann told The Australian that she did not know who the buyer was actually, such was its intrigue.
It was offered by the Coppleson family, whose daughter Victoria was then a colleague at the estate agency.
For much of her time at the then Woollahra-based agency, she partnered Gary Sands in her Team Schumann Sands.
The Di Jones Woollahra staff were recently advised that they were set to be relocated to less prominent Paddington premises, a move which has been delayed slightly given asbestos being found in the ceiling of their new Glenmore Road premises.
Before Di Jones she was at The Bickmore Hutt Agency and Richardson &amp; Wrench. She was the national publicity manager for PolyGram Records before she entered real estate.
The other big name joining Raine and Horne Double Bay is Peter Starr, an agent for more than 27 years, who is moving from McGrath Edgecliff.
The recruitment coup was led by the company’s head of sales, Luke Hogan, who was McGrath eastern suburbs sales manager until earlier this year.
Both Schumann and Starr were reputedly offered sign on fees.
Directed by Ric Serrao and Martin Maskin, the Raine &amp; Horne office has been recognised for the past 14 consecutive years as Raine &amp; Horne’s best performing office in both number of sales and dollar value.
Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay has been the flagship office of the Raine &amp; Horne brand since it opened in 1968, the network’s first suburban office.
In 2012, Raine &amp; Horne Double Bay acquired Raine &amp; Horne Bondi Beach, which was established in 1979.
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Jane Schumann quits Di Jones for R&H Double Bay

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The Agency has gained a 40-year industry veteran and respected coach in Joe Abboud. 
He has been working as an agent for McGrath Estate Agents for the past decade in the Eastern Suburbs along with being a hands-on coach in the industry, providing one-on-one coaching for more than 20 agents a week.
His coaching dates back to the 1980s when he was appointed education officer for the REINSW’s Inner West division.
Thomas McGlynn, national director of sales, said Joe Abboud will be working with agents nationally, both within The Agency and across the industry, building unique programs tailored to individual agent’s needs.
His program starts with a minimum of seven hours spent with each agent followed by regular video conferencing meetings. Ongoing support is then provided by email and phone.
Abboud’s traditional real estate training relies heavily on process and looking at new technologies for connection.
His focus is on helping agents find a deeper connection with buyers and sellers by understanding how they are feeling and what they need to move on.
“In my opinion the market never changes only price.
"In what’s called a ‘boom’ market, there is limited stock, we are heading into a period where there will be a large selection of homes available, which is what buyers have been waiting for,” Abboud says.
"In today’s market there are many buyers who may have been active, and are now passive, what they need is an agent who will work closely with them, to help them find the home they love. It’s about matching qualified buyers with listings.” “I wanted to work with a brand that genuinely cares about its agents, this is The Agency mantra that has been proven since it launched,” Joe Abboud said.
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The Agency gains real estate veteran and coach Joe Abboud

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The real estate industry is a rewarding and fulfilling industry to be a part of, whether you are an agent or a property manager, with real estate agents commonly working around the clock in order to get the highest possible return for a property.
Despite the hard work of many real estate agents, research indicates that there is a lingering negative perception of the industry, with only seven per cent of Australians rating the profession as either ‘high’ or ‘very high’ for ethics and honesty, the third lowest profession out of 30 surveyed.
Broadly speaking, the negative perception of the industry stems from a lack of trust between customers and agents, but there are steps that agents can take to improve the overall perception, and build trust with clients along the way.
Myth #1 Property managers do not care about the owner's property
Property managers are often perceived to only contact tenants or landlords when there is money needed, but a crucial role of the property manager is to ensure that a property is properly maintained.
This involves the management of all financial components involved, including rent and any additional expenditure that is needed for maintenance. From the owner’s perspective, expectations are that a property manager will look after their property and keep it in the best shape possible, but when repairs or upgrades are needed, owners can often be difficult to contact when money needs to be spent.
It can be a challenging job for property managers to act as the middleman to control the variables that are beyond their capacity, as there are regulations that agents must follow and comply to.
This is where regular communication with clients is a must; being confident in your knowledge and experience will filter through to a client feeling more comfortable that the property is safe in your hands. And when it comes to having conversations about additional expenditure, clients will trust that their money is being spent for their own benefit.
Myth #2 Real estate agents make a profit from the marketing fee for a property campaign 
Marketing should be considered part of the investment when selling or leasing a property, as any proposed marketing tool is for the sole benefit of the campaign, but one of the most common misconceptions is that real estate agents profit from the marketing. Every dollar used for marketing materials or tools is put towards promoting a property in order to gain more exposure and better results.
A common expectation is that an agent should cover the marketing costs, all whilst selling the property for the highest amount within a short period of time.
According to a recent survey undertaken by Pureprofile, over 90% of vendors have unrealistic price expectations. If this situation arises, it’s the property managers duty to inform and educate the client in order to set up realistic expectations from the get go. Myth #3 Real estate agents and property managers are dishonest
All real estate agents and property managers are legally bound to be honest and provide correct information without bias. An agent should never offer limited or incorrect information to clients with the expectation they would gain the business or deal.
The increase of online rating systems such as RateMyAgent and OpenAgent are instrumental in encouraging complete transparency, as any dishonesty or poor service will be exposed for all to see. These systems also provide real estate agencies with the opportunity to continuously improve their system and practices.
At the end of the day, each agency is responsible for its own agents and educating them on best practice. This not only includes legal requirements, but how to effectively build trust with clients, while managing expectations along the way.
Alain Warisadi is a Licensed Estate Agent and the General Manager at Xynergy Realty 
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The misconceptions of the real estate industry: Alain Warisadi

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A Sydney Northern Beaches real estate agent has been charged over an alleged theft during an open house last Saturday.
The alleged incident took place during an open home being conducted on Pacific Parade, Dee Why.
The home owner reported missing personal items following the open home to the Dee Why police station who began an investigation.
Following inquiries, officers executed a search warrant at a home in Kanimbla Crescent, Bilgola Plateau where a number of items were seized.
A 38 year old woman was arrested yesterday.
She was charged with six counts of dishonestly obtaining goods by deception involving bankcard spending, and one count of steal from dwelling.
She has been granted conditional bail and will appear in court on 21 November.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/10/24/Real%20Estate%20Thief.JPG" alt="">
The police advisory did not identify if the open house was for sale or for rent.
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Real estate agent charged over open house theft in Dee Why

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Alexander Phillips of Phillps Pantzer Donnelley, located in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, has been ranked the nation's top selling agent for the third consecutive year.
He sold 184 properties for a total value of $530 million with an average 20 days on market time. His previous annual tally was $432 million, reflecting a huge spurt in sales commission heading his way. Phillips, who leads what the local paper, The Wentworth Courier dubbed the "wonder" team, spent some this year on an <a href="/news/roche-family-member-sells-for-11-million-in-vaucluse">$11 million Vaucluse home.</a>
But Michael Clarke at Clarke and Humel, this year's runner up in the REB awards, narrowed the gap for the mantle which accepts self nominations from estate agents who wish to participate.
The total sales difference between the top two shrunk to just $27 million over the past year. The gap in the prior year when James Tostevin was second had been $105 million.
Clarke (pictured below), from Sydney's northern beaches, moved up two positions in REB's rankings securing the highest number properties sold in the top 10 in 2018 with 185 sales.
With 13 years of experience and three assistants, Clarke's 185 properties sales sold in around 18 days on the market for an average of $2.72 million.
It was up to a total of $503 million, up from $362 million in the prior year.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/7/19/Clarke.jpg" alt="">
The ranking is determined by the calculation of several factors, the precise formula is not disclosed by the REB publishing group, Momentum Media who indicate the metrics used to generate the REB Top 100 Agents ranking include the number of properties sold, total dollar volume of properties sold and the average sale value. Each agent is ranked comparatively across these three metrics, with the combined comparative score used to determine the top-ranked agents in the country..
3. James Tostevin, who was second placed in the 2017 top 100, and the 2016 list, sat in third place this year. He was top placed in 2014 and 2015.
The former number 2 with 33 years of experience, the most of any agent in the top 10 this year, is based in Hawthorn at Marshall White where he secured 180 listings this year and sold 155 residential properties, higher than 146 and 139 respectively in the prior year.
His average sale price is 2.5 million.
Phillip's average sale price for 2018 was $2.88 million compared to $2.25 million in the prior year. Phillips comes with 16 years experience, and a reported three support staff. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2018/7/19/Rankings%20REB%202.JPG" alt="">
4. In fourth place in 2018, also of Marshall White, was Marcus Chiminello based in the Toorak region.
Chiminello secured and sold this year 115 listings and 105 sales, yielding the highest average sale price of $4.2 million.
His homes spent an average of 22 days on the market and sold for a total of $442 million up almost $50 million from last year.
5. Coming in fifth this year was Glen Coutinho, with 30 years of experience working at the Kew based RT Edgar Boroondara with just a single assistant.
The 159 dwellings he sold this year spent an average of 28 days on the market.
The total value of all the homes Coutinho sold was $340 million for an average of $2.14 million up from his average of $1.98 million last year, according to REB. He had sold $329 million in the year before.
6. Swapping places with Glen is Ric Serrao who held the fifth position last year but 6th in the recent year.
Working in North Bondi as an agent at Raine and Horne Double Bay, Serrao secured and sold more listings this year, 161 and 131 respectively compared to 128 and 122 in 2017.
The domiciles he sold spent an average of 25 days on the market and sold for roughly $2.13 million for a total of $280 million.
7. In seventh David Highland of Highland Property, which is based in Cronulla, with 21 years of experience and the highest average on market time of 38 days, he sold 119 dwellings and listed a further 123.
This financial year the average price of a home sold by David was $2.22 million
8. With a higher average property price of $2.89 million but fewer properties sold, 85, comes Timothy Foote of Belle Property in 8th place having jumped up 26 places from last year.
Based out of Mosman with 17 years of experience and the highest amount, 5, support staff his properties average 23 days on the market for a total of $246 million.
9. The 16 year agent Tim Heavyside working at Fletchers servicing the Eastern Melbourne suburbs jumped 11 places this year to 9th, with 148 properties listed and 143 sold for an average price of $1.65 million up $350,000 from last year.
His properties averaged 25 days on the market and sold for $236 million dollars. His year was marred by a court judgement last December involving underquoting. 
10. Rounding out the REB's top ten agents is Peter Chauncey, who with 15 years of experience and half the amount of assistants to his 9th place counterpart, secured 103 listings and sold 112 properties for a total of 2017 million.
The average price for these homes was $1.85 million after averaging merely 15 days on the market, the lowest of any in the top ten.
Honorable mentions that didn't make the elusive top ten include, Peter Chauncy of Strathfield Partners Real estate, placing 11th this year after a 10th place performance last year with one the highest amount of listings secured, at 353, and properties sold, at 299.
As well as Ercan Ersan, new to the top 100, landed in 16th place with 159 listings secured and an additional 147 properties sold.
Gregory Booker ranked 64th had the highest number of total sales and listings secured, with 349 total sales from 493 listings.
Gregory Booker is an agent for LJ Hooker based at Kallangur and the Murrumba Downs in Queensland.
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