<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" />

&nbsp;

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.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
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.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

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

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

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

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

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

Real Estate Agents

<html><body>
John McGrath, chief executive of McGrath Limited told The Weekend Australian that the recent stockmarket savaging caught the veteran real estate agent off guard.
“We were surprised and disappointed,” McGrath told The Weekend Australian in his first interview since an earnings forecast downgrade on Monday.
McGrath again increased their holdings, last week spending $500,000 to top up his stake to near 30 per cent.
McGrath says while listings are down across the industry and in most of the areas it operates in, the agency has increased its share from 3.2 percent to 3.5 percent of the market.
Meanwhile he has his team who bought into the float.
“This is my family, it’s not just an investment or a company I work for,” McGrath says.
“It’s something I started in my loungeroom.
“I can see the medium term long term, I know where we are gong to end up, but in the short term there is no doubt there is a feeling a pain for me as CEO, largest shareholder and founder of the business that we are having to go through this.”
But, he adds: “This is a long-term game.”
“Even post the market downgrade we will be delivering $26m-$27m in earnings.
"We have cash in the bank and we have no debt.
"We think we are in as good a position as ever,” he says, arguing he and the board — which includes chairman David Mackay, a former Kellogg CEO, and tech entrepreneur Daniel Petre — maintain their belief that a public listing was the right path for the company.
But Wendy McCarthy, a founding chair of McGrath Operations who left in June as she was never a float proponent, told Fairfax Media she imagined "he must be finding it very challenging and very disappointing."
"You've got people telling you everything is going to be fabulous and the float is oversubscribed and you believe it," said McCarthy, who praised McGrath's imagination and generosity.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

John McGrath says the listed real estate agency is his family

<html><body>
The number of women working in the real estate industry is edging closer to that of their male colleagues, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA). 
A breakdown of REIWA’s membership showed that almost 50 percent of ordinary members, defined as agency principals or licensees, are women.
Additionally, there are 3,685 female sales representatives across the state compared with 4,293 male. 
In property management, women outnumber men by more than five times.  
REIWA CEO Neville Pozzi said the numbers speak for themselves, particularly in the field of property management.  
“Our membership shows that the gap between males and females working in the industry is closing, almost to the point where the gap doesn’t exist,” he said.  
“When you look at the contribution women make to the industry, particularly in property management, the local real estate industry in WA is ahead of the game when it comes to gender equality."
 
</body></html>

prateek24-ezbwHMbNAk

Gender gap closing in WA real estate industry: REIWA

<html><body>
Robert Ward has taken the helm as chief executive officer of the newly-merged Di Jones Real Estate and LJ Hooker Wahroonga, effective 2 April.
Mr Ward has worked at LJ Hooker Wahroonga between January 2003 and March 2016.
Following his appointment he said LJ Hooker is a great brand, but the direction and change I wanted to take the business in, was not aligned with the LJ Hooker strategy. 
"LJ Hooker is a cottage industry," he said. 
"By obtaining a brand that is independently owned, we eliminate the middle layer of the franchise owner allowing us to implement growth strategies far greater than possible within a franchise network."
Q&amp;A With Robert Ward – CEO Di Jones Real Estate 
Age: 33 Years Old
How did you get started in Real Estate?
I started my real estate career in 2001 and got my certificate whilst at Richardson and Wrench – Turramurra. After a very positive start to my career, I purchased the asset PRD Nationwide Wahroonga in 2003 – I was only 21 at the time and the Youngest Franchise Owner in Australia (REI Magazine). The franchise changed to LJ Hooker in 2005 – 2015.
During that time I was awarded ‘Best Young Talent in LJ Hooker internationally 2007; 2011 Franchise Owner of the Year. 2013-15 Top 3 in the network and the LH Hooker Office - Top 5 in the Network
I grew up with 3 sisters. My mum was a university lecturer and my father was in I.T. Unlike my sister’s, I didn’t do very well in school at all. My mum used to cry every time she found out I skipped school because she was worried about where I was headed. However I found myself in real estate and in doing so, found my passion, which in turn created success.
Why do you think you experienced such rapid success?
I think it was just probably a combination of confidence and naiveté.
As a young leader – how do you motivate people?
Lead from front and set a good example. Trust the direction that your staff chose to head in. Understand the Why! It doesn’t matter whether they are 25, 40 or 60 years old, everyone works for a different reason. Not everybody is motivated entirely by money. It is important to understand why people work and when you do this, you can effectively lead them to achieving whatever it is that motivates them.
Aside from an expanded footprint, how will your appointment as CEO benefit DI Jones and what can we expect to see from the brand?
What we bring to the table is an understanding of technology and todays customer. We empower the consumer, our agents and our clients and their listed properties through better technology – it enables us to provide a better service and maximize reach whilst keeping our sales team happy. I always say I in business I have two types of clients - the sales team/our agents who need support, tools and information; and external clients. We look after them by providing unparalleled service to them which in turn keeps them happy leaving us with exceptional staff and client retention.
Why did you decide to move on from LJ Hooker?
LJ Hooker is a great brand, but the direction and change I wanted to take the business in, was not aligned with the LJ Hooker strategy. LJ Hooker is a cottage industry. By obtaining a brand that is independently owned, we eliminate the middle layer of the franchise owner allowing us to implement growth strategies far greater than possible within a franchise network.
Why did you approach Di Jones?
It was quite simply the values, history, reputation and the people. We wanted a sexy brand, which is attractive to both potential clients and employees whilst standing for the right values. Di Jones came with 25 years of sexy and is extremely well known with a great reputation and values.
LJ Hooker is a very well respected brand globally and is losing one of its top performing offices in the network, how do the staff feel about the merger and what feedback have you had so far from existing clients and colleagues?
Our clients and staff in the office have been 110 percent on board since announcement. Everybody worries about whether their clients and staff will stick with them or will they be fearful when they are subjected to change, as people are naturally anxious about change. However we have such a great culture and team, that there has been no doubt at all about this merger from our staff and clients and they support the direction the business is headed in. People generally rely on experiences from the past, and if that is positive, they generally trust the plans for the future. In fact many of our clients have asked why it took us so long. Brand is about the people not the colours.
Are there aggressive growth plans in place outside of Sydney – if so what are they?
Growth strategies are about creating efficiencies, migration patterns, demographics, key areas where clients exist and offering a centralized service via a company owned model. It is a fairly targeted approach and one that will result in providing a better service to the existing and potential client base.
What is the feeling about Di Jones on the North Shore? Are they familiar with the brand – how do you see the transition from both a client and employee point of view?
The merger announcement has been extremely well received. The Di Jones client demographic is very similar in our key areas. It has actually been very interesting and informative educating our market of the changes. Many of our clients have asked in the past if we could help them with their properties in other suburbs, however now the requests are far more pronounced. We have been receiving an influx of requests on a weekly basis and this merger has been extremely well received.
The traditional franchise real estate model has created a stereotype that you can only operate in your suburb, which in turn can lead to pigeonholing. The second you drop the suburb, you open up your opportunities to a wider market. We have far greater reach as a whole, but also in the eyes of our existing and potential clients.
Personal Life
Rob is married and has three sons.
 
Di Jones Real Estate announced the merger with LJ Hooker Wahroonga February 2016.
 
 
</body></html>

po-LsXgBTHBmX

Robert Ward takes helm following Di Jones LJ Hooker Wahroonga merger

<html><body>
A real estate agent and company director accused of creating fictitious real estate listings to obtain early commissions and defrauding his company’s trust account of $808,173.69 has been handed a two-year jail term after he pleaded guilty to 12 charges in a Parramatta local court in Sydney.
The charges included a number of Crimes Act offences, including fraud and making and using false documents as well as offences under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act for fraudulently converting money. A number of other charges were admitted and taken into consideration for sentencing.
Shaun Andrew Crockford, from Claremont Meadows, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment to be served by way of an Intensive Corrections Order commencing 30 March 2016 and concluding 29 March 2018.
Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said Crockford, who was the sole director and company secretary of Quakers Hill Property Management Pty Ltd, created false contracts for sale of land signed by fictitious vendors and purchasers, false bank account statements, false sales ledgers and false stamped bank deposit slips.
“He was robbing Peter to pay Paul to keep his cash flow going,” he said.
“He fabricated 71 sales contracts for the purposes of drawing commissions from debtor factoring agencies, he provided fabricated records to the agency’s auditors over a number of years and created several fake owner statements issued to landlords detailing remittances that were never paid.
“Mr Crockford also fabricated a sales inspection report, exclusive agency agreement and sales contract document using the name of a former client and used an old contract reference number on the sales document.
“Furthermore, as a result of the defalcation of the trust fund, there was insufficient money to cover genuine purchasers’ sale deposits to account to genuine vendors on five real estate sales transactions in 2015.”
Properties were ‘created’ by Crockford for his fraudulent transactions in suburbs including Kellyville, Rouse Hill, Cherrybrook, Beaumont Hills, Schofields and Castle Hill.
NSW Fair Trading appointed managers over Quakers Hill Property Management Pty Ltd on 9 January 2015.
On 5 November 2015, NSW Fair Trading cancelled Crockford’s real estate agent’s licence and disqualified him from holding a licence for 15 years. He is also disqualified from being involved in the direction, management or conduct of the business of a licensee for 15 years.
 
</body></html>

jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

NSW real estate agent gets two-year jail term for fraud 

<html><body>
The debate around the NSW government's recent decision to amend the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act to exempt large commercial property managers from holding real estate licences rages on, with the Shopping Centre Council of Australia preparing a list of FAQs around the issue.
The council cites a lot of Victorian data -- it claims the Victorian Valuer General has a lot more relevant data -- but the NSW figures would be roughly the same, it says.
The SCCA argues that the impact would be even less in NSW as the state government has set higher thresholds for exemptions.
For context, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal's 2015 Reforming Licensing in NSW report recommends that large commercial property managers who manage an estimated property value of at least $40 million, or a gross floor area of at least 20,000 square metres, or are managing properties for a related corporate entity should be exempt. 
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many commercial buildings will be affected?
A: Less than 1 percent.
In Victoria, according to the Victorian Valuer-General, only 510 commercial buildings (of a total of 72,857 commercial buildings) exceed 10,000 square metres. This means only 0.7% of commercial buildings would have been affected.
The NSW Valuer General has advised that he is unable to supply similar data for NSW. There is no reason to believe, however, the proportion in NSW would be substantially different to that in Victoria.
Q: How many commercial property sales will be affected?
A: Fewer than 4 percent.
According to RP Data, fewer than 4% of commercial property sales in NSW are for amounts greater than $10 million. Therefore, more than 96 percent of commercial sales will be unaffected. According to JLL's Australian Shopping Centre Investment Review and Outlook there were 41 sales of retail properties (including shopping centres) in NSW in 2014 which exceeded $10 million.
The buyers and sellers were, in all cases, either institutions or wealthy investors who understand property risks and do not need the protection of legislation.
(Many sales of commercial buildings worth more than $10 million already occur 'off market,and no real estate agent is involved. This change will therefore actually involve far fewer than the 4 percent of commercial sales referred to above.)
Q: How many real estate agents will be affected?
A: Around 2 percent.
In Victoria in 2014 SCCA members held 302 agent and agent representative licences. According to Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) there were a total of 23,279 such licensees in Victoria at June 30, 2014. Assuming all SCCA members had taken advantage of the regulation, only 1.3 percent of licensees would have been affected. If we assume the number of licensees managing commercial buildings is around 200 (an estimate we believe to be excessive), then only 2.2 percent of licensees would have been affected. We don't have figures for NSW but believe the proportion in NSW would be similar.
Q: How many real estate agencies will be affected?
A: Around 0.2 percent.
Sales of commercial properties in excess of $10 million are almost always handled by the large commercial real estate agencies (JLL, Savills, Colliers, CBRE, Knight Frank), not the smaller commercial agencies. These agencies are members of the SCCA and/or the PCA and support the SCCA and PCA policy to provide these exemptions.
In reality, the same agents who handle the sale of these properties will continue to do so because they are very experienced in such transactions and shopping centre owners are likely to continue to utilise the services of these specialists in the large agencies because of their expertise, not because they are licensed. The transaction threshold of $10 million will therefore have negligible effect on the commercial real estate agencies.
According to CAV, there were 3,599 real estate agencies in Victoria in 2014. Only six (i.e. 0.2 percent) would have been affected if the exemptions had been in place in Victoria in 2074 and had been applied to retail property sales over $15 million. This is also true of NSW.
Q: What is the current cost of this regulation to commercial property owners in NSW?
A: In excess of $4 million a year.
During deliberations on the National Occupational Licensing System, we provided details of the cost of only three aspects of regulation - licensing, professional development and trust account regulation - for commercial property owners around Australia. This amounted to more than $12 million a year. The cost in NSW could therefore reasonably be assessed as $3.84 million a year, This does not take into account a range of other costs such as management time involved in implementing and overseeing systems to ensure compliance with the legislation. (There is also a cost to the NSW Government in staff resources in Fair Trading currently occupied in licensing, compliance and enforcement).
Q: What impact will this have on tenants?
A: None.
Retail tenants have never been protected by the Property Stock and Business Agents Act. This Act regulates the relationship between property owners (the'consumer') and property managers ('estate agents'). Tenants remain fully protected by the Retail Leases Act, which regulates the relationship between the owner/manager and the retail tenant, and is unaffected.
The RLA, as well as regulating most aspects of the owner-tenant relationship, also provides dispute resolution provisions involving the Small Business Commissioner (mediation) and NCAT (arbitration).
Q: Is the exemption supported by retail tenants?
A: Yes.
The real estate license concentrates on residential property and real estate agency matters and teaches the licensee nothing about shopping centre management or leasing or the Retail Leases Act. This is why the exemptions are supported by both the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA).
Q: What impact will this have on trust accounting requirements?
A: None.
Property managers receive money on behalf of owners in three ways: Sale deposits (i.e. when a building is sold). There is currently no requirement in the Property Stock and Business Agents Act for such deposits to be paid into a trust account i.e, it is unregulated. Therefore nothing changes. It is a matter for the sale agreement as to where such moneys are deposited. As a matter of commercial practice, such deposits are usually held in trust accounts until the sale is finalised. This will not change.
Security deposits for leases (i.e. tenants are required to pay a security deposit equivalent to some months rent). This is regulated by the Retail Leases Act (s.24), not by the Property Stock and Business Agents Act, so nothing changes. In NSW, as a requirement of the Retail Leases Act, cash security deposits are required to be deposited with the Rental Bond Board so nothing changes. In practice, however, cash deposits have largely been replaced by bank guarantees so money is not involved.
Rent. This is currently required by the Property Stock and Business Agents Act to be paid into a trust account. Once the rent is paid by the tenant, however, this is the owner's money and it should be up to the owner to decide how it is banked. Large commercial owners move it immediately out of a trust account into an operating account in order to meet the operating expenses of the centre or building. This is 'double handling' and an unnecessary expense for owners. Large commercial property owners don't need Parliament to direct them how to bank their money.
Q: Is this the 'the thin end of the wedge' for deregulation of licensing?
A. No.
It is nonsense to suggest this will be the 'thin end of the wedge' and will lead to the complete removal of licensing. These exemptions do not apply to residential real estate or to rural property and no government is likely to ever deregulate in these areas. Nor is it likely there will be further exemptions for commercial property. The SCCA and PCA have no interest in pushing for further exemptions and are not arguing for wider exemptions. Once the exemption is granted the SCCA has no further interest in real estate licensing (as we have shown in Queensland).
Q: Will this mean the entry of 'cowboy operators' in the industry?
A: No.
Those who would benefit from the exemptions are/ in nearly all cases, publicly listed entities. They have an obligation to investors to manage their assets responsibly and only contract the services of reputable individuals and companies to manage and lease their assets or conduct sales transactions. It is insulting to the directors and senior management of these entities to suggest they would now contract 'fly-by-night' operators or that commercial property management will become the 'wild west'. The sums of money involved in exempt transactions means property owners will continue to do due diligence and only contract reputable companies to handle such transactions.
</body></html>

Little impact from proposed commercial property management licencing exemption laws: Shopping Centre Council 

<html><body>
McGrath Estate Agents has opened a new office in Liverpool, in Sydney's South West, bringing the total office count to 81.
Chief executive John McGrath said  Liverpool will no doubt be a beneficiary in terms of the demand for housing with significant investment in the region for infrastructure and services.
“Its affordability, close proximity to both Sydney and to the proposed new airport at Badgerys Creek will be a very positive economic driver for the area," he said.
McGrath Liverpool will service the local area from Fairfield in the north, to Catherine Field in the south, to Cecil Hills in the east, and Glenfield in the west. 
Principals Luke Mannion and Anna Younan will lead four sales agents. The office is the third in the McGrath franchise under Mr Mannion’s leadership. 
McGrath Limited reached agreement to acquire the largest franchise group within its network in October 2015, with 10 McGrath franchise offices across Sydney’s mid to upper North Shore, North-West and Northern Beaches region, becoming McGrath company owned offices.
The 10 McGrath offices, under the leadership of Shane Smollen, was one of the largest real estate agency groups in Australia.
</body></html>

McGrath expands in Sydney’s South West with new Liverpool office

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
An overhaul of education and training standards is in the best interests of the consumer and the profession. Responding to the review of training in the property services industry conducted by NSW Fair Trading, REINSW is firmly of the view that the overwhelming majority of issues that attract the attention of the regulator and aggravate consumers, can be resolved by substantially improving the education of property professionals for both entry and continuing professional development. We suggest a higher entry level education standard. It not only better equips the new entrant for the profession, it also allows that new entrant the opportunity to commit themselves to the disciplines required by the profession. This will then, it is submitted, positively impact on a higher retention rate and increase the aggregate competencies of the profession. In order to reduce the churn, which the panel has identified at 80 per cent of new entrants, REINSW proposes new entrants complete an additional three units prior to starting work. This will at least in part address this at the commencement of the new entrants employment and with on-going study together with practical on- the-job experience will grow the new entrant into a capable, knowledgeable and skilled professional. REINSW has also called for additional on the job training. Under the Institute’s suggested educational regime the student will take seven units of competence into the workplace and receive an additional 17 units of competence within the context of practical application and repetition. The complete education, which involves both classroom and on the job training, particularly in a service industry such as real estate is not so much desirable, but essential. Without it the service provider is ill-equipped to respond to the demands and disciplines of the profession. The delivery and assessment of training should be undertaken by trainers who regularly update their property industry work experience and skills. The qualification level of the trainers should be at least a one-step higher level than the qualification currently being taught within the relevant property associated discipline.
 
John Cunningham is President, REINSW and can be contacted <a href="https://www.reinsw.com.au/imis15_Prod/web" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

Real estate agent education, training overhaul needed: REINSW

<html><body>
Soon we will be hearing more and more about the big sister of underquoting and this will be overquoting, and it bites.
Be warned, unlike the roar that politicians and our Real Estate Industry (REI) make about underquoting, this one will bite deep and hard into the pockets of REA’s and their offices.
Now that I have your attention, pour yourself a cup of coffee and read on. I will explain what overquoting entails. I will also explain the dangers it poses to both vendors and agents.
Overquoting
<ul>
<li>For most agents working in our industry, the term overquoting is mainly referred to as: buying the listing.</li>
<li>Buying the listing in turn refers to: informing the vendor that their property will sell for a lot more than what the market is demanding or dictating at the time.</li>
<li>The purpose of overquoting is: to obtain a listing under false pretense of a high sales price. Higher than the estimated values placed by other agents in the area.</li>
<li>The REA’s intention is: to eventually “condition” the vendor to accept less, as the buyers inspecting the property, offer what the market is truly dictating.</li>
</ul>
Underquoting serves the function to condition the buyers to believe they will buy the property for less, as low price guides are given by REA's. The agents on the other hand, hope that the auction frenzy will motivate them to pay more as they add competition to realistic buyers.
Underquoting, as a form of bait advertising, is a marketing process readily used in a heated property market.
The use of overquoting by the agent, is to win the listing and to have the chance of selling the property. The sales process which precedes winning the listing conditions the vendor to accept less than what the agents originally quote in their Comparative Market Analysis (CMA).
Overquoting is a form of deception used by agents, to convince vendors to sell through them and their office.
What will vendors do?
Now please pay very close attention as this is what I mean when I say overquoting will bite and bite hard.
Vendors will not sit back and take it on the chin, unlike buyers when they are deceived by bait advertising.
When vendors believe that their properties have dropped in value, as they compare the agent’s CMA to what is being offered, vendors will act and take action against the agent.
Real estate agents (REA) will soon find themselves in hot water and face litigation.
In the case of underquoting, the accumulated losses of individual’s time and money as a buyer, may total around $1000 on average. A loss, that may not necessarily warrant time and effort, to report the REA that is believed to be underquoting.
On the other hand, a perceived loss of $10's of thousands of dollars, to a vendor, will warrant a claim against the agent.
I have written about this in the past and have said; until losses justify time and effort spent by consumers, to lodge claims with the authorities, REA’s will do as they please.
However, be warned for what is to eventuate and is just around the corner.
Some REA’s will take it in their stride and heed this advice but some will also believe they are above the law and the authorities. It won’t surprise me to see the same REA’s that underquote lead the way to overquoting practices. Sadly most will again be members of the REI's.
The difference this time folks, it won’t be a toothless tiger on their case, it will be a vendor determined to be compensated.
 
EDWIN ALMEIDA is licensee in charge of <a href="https://www.just-think.com.au/" target="_blank">Just Think Real Estate</a>.<a href="https://www.just-thin.com.au/"> </a>
He is also the creator of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/JustThinkProperty" target="_blank">Oz Real Estate.TV</a> and a presenter for <a href="https://propertyinvestingvault.com/" target="_blank">propertyinvestingvault.com</a>.
</body></html>

Real Estate Agents

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Real Estate Agents

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News