Roseville is poised for a wave of new apartment development following the NSW Government's rezoning of land around Roseville Station under its Transport Oriented Development program.

The new planning controls have unlocked significant development potential within walking distance of the station, with a number of sites expected to be amalgamated and redeveloped in the coming years as developers seek to take advantage of the increased density allowances.

One of the more restrained developments in the precinct, and set among the first to be delivered having commenced well before the recent changes, is Hyecorp's Juliet. The boutique apartment project is already well under construction and remains on track to welcome residents by the end of the year, offering a markedly different proposition to many of the larger-scale developments now likely to emerge across the suburb.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7395 project_image_fid=278194]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/juliet-roseville-64-pacific-highway-roseville-nsw-2069">Juliet</a> will comprise just&nbsp;34 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments opposite Roseville Station. For Hyecorp, which has delivered projects across Sydney's Lower North Shore for more than three decades, Roseville presented a rare opportunity to address a growing gap in the market.

"<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/roseville-nsw-2069">Roseville</a> has long been one of the North Shore's most tightly held and desirable suburbs, offering a unique combination of village charm, established greenery, excellent transport connections, and proximity to some of Sydney's best schools and lifestyle amenities," Hyecorp said.

"We recognised a growing demand from local homeowners seeking to downsize without leaving the community they have built their lives around. The location presented a rare opportunity to create homes that cater specifically to that buyer profile."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7395 project_image_fid=278196]

The six-level development has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/pbd-architects">PBD Architects</a> as a collection of residences that feel more like homes than apartments. The brief centred generous floorplans, abundant natural light, quality finishes, and strong connections to outdoor space.

PBD Architects drew inspiration from Roseville's established garden suburb character, creating a building that sits comfortably within its surroundings rather than dominating them. The architecture incorporates natural materials, soft forms, layered landscaping, expansive balconies, and generous setbacks to strengthen the connection between residents and the suburb's leafy environment.

"The focus was on designing spacious, house-like residences for discerning owner-occupiers and downsizers who wanted to remain on the North Shore without compromising on comfort, privacy, or design," PBD said.&nbsp;

"Every apartment was to feel considered, timeless, and highly functional."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7395 project_image_fid=278195]

Inside, residences feature engineered timber flooring, stone kitchen benchtops and splashbacks, integrated Fisher &amp; Paykel appliances, ducted air conditioning, and large outdoor entertaining areas designed to take advantage of district and treetop views.

Residents will also have access to a rooftop barbecue and lounge area, alongside practical amenities including parcel lockers, EV charging capability, bicycle storage, a dog wash bay, and a basement car wash facility.

The majority of purchasers so far have been local owner-occupiers from Roseville, Lindfield, Chatswood, Killara, and the broader Upper North Shore, many of whom are transitioning from larger family homes.

"Buyers are looking for spacious, house-like apartments that allow them to downsize without feeling like they are sacrificing comfort or functionality," Hyecorp noted.

"They value large kitchens, generous living areas, ample storage, quality finishes, secure parking, lift access, and low-maintenance living."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7395 project_image_fid=278204]

Juliet sits directly opposite Roseville Train Station and within walking distance of Roseville Village, while Chatswood's retail and dining precinct is only minutes away. The development is also surrounded by some of Sydney's most established schools, including Roseville College, Ravenswood, Pymble Ladies' College, and Knox Grammar, as well as nearby parklands and golf courses.

Juliet is currently more than 75 per cent sold ahead of its anticipated completion in late 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7395]

Joel Robinson

Juliet to sit quietly amid Roseville apartment boom

Sherpa Property Group has unveiled the third instalment of its Flourish series, securing full approval for the two-tower, $500 million Flourish Soleira development in Palm Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-1150-1154-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> will rise from a prominent site in the commercial heart of Palm Beach, the long-time home of Cash Converters and a range of local retailers.

The project will introduce a new retail and dining precinct at ground level, beneath 286 apartments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370959]

“We’re very committed to not only providing affordable residential offerings that are much needed in Palm Beach, but also delivering a vibrant new commercial heart that complements the extraordinary growth of the southern Gold Coast,” Sherpa Property Group founder Christie Leet said.

The development will sit under Sherpa's Flourish brand, which is aimed at providing a pathway into the beachside suburb for locals, first-home buyers and downsizers. In a move designed to assist first-home buyers entering the market, Sherpa has reserved all one and two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments exclusively for eligible first-home buyers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370964]

“Our vision through Flourish is to create a vibrant retail and lifestyle focal point within the Palm Beach centre zone, delivering thriving communities underpinned by lifestyle-rich locations,” Leet said.

“So far, Flourish has been an incredible success, and we hope to carry this momentum as we progress the next two Flourish projects in Palm Beach.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=371430]

Located across 1150-1164 Gold Coast Highway and 3 Sixth Avenue, the development will comprise two towers. The northern tower will deliver 154 apartments, while the southern tower will add a further 132 residences, helping address ongoing demand for new apartments in the tightly held coastal suburb.

Flourish Soleira will also feature the most extensive rooftop amenity offering ever delivered in Palm Beach.

The two towers will be connected by a skybridge, with residents gaining access to a rooftop recreation deck featuring a full-width swimming pool, hot and cold plunge pools, wellness spaces, a gymnasium, private dining facilities, massage treatment rooms, barbecue areas, a basketball court, golf simulator, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, sun lounges and extensive landscaping.

LPS Group is expected to start construction later this year.

Sherpa is already well advanced on construction of its debut Flourish project, Flourish Amargo, located just around the corner from Soleira. Meanwhile, Flourish Oasis, positioned opposite Amargo, recently commenced construction and has nearly sold out its collection of 47 apartments.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa unveils $500m mixed-use Palm Beach precinct, Flourish Soleira

Are mortgage holders set to get a reprieve from the RBA in 2026?

Big Four bank NAB believes so. They are now expecting the next move from the RBA to be a cut, rather than a hike, which they had pencilled in for August. They are unsure of the timing of the cut however, they note in their latest&nbsp;NAB Economics RBA Watch.

NAB Chief Economist, Dr Sally Auld, said recent data suggests the economy has lost momentum and the outlook for rates has shifted, noting that the broader economic backdrop has changed since earlier in the year.

“The next move in the cash rate is likely to be down, but the timing is uncertain," Dr Auld said.

"In February, growth was above trend, the economy was operating above capacity and there was uncertainty over the restrictiveness of rates. None of these conditions exist today,” she outlined.

Dr Auld said recent data pointed to softer momentum across the economy while acknowledging that at the same time, uncertainty remains a key feature of the outlook.

“Both Q1 GDP data and the NAB business survey suggest momentum in the economy has slowed, meaning that growth has likely peaked for the cycle. That said, we are cognisant there is still considerable uncertainty around the outlook, both with respect to activity and inflation.”

Dr Auld said inflation risks and labour market outcomes would be important to watch.

“On the prices side, we are still forecasting above target core inflation through to mid-2027. Margins will compress and weaker labour market outcomes are a risk.”

She said tighter financial conditions are expected to weigh on housing and activity.

“Tighter financial conditions will be reflected in a slowing in house price growth and housing credit growth. In summary, we have greater conviction that the next move in rates is down, but less conviction on the timing.”

Mortgage relief? NAB forecasts RBA rate cut, not hike, after softer economic conditions

A local downsizer has splashed $6.5 million on a penthouse in Perifa's Alex &amp; Willow development in Crows Nest. 
&nbsp; 
The purchaser sold their long-held family home in the area before embarking on a six-month search for the right apartment. After inspecting a range of options across the Lower North Shore, the buyer returned to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/alex-willow-crows-nest-82-90-alexander-street-crows-nest-nsw-2065">Alex &amp; Willow</a>. 
&nbsp; 
The buyer profile reflects the project’s broader purchaser mix. <a>Alex &amp; Willow</a> has attracted predominantly local downsizers looking to transition from larger homes without compromising on space or quality, alongside a smaller cohort of upsizers and investors drawn to the project’s location and design credentials. 
&nbsp; 
The milestone sale comes as the project, developed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/perifa">Perifa</a>&nbsp;and delivered by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/versatile-made-construction">Versatile Construction</a>, both part of Versatile Group, reaches 60 per cent sold.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6680 project_image_fid=371325] 
&nbsp; 
Eddie Mansour, Managing Partner of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/ray-white-projects">Ray White Projects</a>, said the result demonstrates not only a headline price but also depth of demand. 
&nbsp; 
“This is an exceptional outcome and a clear reflection of sustained buyer demand for premium, well-located downsizer product,” Mansour said.

“We’re seeing a consistent pattern of local homeowners selling family residences and reinvesting into high-quality apartments that allow them to remain within their community. Alex &amp; Willow has resonated strongly with this group because it offers genuine scale, thoughtful design and immediate proximity to the village.” 
&nbsp; 
The sale reflects a broader and consistent trend of local downsizers actively seeking high-quality, low-maintenance residences close to established village centres. Agents report that demand for this product type has remained resilient, particularly where developments offer a rare combination of scale, design quality and walkable amenity. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Fabrizio Perilli, Managing Director of Perifa and Versatile Group, said the sale marks a defining moment for the project. 
&nbsp; 
“The penthouse sale is a strong endorsement of the quality we have delivered, alongside our partners, and the clear demand from local downsizers for premium, boutique residences in this location,” Perilli said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
“Most importantly, we’re proud to see the Alex &amp; Willow community beginning to take shape. As we move closer to completion, we’re looking forward to welcoming residents and seeing the project come to life.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6680 project_image_fid=338516] 
&nbsp; 
Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/nettletontribe">Nettleton Tribe</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/richards-stanisich">Richards Stanisich</a>, Alex &amp; Willow is a boutique collection of generously sized two- and three-bedroom residences in the heart of Crows Nest village.&nbsp;

Completion is slated for early 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6680]

Alex & Willow, Crows Nest penthouse sells off the plan for $6.5 million

Fresh from launching the first stage of its Wollongong precinct, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/keira-place-wollongong-120-122-smith-street-wollongong-nsw-2500">Keira Place</a>, builder-developer Urban Property Group has unveiled plans for the next phase of the masterplanned community.

Now on public exhibition through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway is a State Significant Development Application for a further 657 homes on the prominent gateway site opposite Beaton Park.

The proposal comprises three buildings, including two build-to-sell towers rising 25 and 30 storeys, delivering 391 apartments, alongside a 12-storey co-living building with 266 residences, making it one of the largest co-living proposals currently planned in regional New South Wales.

Of the apartments proposed in the build-to-sell towers, the majority, 310, are two-bedroom dwellings. The balance comprises 44 one-bedroom apartments and 37 three-bedroom residences. Apartment sizes range from around 50 sqm for one-bedroom homes to approximately 90 sqm for three-bedroom apartments.

<img alt="Smith St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="19347059-1612-41a0-9c74-b86a657237f8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-10%20at%2010.02.18%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sWXnaCcA.cIC6N8YT1dg5pJ2e1V3Z6z7" />

The submission says the proposal has evolved significantly from its original Housing Delivery Authority application following extensive consultation with the State Design Review Panel and Wollongong City Council.

The final scheme has been designed to align with the emerging vision for the Flinders Street Precinct, an area identified by Council as a future high-density mixed-use neighbourhood capable of accommodating substantial housing growth close to transport, employment and community infrastructure.

According to the design report prepared by COX Architecture, the development aims to "deliver a built outcome consistent with the future character of the Wollongong CBD while responding to the site's unique constraints and opportunities."

"Our vision for the next phase of the site evolution in Wollongong is grounded in three design pillars that guide the design response: place, natural environment and celebration," COX said.

"Inspired by its surroundings and grounded in the stories of place on Wodi Wodi Country, the design proposal acknowledges the established character of its setting while creating a unique and timeless identity that sits harmoniously within it.

"The design proposal responds to its specific site conditions, acknowledging the vegetation, climate, wind conditions and solar access of the site."

The architecture responds directly to the site's position between Wollongong's urban core and its natural landscape setting.

COX identified views towards Mount Keira and the Illawarra Escarpment as defining features of the site, while the upper levels of the towers will also capture expansive views across the city and out to the Pacific Ocean.

The design team has positioned the tallest buildings closer to the rail corridor, where overshadowing impacts can be better managed while establishing a landmark built form on the northern approach into the city.

<img alt="Smith St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="79580d5b-500c-4ebf-9629-797146a4a694" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-10%20at%209.51.59%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WbTB1EKSG.KDfsfz0F3wp1QVa2oCMGR5" />

Urban Property Group secured the 11,000 sqm Smith Street site in 2022 and has since progressed plans for the broader Keira Place precinct.

Construction recently commenced on the first stage of Keira Place, which will deliver 150 apartments across two residential buildings, including 27 affordable housing apartments and 18 specialist disability accommodation dwellings, alongside activated ground-floor retail and commercial space.

Urban Co-CEO Patrick Elias said the commencement of construction marked a significant milestone for Wollongong and reflected the developer's long-term commitment to regional cities.

"Today's groundbreaking is about turning approvals into homes and moving quickly to deliver much-needed housing in Wollongong's city centre," Elias said.

"Keira Place will provide a diverse mix of homes close to jobs, transport and services, while setting a high benchmark for quality, durability and consumer protection."

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/groundbreaking-marks-start-of-construction-at-keira-place-in-wollongong-cbd">Groundbreaking marks start of construction at Keira Place in Wollongong CBD</a>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Urban Property Group unveils trio of towers for next stage of new Wollongong precinct, Keira Place

Tips

<html><body>
EXPERT OBSERVATION
As green shoots have clearly appeared in the property market, RiskWise Property Research has taken a retrospective analysis of lessons to be learned from the recent downturn.
1) Think long term and don’t seek quick wins. It’s easy to see Sydney and Melbourne carry a low level of risk and are the long-term winners when it comes to the property market. While we’ve had short-lived episodes of enthusiasm in areas such as Hobart and the mining towns in both Western Australia and Queensland, these areas are no longer in favour with owner-occupiers or investors (Hobart delivered a modest annual change in dwelling value of 2.6 per cent). Now we are seeing the Sydney and Melbourne markets starting to perform more strongly, which means that only the people who bought at the top of the market in 2017 and 2018 are seeing temporary reductions in dwelling values. People who are looking for ‘adventures’ in the property market are like gamblers and often find these escapades to be perilous down the track when it is too late to do anything about.
2) Taxation and regulatory changes carry very tangible risk to property investors. Investors should focus on purchasing dwellings that are suitable for families in areas which have a high owner-occupier ratio, particularly houses, as these are less subject to potential taxation changes.
3) High-rise units simply carry a higher level of risk. This is driven by areas which have oversupply of units, often flagged as Danger Zones. However, the newly emerging threat of construction defects and combustible cladding has added an addition layer of risk for investors. For the same amount of money investors can usually buy a house in the middle or outer rings which will present much less risk and is more likely to enjoy solid capital gains down the track due to the long-term appreciation of land values.
4) Capital growth should be the key driver for investor decisions, rather than cash flow. A RiskWise five-year analysis of the property market earlier this year demonstrated that high rental yields generally deliver low overall returns for investors. Our analysis proved that, over the medium to long term, low rental returns delivered significantly higher overall return (i.e. capital growth + rental return), while high rental returns delivered lower ones overall. What it means is people who invest in very affordable suburbs that carry a high level of rental return, with the expectation of strong overall growth, achieve exactly the opposite result. The analysis showed, under the assumption of a 20 per cent deposit, that low-rent houses would increase their net equity by 63.1 per cent. Conversely, high-return houses would increase their net equity by only 29.5 per cent. This means low-rent houses increased their equity by more than twice that of the high-rent ones.
5) Undersupply of houses in Sydney and Melbourne is a systematic issue. With high population growth in both these capital cities, undersupply of family-suitable dwellings, mainly houses and, to a lesser extent, townhouses will drive property values and is likely to create strong long-term growth in prices. What it means is supply has been unable to keep pace with strong demand. While there has been a large supply of units in high-rise buildings, these are generally unsuitable for owner-occupiers and are largely rental properties. This imbalance in dwelling construction has been a major contributing factor to housing affordability challenges, remembering that rental properties and owner-occupied ones are not fully substitute products. Overall, investors are more likely to benefit more from buying houses in the middle rings and the outlying areas of these cities, provided there are adequate transport solutions and access employment.
DORON PELEG is the CEO of RiskWise
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Five lessons from Australia's recent real estate downturn: RiskWise's Doron Peleg

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION 
The news has been awash with stories of falling house prices, less sales, lower clearance rates and more stringent lending policies in recent months. But despite these ongoing market and regulatory challenges, the Australian broking industry is in a remarkably healthy state.
Recent data from the MFAA Industry Intelligence Service (#6) shows brokers have written more value of residential home loans over the past year than since data started to be collected in 2013. With sales of homes beginning to slow across Australia, but the value of mortgages originated over this period, it creates an interesting dynamic within the mortgage broking market. Why is this occurring?
CoreLogic, which performs valuations on behalf of leading Australian banks and financial services companies, helps shine a light on this market dynamic via the statistics of why valuations were ordered — approximately only 25% of property appraisals over this period were for purchases, 5% for construction and a huge ~70% were for refinance (including restructure, top-up and new product type) of existing loans. Transaction numbers may have declined nationally, but brokers are still very busy.
In fact, the growth of brokers over the past couple of years means there is more competition in the industry than before — and that gives customers greater choice in who they engage with. So, in an increasingly competitive yet complex market, how can you differentiate your business?
1. Look broadly across your lender panels and prepare before application
In a tighter regulatory and more focused credit risk environment, lenders are needing to make policy decisions on which clients and security they are willing to provide lending for. Borrowers are under greater scrutiny, and lenders are asking for more evidence around their ability to service the loan. You need to do more research and keep up to date with policy changes for the lenders you deal with. It’s not just the simple things; for example, are there postcode restrictions; what are the acceptable securities; what are the differences for investor, owner-occupied; and what type of product is your customer looking to utilise — interest-only, line of credit or P&amp;I. All these will most likely mean brokers have to navigate in a matrix environment.
If you haven’t yet done so, it could be worth getting to know some of the more specialist lenders. The MFAA IIS report shows the growth off non-ADI lenders growing substantially and consistently over the last couple of years, and knowing the alternative value propositions is important to giving your customer the best possible result.
Another standout result in the recent data is the decrease in conversion rates — that is the percentage of loans that are applied for which settle. Valuations play an important role, particularly in higher LVR business. If you are not running a property report and getting some understanding of value before the submission of the application, you are potentially costing yourself time and money as well as creating a negative customer experience. As a professional, managing expectations and setting your client up for success is critical.
2. Sharpen your value proposition
Position yourself as a credible source of information and show your clients you’re knowledgeable about the things they care about. For example, if you’re dealing with investors then they will most likely be interested in rental returns and yields, capital growth and want to know more about the markets they are looking to invest in. You can no longer generalise your approach; you have to personalise your interactions if you want to win and keep the business.
With so much information freely available to your customers, you need to be a step ahead. Personalisation, knowing the markets that you operate in and where your customers can give you the edge over those who don’t.
Check out state performance benchmarks by using tools such as the MFAA’s Industry Intelligence Service Summary. Are you as good as the average or better? If you are better, what are you doing to stay ahead? Arming yourself with knowledge can give you insight into where you can improve and help you build your value proposition.
3. Engage with your customer base long-term
A new mortgage should be more than just a transaction, but rather, the start of a long-term relationship with your customer. With great service and personal service, this can reward you with repeat and referral business in the future. Don’t just do the minimum and keep in touch with your client through mass, generalist non-value add information — make it personal, make it insightful, make it better than your competitors.
Consider tracking the local property market so you’re aware when your client puts their home up for sale or for rent. Track market activities that you can then use to engage with your clients. Know when your clients are in high equity positions. Remember when they said they “want to renovate in a couple of years” or when they told you an investment property was a dream in the future. The little things are what will make a difference in a competitive market. It’s not just when your client sells that you have risk of losing them as a client. Remember that more valuations are ordered for refinances than sales — is that your client talking to another broker or lender? 
Buying and refinancing property can be stressful for borrowers, particularly when the housing market is challenging. There is regulatory focus, countless news articles about how hard things are and when lenders are changing their policies — what better time for you to make the most of the situation and provide professional, insightful and valuable services for a great customer outcome.
Matt Carlson is CoreLogic's senior leader for western region and broker solutions.
</body></html>

How to position your business in a competitive broker market: Matt Carlson

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVATION
Buying a house is probably one of the most important purchases a person will make. Many people think the vendor is required to disclose matters that affect the property value, particularly if the buyer has no other means of finding out the full history of the house. For instance, if someone was murdered in the house, do the buyers have a right to be told?
The solicitor or conveyancer who acts for a buyer will probably tell them the law is “buyer beware”. It is up to buyers to satisfy themselves that the property is not affected by any defects in title, that it can be used for the purposes the buyer intends, and that any building on the property is sound.
If a vendor actively conceals a known defect, then that might amount to fraud. Examples include painting to conceal serious termite damage, or giving a deliberately false answer to a question from a buyer about the property.
A purchaser would need to show, though, that the vendor was deliberately dishonest or at least reckless. That’s a high standard of proof to meet.
The law requires vendors in some states, including New South Wales and Victoria, to disclose the title documents and any registered encumbrances such as easements and covenants. The vendor’s mortgages will be discharged on settlement.
In NSW and some other states, vendors must attach to the contract a certificate from the local council that sets out whether the land is affected by administrative or regulatory matters. This includes issues like zoning, subdivision, contaminated land or identified bushfire or flood hazards. These council certificates can give buyers a good idea of whether they will be able to use the property as they wish.
Where certain statutory requirements have not been disclosed, the buyer can rescind the contract and get their deposit back if the matter was so important that they would not have entered into the contract had they known about it.
In many states, though, there is no duty to disclose matters relating to the title or the use of the land. If the property is a commercial or investment property, the Australian Consumer Law gives remedies to buyers who are induced to enter into contracts by misleading or deceptive conduct in trade or commerce by the vendor or the vendor’s agent. Even if the vendor is selling privately, an agent might still be liable if they misrepresent the property, or tell half-truths that give a misleading impression.
But there is still no general duty on vendors or their agents to disclose matters that affect the property value and may be significant to buyers, but which do not amount to defects in title that can’t be discovered by reasonable inspection.
How far should disclosure go?
Should vendors be obliged to disclose all matters that might influence a buyer? There is probably a good case for all state and territory governments to follow NSW with a requirement to disclose council information. But, beyond that, just how far should a duty of disclosure go?
For instance, if something terrible, such as murder or other violent and upsetting events, has happened at a property, should a vendor be required to tell potential buyers about this? In some US states, courts have held that a vendor should disclose the history of the house where a murder has been committed. US brokers call these “stigmatised properties”.
In a case in NSW, a house where three members of a family were murdered was sold to unsuspecting buyers, who later found out about this history. They refused to proceed, but as the vendors were not required to disclose the history, the buyers lost their deposit. The estate agent who handled the sale was ultimately fined for glossing over the history of the house. The agent also met the cost of the forfeited deposit, but that depended on the particular facts involved.
Such horrible events are rare, but buyers might be very distressed by that kind of history. Shouldn’t buyers have complete information?
One problem is just how far any duty of disclosure would reach. Should any matter at all that affects the value of the property be disclosed?
Some buyers might be particularly sensitive and consider that they should be given comprehensive information about the history of the property. Would it be necessary to disclose that a person had died at the property, even if of old age or natural causes?
Just as vendors might not know about any structural defects in the property, they might not know much about the history of the property. A landlord vendor, for example, might not have information about what went on in the house while tenants were living in it. It might be unfair, then, to shift to the vendor the risk of any decline in value caused by sensitive buyers.
Estate agents are usually responsible for marketing the property. So, if any duty is to exist for making statements about it, perhaps this should lie on the agent, and not the vendors, and should be confined to compensation rather than the ability to get out of the sale. Purchasers can always on-sell a bad bargain, but vendors might be stuck with the property through no fault of their own if they have to bear the responsibility of disclosing everything about its history.
Patricia Lane, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney
This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-should-buyers-of-a-house-be-told-about-it-102196" target="_blank">original article</a>.
</body></html>

What should buyers of a house be told about it?

<html><body>
South Australia duo Kate &amp; Harry are the bookmakers favourites to win Sunday's House Rules finale this weekend.
The team are odds on favourites, priced at $1.62 with sportsbet.com.au, to beat out Queenslanders Aaron and Danielle, who are the outsiders at $2.20.
Sportsbet.com.au's Will Byrne said Kate and Harry's perfect score in the semi-final sees them enter the final as the ones to beat.
He said he wouldn't however rule out Aaron and Danielle.
The bookmaker is paying $5 for the show to be axed next year.
 
</body></html>

South Australia pair Kate and Harry tipped to win House Rules

<html><body>
GUEST OBSERVER
Leasing commercial office space can be a tricky business. You need to find office space that will suit the needs of your business and match the projected vision for your business growth, at the right price.
Leasing an office or commercial space is likely to be one of the most costly overheads for your business, so it’s crucial to secure the right property, and know what you’re doing in the process. This is, after all, a business transaction, so take your time and get to know some of the ‘lease speak’. Here are our 7 top tips for tenants when negotiating a commercial lease.
Tip 1
Never agree to an upwards only market review – this is known as a ‘ratchet review’ and it moves in one direction only - upwards.
Tip 2
Always ensure that you have flexibility in your market reviews. You can achieve this through a ‘Cap and Collar’ review whereby the rent can go up by a fixed amount, as much as it can go down by a fixed amount.
Tip 3
Never agree to a ‘make good clause’ in your lease until you know all of the details. A ‘make good cause’ refers to a tenant’s obligations at the end of a lease such as removing their fit-out and reinstating back to “Base Building.”
Always request a ‘make good scope’ from the landlord and ensure that your independent tenant rep has reviewed the scope so that you know the extent of your liabilities before you sign your lease.
Tip 4
Don’t sign your lease until you have had it independently reviewed by an independent tenant rep which may result in greater savings.
Tip 5
Always ensure that your tenant rep is independent, not a property company who could have business relationships with landlords. 
Tip 6
Don’t run out of time in your lease negotiations – some landlords play slowly on purpose to corner you. Start early and leave enough time so that you can walk away from the deal and leverage off other options.
Here are some timeframes
●     200Sqm to 500Sqm (9 Months before lease expiry)
●     1,000Sqm to 2,000Sqm (18 months before lease expiry)
●     Over 3,000Sqm (18 to 24 months before lease expiry)
Tip 7
Understand the real estate and financial needs of your landlord. A landlord will want to keep their Face Rent at market to maintain or increase the value of the property.
It makes sense to negotiate harder on incentives, annual increments, fit out etc, and a rent abatement to reduce the overall annual rent despite the market Face Rent – this keeps both parties happy.
 
Mark McGrath is Principal of Tenant Representation Services. He can be contacted <a href="https://tenantrep.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
</body></html>

Tips

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Tips

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News