One of the strangest questions we’ve ever had on the Afternnons show on the ABC was when a reader asked if a clause they hadn’t noticed in their sales contract, insisting that they install Christmas lights, was valid.

And we were reminded of that this week with this article about common mistakes purchasers make when scrutinising sales contracts.

Meanwhile worries about the Middle East war’s effects on interest rates, and how apartment approvals have plummeted by almost 25 per cent (while houses are on the rise) are just a few of the stories from this week’s LeftField property stories feed.

And I’ll be on ABC Sydney 702 on Monday at 1.30 (if the world hasn’t been blown up before then). Call in with your curly questions on 1300 222 702. Or text us on 0467 922 702.

Free reads

Domain  

The evolution of the display gallery: From pictures on the wall to immersive experiences
Immersive technology and crafted interior design are setting the bar high for today’s uber-luxe display spaces. Replica apartments complete with full kitchens and plush living spaces are what discerning buyers have come to expect from Melbourne and Sydney’s premium off-the-plan market.

Inside Botanical: SJB Architects’ visionary addition to Turner
A new development is rising above Turner. Botanical promises stunning architecture, high-end interiors and oversized residences at the northern entrance to the city.

How one council plans to handle WA’s population boom – just don’t call it the Gold Coast of the west
With Western Australia’s population projected to reach 3.5 million within 10 years, the pressure is on local governments to open the doors for housing supply to support that growth.

The Wareemba duplex that takes its design cues from Japan and Brazil
In suburbs all over Sydney, duplexes are sprouting like wildflowers after spring rain, with the state government looking to increase housing supply without relying solely on high-rise development. But not all duplexes are created equal.

Ryde: The family-friendly suburb where rapid development is offset by green spaces
David Marcellino has lived in Ryde his entire life and has seen the suburb morph from traditional, low-rise and leafy to an increasingly congested precinct packed with duplexes and apartments.

ABC Online  

New inner Sydney suburb Bays West announced for Glebe Island
Thousands of homes are earmarked for a new inner Sydney suburb called Bays West on the site of Glebe Island. The state government has confirmed the nearby White Bay Cruise Terminal will remain.

RBA governor says ‘too early to say’ how Middle East war will impact Australia’s economy
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock says it is too early to know what impact the Middle East war will have on Australia’s economy, but has not ruled out raising interest rates as early as this month if necessary. Separately, RBA modelling shows unemployment would be much higher in Australia if interest rates had been lifted more aggressively in recent years.

Realestate.com.au  

How Middle East conflict could force the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates
Not long after the US and Israel began their strikes on Iran over the weekend, huge queues began to form at Australian petrol stations, as we rushed to fill our cars before Middle Eastern conflict translated into higher oil prices.

‘City-shaping renewal’: New Sydney inner-city suburb to deliver 8500 homes
A brand-new suburb is set to rise just minutes from Sydney’s CBD, marking the first new inner-city suburb announced in more than 100 years. The NSW government has revealed plans for Bays West, a new neighbourhood expected to deliver up to 8500 new homes on Sydney Harbour, as part of its broader push to tackle the housing crisis.

Investor hotspot: The once-working-class suburb where 6 in 10 residents are renters
This inner city suburb has been identified as an investor hotspot, with buyers flocking there for one key reason. Local agents describe the Newtown property market as ‘bulletproof’ – known for its vibrant mix of cafes, live music venues, boutiques, and dining options.

The common contract mistakes catching out homebuyers and costing them thousands
Aussie homebuyers are being urged to scrutinise their property contracts more closely, with experts warning that many sales agreements contain “top-tier red flags” capable of derailing purchases or costing buyers thousands.

Historic Armadale apartment offered after decades
The man who designed the Melbourne Town Hall and the State Library has left a rare $1.7m footprint in the heart of Armadale.

Rare $88k uniform price jump hits Townsville houses, units
A rare near-identical $88,000 rise across houses, units and all dwellings saw Townsville homes earn more than the average worker in the past year – catching up on a decade of falls.

New data shows immigration impact on Aussie house prices
Cutting migration back to pre-pandemic levels would trigger immediate relief for the nation’s battered renters and first-home buyers, new modelling shows. The study by independent property research group FoundIt revealed migration cuts would slam the brakes on runaway prices, halting the “structural vice” squeezing the entry-level housing market.

Signature Bondi Junction: new $400m Oxford St project
As Bondi Junction’s landscape continues to evolve, the announcement of a new $400m residential development along bustling Oxford St will add more than 100 new homes to the precinct.

Victorian confidence in Allan govt’s housing plan plunges amid crisis
Victorians’ confidence in the future of the state’s housing is plunging with growing concerns the Allan government is not up to the task of remedying the affordability crisis.

Developer launches tallest residential tower in Newstead
Early site works have commenced on Oro Newstead marking a milestone for Brisbane’s inner north and the beginning of the first residential tower within Newstead’s emerging Little Italy precinct.

Urban Developer – Partly Free

Devine’s High Hopes for Gold Coast Over-55s Trio of Towers
The vertical retirement village is by no means a new concept on the Gold Coast skyline. But with his vision for a $1.5-billion triple tower over-55s development at Southport, veteran Queensland developer David Devine is significantly upping the maturing sector’s ante.

NSW Plots 8500 Homes for Bays West Precinct in Sydney
A new direction for masterplanning in Sydney’s long-awaited Bays West precinct has been revealed by the NSW Government. A 2022-approved masterplan and rezoning will be scrapped and controversial bulk storage facilities replaced with 8500 homes.

State Overrides Council to Okay $93m Aqualand Roseville Plan
Roseville’s renewal is gaining ground with the approval of Aqualand’s 111-apartment project in the transitioning suburb. The state has granted development consent despite Ku-ring-gai Council’s objections to the project’s height and scale.

Apartment Approvals Fall Again as Houses Nudge Up
Approvals for apartments have slumped again, down 24.5 per cent across January, according to fresh data from the ABS. The total number of homes approved in Australia fell 7.2 per cent in January to 14,564, according to the seasonally adjusted data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Landitude Plots 28-Storey Bowen Hill Scheme
The covers have come off plans for a 28-storey apartment tower in a Brisbane priority area. In plans now before Economic Development Queensland, Landitude Bowen Hills is proposing the tower of 148 homes for a site at 17 Hamilton Place and 26–28 Campbell Street in the Bowen Hills Priority Development Area.

Carter Williamson Design for Parramatta Highrise Wins Nod
Carter Williamson Architects has won the Design Excellence Competition for 188 George Street—a 55-storey tower comprising 302 apartments between George Street and the Parramatta River. The scheme will now progress to detailed design development.

Co-Living Proposal Pushes TOD Limits at Marrickville
A seven-storey co-living proposal in Sydney’s Inner West wants to more than double local height limits and triple room caps, arguing state policy should prevail over low-density controls.

Adgemis Lot Final Piece in Rose Bay LMR Puzzle
As low and midrise proposals pile up in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and North Shore, the proponent behind a Rose Bay scheme says he has the secret sauce for bringing a project to fruition. The NSW government introduced its LMR reforms in 2025 with the intention of easing the pathway for densification projects.

Apartments.com.au  

First Look: Urban Property Group unveils 40-storey mixed-use tower in Castle Hill
Builder-developer Urban Property Group (UPG) is continuing to expand into new markets. UPG is heading to the Hills District, where it is planning a 40-storey mixed use building near Castle Hill Metro Station.

Biggera Waters no longer a ‘bridesmaid suburb’ as Gold Coast locals jump to Harbour Shores
One of the Gold Coast’s ‘bridesmaid suburbs’ is experiencing a wave of local suitors, with the latest sales figures from Harbour Shores revealing over two thirds of buyers will be relocating from within a 5km average radius of the 16-hectare masterplan.

Ellipse launches Lily Lane, stage two of Carrington Place
Developer Ellipse Property has officially launched Lily Lane, the second stage of its Carrington Place masterplan in Sydney’s North-West. The new stage will deliver over 200 apartments to the sought-after Hills District, supported by new retail and resident amenity.

“A city within a city”: Iwan Sunito flags $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct in Five Dock
One Global Capital, a Sydney-based global property development and investment firm, is set to transform a 1.4-hectare site in Five Dock into a $1.5 billion mixed-use precinct.

How Mountain Oak Apartments draws holiday home buyers to Queenstown
Holiday home buyers who have long gravitated to Queenstown’s alpine setting are increasingly looking for low-maintenance apartments that allow them to lock up and leave, while still generating income when they’re away.

Chatswood boom continues with Capitel and Metis’s $1.2 billion Mandarin Centre redevelopment
Eduard Litver’sCapitel Group is seeking to redevelop Chatswood’s Mandarin Centre in the heart of the burgeoning suburb.

Mathieson Property unveils Dian Rose Bay apartment development
Apartment development applications continue to tally up in Rose Bay following the NSW Gov’s 2025 update to the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy.

Hyecorp unveils Celine, a striking new apartment tower in the heart of Chatswood
Lower North Shore developer Hyecorp is preparing to launch Celine, its new apartment development in Chatswood. Set within a blue ribbon location on Archer Street, Celine will rise on a quiet, tree-lined enclave on the edge of the South Chatswood Heritage Conservation Area, a short walk from the connectivity which Chatswood is famous for.

Construction commences on $1.5 billion Paradiso Place development in Surfers Paradise
International development company SPG Land has kicked off construction of the $1.5 billion Paradiso Place, one of the highest value developments to get underway on the Gold Coast in more than a decade.

Changfa and Huirong launch The Anderson in Chatswood amid renewed demand for North Shore apartments
Chatswood has long been considered one of the North Shore’s most well-connected and amenity-rich neighbourhoods, sought after by those who want both abundant retail and convenient transport links on their doorstep.

VentureCrowd’s Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara advances with construction underway
Construction is now underway at Cumulus Grand Villas in Carrara, with all stages fully funded as VentureCrowd progresses its 59-residence gated community on an elevated ridgeline overlooking 100 hectares of natural savanna.

Final Harbourfront release in Putney Wharf launches this weekend
Joint venture partners Abadeen and PERIFA are officially launching the third and final residential stage at their landmark $350 million harbourfront precinct, Putney Wharf, with The Residences representing the final opportunity to secure a new home within this rare waterfront destination.

View.com.au  

Why luxury apartments are getting bigger and ditching the maintenance
Are you considering downsizing, but don’t like the idea of having to squeeze into smaller digs? The national “Rightsizing Report” by real estate group McGrath, showed the number of bedrooms and size of apartment in new luxury apartments is on the rise.

Pay-walled

The Australian Financial Review

Sydney’s newest harbourside suburb will have 40-storey towers
The apartment blocks in a new Sydney harbourside suburb will be 40 storeys or more high with 10 per cent affordable housing to deliver profits big enough to develop and beautify the foreshore under a Minns government plan.

March rate rise on the cards after Bullock’s reality check
Bond traders have ramped up their bets for another interest rate increase in Australia this month after Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock issued a warning to the market that every policy decision was “on the table”.

Why your apartment has a 7-star rating, but you’re living in a hot box
Thermal ratings for apartment buildings don’t tell the full story of what it’s like inside. And that can be costly for residents as they crank up the aircon.

The Sydney Morning Herald

Fancy living in Sydney’s next inner suburb? A one-bedder will set you back $2m
The state government is facing backlash over the amount of affordable housing proposed for its “once-in-a-century” redevelopment of Glebe Island on Sydney Harbour, triggering criticism that the rare transformation of publicly owned land will be dominated by multimillion-dollar apartments.

How property investors are adding to interest rate pressure
The nation’s banking regulator is under pressure to clamp down on loans to investors, taking speed out of the property market and the entire economy, as new figures show speculators are pushing up prices for entry-level homes sought by first-time buyers.

Developer beats nine others for $15m block of Coogee beach units
An original 1920s block of beachfront units at Coogee sold for $15 million before a crowd of 100 at auction on Saturday. The weathered Art Deco building at 9 & 11 Baden Street was made up of two blocks of units with three flats in each, meaning six apartments in total.

The Age

Developer quietly guts ‘affordable’ housing promise in northern suburbs
A developer that branded itself the ethical alternative to a profit-driven industry is moving to slash affordable housing quotas at two major Melbourne projects – two years after the state government granted it controversial height concessions. The developer, Assemble Communities, has applied to the state government to water down the “affordable” components it promised at new builds in Brunswick and Coburg, just months before construction finishes.

The Brisbane Times

High-rise plan for historic former bread factory
A historic former bread factory in inner-Brisbane could be redeveloped with high-rise apartments. Now called The Baker’s Grounds and largely made up of offices, the brick complex in Fortitude Valley was built more than 100 years ago as Keating’s Bread Factory.

The Gold Coast Bulletin

Southport’s Star of the Sea site set for $1.5bn triple-tower transformation.
A giant $1.5bn resort with towers up to 58 storeys is set to transform Southport’s long-idle Star of the Sea site into a wellness destination.

Gold Coast council rules out beach club for controversial Surfers Paradise Trump tower
Gold Coast councillors have ruled out voting on a key feature of the controversial $1.5bn Trump tower development proposed for central Surfers Paradise.

Gold Coast Trump tower developer faces doubts from industry heavyweights
Bigger is better, but in the case of the Trump Hotel development on the Gold Coast, it appears a few claims have been made that don’t quite measure up.

Currumbin residents sue over controversial seven-storey luxury apartment complex
Dozens of wealthy Currumbin Beach locals have united against a luxury development they say will destroy their beloved coastline, with one comparing it to “cancer” that spreads rapidly.

Trump Tower developer responds after bankruptcy, company failures revealed
The man behind Australia’s proposed tallest tower says the fact he’s never built a highrise and can’t name any completed project is “irrelevant”, saying he has no doubt he can deliver it. See the controversial history of the Surfers Paradise site.

Billionaire’s $155m Sovereign Collection gets green light as mega-mansions sell
The Gold Coast’s newest billionaire playground defies apartment living with 1200sq m “royal pavilions” featuring private pools and six-car garages selling for $25m each.

Secret Mar-a-Lago deal sealed to build $1.5bn Trump tower in Surfers Paradise
It was Friday, February 13 and the first couple had travelled south from Washington DC to the Spanish-style resort dubbed “the Winter White House” for the Valentine’s Day weekend.

The West Australian

Treasurer Rita Saffioti stands by stamp duty after WA Government collects $2 billion bonanza
The State Government raked in more than $2 billion in stamp duty over six months, new figures show, following a massive boost of almost $500 million compared with the same period a year previously.

The taxman is coming for you and those deductions on your ‘rented’ holiday home
A new draft tax ruling has put holiday homeowners on notice: If you’re not genuinely trying to rent your holiday home, those generous deductions you pocket will be denied.

The Australian

Record $25.2m Bondi penthouse sale signals strong demand for luxury apartments
As Clutch Capital’s Avra apartment block in Sydney’s Bondi Beach takes shape, marketing agents report around 70 per cent of the building’s luxe apartments have pre-sold prior to completion. An expat who divides his time between Sydney and the historic French Riviera resort township of Antibes has just purchased Avra’s 335sq m four-bedroom penthouse for $25.2m, in a record apartment price sale for Bondi Beach.

Labor’s CGT changes unfairly target mum-and-dad investors while mansions remain tax-free
Wealthy homeowners can dodge millions in tax while middle-class property investors face the full burden. Here’s one way to make property taxes more equitable.