Real estate agents in Victoria will be required to publish a property’s reserve price at least seven days before it goes to auction under a state government crackdown on illegal underquoting according to a story on ABC news.

The Victorian government is introducing new laws requiring real estate agents to publish reserve prices — the minimum amount a seller will accept for a property — ahead of an auction or fixed-date sale.

The laws will mean real estate agents who fail to disclose the reserve price within the timeframe cannot proceed to auction or sale. They are set to be introduced next year.

The new regulations are an attempt to curb the practice of deliberately underquoting the expected value of properties to encourage more bidders who then push the purchase price much higher than it might otherwise have gone, often with the quoted price being lower than the reserve price,

You can read the ABC story in full HERE. Meanwhile here’s the rest of this week’s feed from LeftField Communications

Apartments.com.au – Free

3,300 extra homes unlocked in Ku-Ring-Gai
The Minns Labor Government and Ku-ring-gai Council are together unlocking more than 24,000 new homes with the finalisation of the alternative Transport Oriented Development scheme. Urban Editorial

Reaching new heights on Chevron Island
From next year, residents of Chevron One will enjoy a level of luxury and exclusivity unmatched anywhere on Chevron Island, living in the tallest building that is, and likely ever will be, built on the island. Joel Robinson

Morris Property continues to reshape Broadbeach skyline
It’s been nearly two decades since Barry Morris’ then-burgeoning Canberra-based property development company, Morris Property Group, expanded into the Gold Coast apartment market, and there are no signs of them slowing down. Morris has developed a particular penchant for Broadbeach, having completed eight projects in the sought-after suburb since Verve on Old Burleigh Road in 2006. Joel Robinson

Northland Group top outs Central Quarter, marking a major step in Merrylands’ regeneration
Northland Group has marked a significant construction milestone at Central Quarter, officially topping out the x-storey structure in the heart of Merrylands. Joel Robinson

First look: GPC and MPG team up for 254 new homes in Mill Park
Gibson Property Corporation (GPC) and McMillan Property Group (MPG) are advancing plans to deliver a large-scale mixed-use development in Mill Park, with a fresh planning application now lodged for land at 18 Bush Boulevard. Urban Editorial

Victoria & Albert’s Horizon Collection takes Broadbeach living to new heights
The sheer scale of the two skyscrapers at Victoria & Albert, soaring 40 and 64 storeys above the heart of Broadbeach, was always destined to deliver some of the highest and most luxurious apartments ever built in the suburb. Joel Robinson

Inside the amenities at SOL by Walker, Maroochydore’s newest urban community
Walker Corporation’s flagship residential project in Maroochydore isn’t just bringing new apartments to market, it’s embedding a layered amenity into the foundation of a growing city centre. Currently under construction, SOL by Walker will introduce 248 residences and a two-tiered amenity offering designed to support year-round coastal living across leisure, wellness, and social use. Urban Editorial

MRCB’s Maris Southport wins best apartment development in Queensland at Asia Property Awards
MRCB International has taken out the top gong for its $200 million Southport project, Maris, at the Asia Property Awards. Maris has been awarded Best Apartment Development (Queensland), recognising its “outstanding architectural design, lifestyle-focused amenities, and contribution to the ongoing transformation of the Southport CBD.” Urban Editorial

Landmark’s The Macquarie Collection builds on a suburb in full bloom
With its unique proximity to dual Metro stations and a thriving mix of leisure, retail and education amenities, The Macquarie Collection emerges as a natural extension of Macquarie Park’s evolution into one of Sydney’s most connected urban villages. Urban Editorial

Fareham delivers rare low density living to St Kilda Road
Sweeping views and low density don’t often go hand in hand in new apartment developments. Extensive views tend to be reserved for large-scale towers, and with large-scale towers comes density. Urban Editorial

First look: Prosper plans 55 new apartments in Drummoyne
Growing developer Prosper is continuing to expand its apartment pipeline, lodging plans for what would be one of Drummoyne’s largest residential projects in recent years. Joel Robinson

Milieu deepens Collingwood connection with new Derby Street homes
Collingwood has long held a special place in Milieu’s portfolio, its creative energy and layered history providing fertile ground for the developer’s design-led, urban-focused approach. Joel Robinson

DANKAV approaches first stage sell-out of The Alfred Residences in Mermaid Beach after three-week sales blitz
It’s only been a few months since local Gold Coast developer Dankav unveiled its next precinct-driven project, and less than a month since formally launching The Alfred Residences, a reimagining of the former Mermaid Beach Shopping Village. Joel Robinson

Inside the remaining penthouse at Danby Lane in Nundah
On the top floor of Gardner Vaughan Group’s Danby Lane project in Nundah, just two penthouses offer some of the largest and most detailed new apartment homes ever delivered in the well-connected suburb, and among the biggest in Brisbane’s inner north. Urban Editorial

Tian An LFD greenlit for Hammond Greens apartments in Chatswood as project launches
Developer Tian An LFD has been given the green light from the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority to go ahead with its new Chatswood apartment development, Hammond Greens. Joel Robinson

141 apartments, new tavern: Heathcote Hotel development given go-ahead
The Heathcote Hotel development, incorporating 141 apartments and a new tavern, has been approved following a 16-months’ battle. Murray Trembath

11,000 new homes and higher buildings: how these plans will shape the Illawarra
As the NSW government pushes for more housing, planning laws are changing, and a wave of new development plans is sweeping the Illawarra. Newsroom

Toohey Miller brings 10-year Latent Defects Insurance to Elizabeth Bay as Barncleuth apartments launch
The sought-after Latent Defects Insurance policy, offering off the plan apartment buyers peace of mind for 10 years post-completion, has made its way to Sydney’s harbourside. Boutique developer Toohey Miller has secured this insurance for its newly launched Elizabeth Bay development, Barncleuth. This marks the developer’s second project in the area, following the success of No. 1 Onslow Place. Joel Robinson

Golden Sedayu reveals next 15 buildings in Perth’s $4 billion Burswood Point precinct
Golden Sedayu has unveiled plans for the next phase of its landmark $4 billion Burswood Point project, just 3.5km from the Perth CBD at the Belmont Racecourse site. Joel Robinson

From slopes to markets: Mountain Oak connects residents to the best of Queenstown
Rising at the base of The Remarkables, diversified New Zealand developer Safari Group’s Mountain Oak Apartments presents a foothold in Frankton, one of Queenstown’s most dynamic and fast-growing locales. Urban Editorial

Deicorp expands Castle Hill footprint with Showground Pavilions launch
Deicorp is doubling down in the Hills Showground Station Precinct, the rapidly growing area surrounding the Castle Hill Metro and one of the state’s largest transit-oriented urban renewal sites. Joel Robinson

Domain – Free

From podium pool to Skybar: Inside the luxury tower set to transform the Sydney skyline
In New York, they have the prestigious Central Park Tower with a sky-high private residents’ club that includes a magnificent screening room. Kate Farrelly In partnership with Hyde Metropolitan by Deicorp

How 2025’s rate cuts flipped sentiment and fuelled competition
After two years defined by hesitation, 2025 proved to be the year buyer confidence returned to the property market, fuelled by a trio of cautious interest rate cuts. Kylie Dulhunty

The Hills District development that saved its best residences for last
Sydney’s new Metro has made suburbs like Norwest, in the Hills District , more accessible than ever. It’s one of the drawcards of developer Sekisui House’s latest offering, ZESTE — the final release at The Orchards, a $1 billion master-planned community that combines community, nature and easy living. Janina Waldmann In partnership with ZESTE

Inside Canberra’s split property market
Canberra’s housing market is a tale of two cities, displaying the most extreme contrasts between what sellers are asking and what buyers are hoping to pay across all Australian capitals. Olwyn Conrau

Renter outrage over Sydney ‘room’ that appears to be a damp garage
A room for rent in a popular Sydney beachside suburb has caused a furore online. The room, described in the listing as large, private and bright, is located in a property near Coogee, in the Harbour city’s eastern suburbs. Kate Kachor

Victoria’s auction ban: New rules will require clear reserve pricing
Real estate agents will be forced to reveal reserve prices of homes for sale in Victoria at least seven days before an auction or sale date, in an Australian-first legislation targeting underquoting in the industry. Sue Williams

Australian home prices set to shatter records in 2026
House and unit prices in every Australian capital city are on track to hit fresh highs by the end of 2026, new forecasts reveal. Alice Uribe

Realestate.com.au – Free

Australian home prices set to surge in 2026 as rate cuts ignite market
Rate cuts from mid-2026 could set off a price sprint, with SQM Research tipping national home values to climb 6 to 10 per cent and several capitals posting double-digit gains. Perth and Darwin are expected to lead, rising as much as 12 to 16 per cent as tight supply meets renewed demand. Lydia Kellner

Rose Bay record smashed at Sydney’s favourite apartment block
The Rose Bay apartment record has been smashed at Sydney’s favourite apartment block and you won’t believe the buyer, or their grand plan! Stephen Nicholls – Sydney

Sydney council to clear native bushland for million-dollar ocean views
Forget illegal tree felling under the cloak of darkness. This time, the battle for million-dollar ocean views has been officially sanctioned by Waverley Council, and it’s sending a chilling message to every local government across Australia. Lydia Kellner – Sydney

Darwin property prices set for nation-leading boom, new report forecasts
Darwin’s housing market is forecast to lead the nation with price hikes of 12 to 16 per cent in 2026. Viva Hyde – Darwin

Victoria bans rental bidding and no-fault evictions from November 25
Victoria’s rental market will be hit with a new wave of regulation and rule changes from Tuesday next week, including the end of no fault evictions and the death of rental bidding. Nathan Mawby – Victoria

Victorian government’s radical new plan to stamp out underquoting explained
The Victorian government is proposing to install new laws requiring anyone who sells a home at auction to disclose their reserve price seven days beforehand. The move is mooted as a way to help stamp out underquoting. Nathan Mawby – Victoria

Construction to start early on Brisbane riverfront project after sales surge
Traders In Purple has fast-tracked the second release of its luxury Brisbane waterfront project, Rivara West End, on the back of booming sales in the first release including the sale of 50 per cent of penthouses. Stephen Nadin – Brisbane

House v Unit: Adelaide prices force change in buyer choices
Prospective buyers who once never had to consider purchasing units or apartments because Adelaide’s houses were so affordable now have no other option. Jessica Brown – Adelaide

‘Two more cuts’: Economists tip RBA rate relief in 2026
Hopes are fading that the RBA will deliver households a Christmas rate cut gift, but two of the Big Four banks still expect the cash rate will fall in 2026. Both ANZ and Westpac are predicting a cut next year, with ANZ arguing that the RBA will likely lower the cash rate as early as February. Johanna Leggatt

How to stay safe from settlement scams when buying a property
AI is everywhere. It’s on our feeds, it’s in our news and it’s in our homes. It’s also in the hands of scammers — which is a major problem when it comes time to settle on a property purchase. Kate McIntyre

AI linked to NSW Government underquoting crackdown
One of Sydney’s leading property industry figures Tom Panos has warned that AI could be used to clamp down on agents who quote unrealistic price guides, comparing it to “speed cameras” at home sales. Kaylee Cranley – Sydney

Property investors face fresh threat to borrowing power from looming lending crackdown
Property investors are facing a fresh threat to their borrowing power, with a looming crackdown on lending rules tipped to worsen the nation’s already critical housing shortage. Viva Hyde — Gold Coast

Sydney Morning Herald

Banks leave western Sydney apartment builds to non-traditional lenders
First, the apartment developers left western Sydney, lured east by better profits. Now, the banks that lend to the developers could be leaving, too. Anthony Segaert

The Sydney supermarket sites set for 12,000 homes
Thousands of new units could soon tower over suburban supermarkets and shopping centres as recent changes to the state’s planning laws spark a string of proposals for new multistorey housing developments directly above retail hubs. David Barwell

Paddington residents fight plan to bulldoze ‘genuinely affordable’ units for luxury apartment block
Eastern suburbs residents have launched a campaign of resistance against a proposed $78 million development that seeks to leverage the state government’s housing incentives to replace an older residential block with luxury apartments. Megan Gorrey

NIMBYism or valid fears? The 15-storey plan that has this bayside community seeing red
Residents on Brisbane’s bayside fringe are incensed over plans to allow new 15-storey apartment towers, with many saying it would stretch infrastructure thin and completely change their laid-back neighbourhood of weatherboard Queenslanders. William Davis

Adelaide Advertiser

Four-tower, $900m City East project to create 700 new CBD homes, 200-room hotel at Flinders and Pirie streets
A 39-storey housing and hotel precinct would tower over Adelaide’s East End, creating homes for city workers under a new bold new plan. Lynton Grace

Former TAFE campus at Panorama to be transformed into housing development, homes on sale at Southwark
Architecturally designed and filled with light and appliances, homes in two of Adelaide’s most sought-after housing developments are now on sale. Lynton Grace

Seacliff Village reveals new images of $900m mega project
Developers behind a $900m transformation of the former cement works at Seacliff Park have unveiled new images of the project after locking in a supermarket giant as an anchor tenant. Giuseppe Tauriello

Building heights to reach 12 storeys, $59m price tag revealed in updated plan for huge Prospect Oval Precinct revamp
Prospect Council says it needs to build a mixed-use 12-storey development to help fund its “critical” $60m oval revamp — or rates will skyrocket. Agnes Gichuhi

Australian Financial Review

Is a house or unit the best first property purchase?
It’s long been said that houses outperform units because land appreciates and buildings depreciate. That principle still holds true, but it’s not quite as simple as it sounds. Abdullah NouhBuyers agent

Daily Telegraph

Western Sydney housing crisis deepens as lack of sewerage blocks 23,000 new homes
Tens of thousands of desperately needed homes sit unbuilt across Western Sydney despite approvals, with infrastructure failures threatening national housing targets. Jake McCallum

NSW government unveils new apartment designs to slash building times and costs
Nine new apartment designs unveiled by NSW government promise to slash development times and costs while delivering sustainable, liveable housing solutions. See the pictures here. James Willis

More than 21,000 new homes in latest round of Albanese government’s $10bn housing fund
The Albanese government says it will deliver 21,000 new social and affordable homes in its latest funding round, despite less than 1000 having been built. Nathan Schmidt

‘Mockery’: Paddington community petitions against proposed $78m eight-storey luxury towers
Community members and a local councillor have rallied against a proposal for a $78m development in Sydney’s inner-east saying it doesn’t ‘fit the heritage’ of the suburb. Thomas Sargeant – Sydney

West Australian

Developer appeals for extra height by offering family-sized apartments in downtown Mosman Park
A developer is seeking bonus height for a Mosman Park development with a promise the complex will meet significant unmet demand for family-sized apartments. A development application from Fabric Property is seeking bonus height to ten storeys on the 939sqm block — despite Glyde Street’s six-storey limit — with claims it will deliver housing diversity. Kim Macdonald

More than 21,000 new homes to be delivered in latest round of Albanese government’s $10bn housing fund
The Albanese government will deliver 21,000 new social and affordable homes in its largest tranche yet of the $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund, despite less than 1000 homes having already been constructed. Nathan Schmidt

Urban Developer – Partly Free

Ausbuild Reveals $400m Masterplan at South Ripley
One of South-East Queensland’s fastest-growing corridors could soon be home to another major residential project, with Ausbuild announcing a $400-million masterplan for South Ripley. Leon Della Bosca

Fortis Advances $86m Rose Bay Play as LMR Uptake Grows
Fortis has moved quickly in Sydney’s Rose Bay, pushing its $75-million five-home purchase into the planning system with an $86.6-million midrise now on exhibition. Vanessa Croll

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to ‘Grow Up’ Under New Plan
Inner-city Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley is being told to grow up. Increased building heights will be considered under a new neighbourhood plan aimed at unlocking housing development opportunities in the city fringe entertainment hub. Phil Bartsch

Car-Free $44m Tower on Table for Sydney’s Chinatown
A $44.6-million tower without carparking would rise at the entrance to Sydney’s Chinatown at Haymarket under the second redesign in three years for the site that is awaiting a final heritage decision. Vanessa Croll

Mirvac $1.2bn Darling Harbour Tower Passes Key Milestone
Mirvac’s $1.2-billion redevelopment of Harbourside at Darling Harbour has reached a significant construction milestone, with the mixed-use tower now rising above level 20 and the project on track for completion in late 2027. Taryn Paris

Traders in Purple Moves Fast with Wollstonecraft Units
Traders in Purple’s plans for a $88.3-million tower in the Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development zone have gone on exhibition. The scheme proposes one 12-storey tower of 78 apartments and will be open for comment until December 1. Patrick Lau

Brisbane Plots Unlocking Industrial Land for Homes
Brisbane City Council has flagged rezoning key industrial pockets for housing and upgrading other precincts to support 24/7 logistics uses. Clare Burnett

Developers Target Top End as Megaprojects Move Forward
Developers in the Top End up are upping the luxe as Darwin overtakes the other capitals with the biggest property price growth for the year. Renee McKeown

‘A Punch in the Guts’: Why Melbourne Apartment Market Needs to Reset
Melbourne’s apartment market is inching forward, but the recovery remains fragile, Charter Keck Cramer executive director Richard Temlett warns. Taryn Paris

Pellicano’s Fortitude Valley Dual-Tower BtR Waved Ahead
Inner-city Brisbane’s build-to-rent pipeline is beginning to surge with a dual tower proposal at Fortitude Valley the latest of the burgeoning asset class to be approved. Phil Bartsch

View.com.au – Free

The record-breaking number of years it now takes to save for a home
Buying into the great Australian dream of owning your own home is further out of reach as a new report shows property has never been more unaffordable. Jen Melocco

Forget Uber Eats: The Langham delivers five star dining to beachfront buyers
A new breed of luxury residences, with renowned restaurants attached, allows the best of both worlds, giving new meaning to the idea of fine dining at home. Emily Rayner

First-home buyers triumph in a “buoyant market” as unit sells for $925k
A peaceful single-level home in one of Brighton East’s leafiest pockets attracted solid interest throughout its campaign, with 55 groups inspecting the street-front residence at 25A Milroy St, in Melbourne’s southeast ahead of auction. Tim McDonald

Auction ban for homes without published reserve under new underquoting crackdown
Victorian buyers will soon be able to see a home’s reserve price a full week before auction day, under sweeping reforms set to be unveiled today. Emily Rayner

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