The Utah-based Realtor association has adopted Delayed Marketing Exempt Listings, introduced under NAR’S Multiple Listing Options for Sellers Policy.

With living zones spread over four levels, 12 St Georges Rd, Toorak, is being sold as one of Melbourne and Australia’s finest homes.

An award-winning Toorak mansion complete with a James Bond-style garage, nightclub-like whisky bar and pool is poised to quadruple its address’ value in fewer than 10 years.

Records show the 12 St Georges Rd home is being sold by Hong Kong-based investment banking executive Anita Wong and William Lai — a Deakin University graduate who now heads wireless tech firm Hollyland.

It last sold for $9.02m in 2016, but on Sunday was advertised with a jaw-dropping $36m-$39m asking price — one of Melbourne’s highest-priced listings so far this year.

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Features of the home include a wellness centre, a lift up driveway that reveals a ramp into the six-car basement garage, a brass bar set into a nightclub-style first-floor games parlour and living zones spread over four levels.

Built along feng shui principles for invigoration and positive energy, the home also features a Delos Healthy Living suite, which filters air and water for any impurities.

It took close to five years to gain permits and complete construction of the home, with industry insiders suggesting it could have been worth as much as $20m in build costs.

Games room, or whisky bar in a high-end night spot?

The backyard pool zone is surrounded by Paul Bangay-designed gardens.

The home is being sold by Marshall White’s Marcus Chiminello in conjunction with agents at Sotheby’s International Melbourne — including Antoinette Nido, Rob Curtain and Max Ruttner.

Mr Curtain said the home was “like a good view”, as amazing as it looked in photos — the real thing was better.

The agent added that the effectively four-storey home was a one off, with council planners unlikely to ever green light another home like it — especially on St Georges Rd, which is widely regarded as one of Melbourne’s best streets.

While Mr Curtain said the whole home had been carefully considered as a whole, one of its most remarkable aspects was the ability for individual spaces to stand out.

“You turn the lights on and shut the curtains in the games room and at night time you have this whisky bar feel that tells you, you could be in any luxury nightclub in the world,” Mr Curtain said.

“And it hits the senses when you come into a house like that.”

Mr Chiminello said the “absolutely one of a kind” home was one of the three most expensive homes brought to market in 2025 and would change how Melbourne’s elite looked at homes in the city’s most exclusive suburb.

“We are going to be recalibrating pricing based on this unprecedented property,” he said.

“From the moment I stepped through the front gate, I felt like I was in a world-class, six-star hotel or resort.”

The home’s study provides an eye-catching space to work from home in.

M

Melbourne’s extended summer has made the home’s outdoor entertainment space a winner.

While there had been homes selling at Melbourne’s top end where the quality of home was there, Mr Chiminello said buyers in that market were “not silly” and wouldn’t overpay for homes.

Ms Nido added that with a building process that had gone so far as to crane more than 70 sheets of solid concrete into place, it was as much “an engineering feat as it is a home”.

“It’s one of the finest residences in Australia; that’s a big statement, but this home deserves it,” Ms Nido said.

The extraordinary build replaced an existing dwelling at the property with an incredible home that won its creators, Easton, the Master Builders Victoria residential Master Builder of the Year in 2021.

In addition to the immaculate interiors, the builder’s extraordinary attention to detail extended to filling the fridge, picking up the owners from the airport when they flew in to see the finished product and signing them up for the Melbourne Cricket Club membership wait list.

Designed by SJB architects’ Andrew Parr the home’s six-bedroom design extends over four lift-connected levels.

Garage meets wine cellar meets home gym in the basement.

The cellar has room for 500 bottles.

The basement hosts the wellness centre with a gym and sauna, as well as a 500-bottle wine cellar and a “James Bond” garage.

“You come in from Teringa Place and you press a button and the top lifts up,” Ms Nido said.

It also has a one-bedroom apartment space with a kitchenette and ensuite for live-in help.

The ground level features a home office, an art gallery space, and an open-plan living zone with an open fireplace at one end and a kitchen with a butler’s pantry at the other.

In between, living and dining spaces are set beneath a timber ceiling, with the room opening out to the pool and garden terrace — which is surrounded by Paul Bangay landscaping.

Upstairs, the middle level features two bedrooms, as well as a games and bar room designed like a moody nightclub space with brass surfaces in the preparation area, purple carpets, room for a billiards table and extensive liquor shelving.

The ground-level living zone blends in moody lighting beneath timber ceilings and looks out onto considered garden views.

The home cinema is an enviable space.

The home’s top floor is divided in two, with a pair of bedrooms and a family room on its southern side, and a library as well as the sprawling main suite with a dressing room and its own bathroom to the north.

No. 12 St Georges Rd had been quietly offered to buyers without being advertised in the latter half of last year, but is now being advertised more widely.

“In 2025 we are finding that there will be multiple bids at the end of the EOI, whereas in 2024 there was significant discounting,” Ms Nido said.

Since December last year, her agency has sold about $120m in real estate across Melbourne’s top end — most of that before or in line with the expressions-of-interest date.

No. 12 St Georges Rd makes an impression from the moment you arrive.

The home’s impressive kitchen has a butler’s pantry tucked behind its main one.

“And most have sold above the quoted range,” Ms Nido said.

The firm’s most recent sale, at 80 Clowes St, South Yarra, was advertised for $14m-$15m.

Ms Nido said she could not confirm a sale price, but did note the home had sold ahead of the closing date for its expressions of interest.

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The post Award-winning mansion with ‘James Bond’ garage, own nightclub whisky bar up for sale for $36m-$39m appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Despite rents rising around most of the country, there are hundreds of suburbs within Australia’s capitals where rental prices are lower than a year ago.

Renters across Australia are paying more in rent than last year, the latest PropTrack data shows, with the national median rental price rising by 5% in the past 12 months to $630.

Brisbane and Adelaide renters have copped the biggest rent increases, with rental prices up more than 8%, while Sydney, Melbourne and Perth rents rose by between 4% and 5%.

REA Group senior economist Anne Flaherty said rent growth had accelerated this year, but rents weren’t rising as fast as during the peak of the rental crisis.

“The speed at which rents are rising has picked up over the first three months of 2025, reversing the trend of slowing rent growth seen late last year,” Ms Flaherty said.

“Despite this, rent growth remains well below the peak levels seen over 2022 and 2023.”

The data revealed the big gap in rents between Australia’s two largest cities, with Sydney remaining the most expensive with a median rent of $750 a week, compared with Melbourne, the second-cheapest city at $575 a week. 

“Compared with Melbourne, a renter in Sydney is typically paying $9,100 more per year in rent,” Ms Flaherty said.

Where rents are cheaper than last year

Despite rents growing faster across Australia, suburb-level data, which covers the 12 months to the end of February this year, shows that rents declined or stayed the same in hundreds of suburbs in the capitals.

House rents fell or remained flat in 264 suburbs in the capitals, while unit rents in 142 suburbs declined or stayed the same.

Sydney had the most suburbs where rents declined, while Perth and Adelaide had the least.

Top 20 suburbs where house rents declined the most

Melbourne had notably fewer suburbs where rents declined or stayed flat (25 suburbs for houses and eight for units) compared with Sydney (113 suburbs for houses and 57 for units).

House rents declined the most in Forresters Beach on the central coast to Sydney’s north, falling by 13% to $693 a week.

It was followed by Wooloowin in Brisbane’s inner north where rents fell almost 12% to $750 a week, and Hunters Hill on Sydney’s lower north shore where rents declined 11.6% to $1300 a week.

In the unit market, North Hobart recorded a 15.5% decline to $493 a week, while rents in adjacent Hobart fell by 9.6%. Enmore in Sydney’s inner west recorded a 13.3% decline in unit rents to $520 a week.

While most of the declines in rents were relatively small, there were a few suburbs where renters could save a lot of money compared with a year ago.

Top 20 suburbs where house rents declined the most

Across the capitals, there were 14 suburbs where house rents declined by $100 or more a week and 9 suburbs where unit rents declined by $50 or more a week.

The biggest rent drops for house rents were mostly found in Sydney suburbs that were already quite pricey for renters, such as Vaucluse (down $200 to $3000 a week), Hunters Hill (down $170 to $1300 a week) and Sylvania Waters (down $150 to $1300 a week).

For units, rents fell the most in dollar terms in Red Hill in Canberra (down $155 to $520 a week), North Hobart (down $90 to $493 a week) and Enmore (down $80 to $520 a week).

A $50 decline in weekly rents equates to $2600 a year, while a $100 decline in weekly rents equates to $5200 a year.

Despite rents falling in many suburbs, declines were far from the norm, and many suburbs recorded large rent increases instead. 

House rents rose by 10% or more in 395 suburbs of the capitals, while unit rents rose by the same degree in 211 suburbs. Most of these large rent increases were in suburbs of Perth, Sydney and Melbourne.

The REA Group Rental Affordability Report, released last month, laid bare the incredibly tough situation facing renters, with rental affordability plummeting to a new low as rents outpace incomes.

However, the report showed that conditions were a bit easier in Victoria, where renters could afford the greatest share of rentals on a typical income.

Ms Flaherty said it was likely rents would keep rising in the year ahead.

“Looking ahead, the more modest pace of rent growth seen over the past 12 months is expected to continue throughout the rest of this year,” she said.

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Lifestyle resorts for the over-50s are becoming an increasingly popular option for downsizers seeking a vibrant, low-maintenance lifestyle in a community-oriented setting.

One model gaining traction is land-lease communities, where residents own their homes but lease the land, offering an affordable path to downsizing without sacrificing quality of life.

Adrian Puljich, director and CEO of GemLife, which has been running lifestyle resorts in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria for over 40 years, says the combination of a modern home with resort-style amenities and a strong sense of community is in demand.

“The idea of retirement has changed dramatically.

“People aren’t slowing down – they’re stepping into a new chapter full of energy, interests, and ambitions.

“Our communities reflect that,” Puljich says.

The changing face of downsizing

Over-50s are living more youthful lives than ever, with many maintaining active careers, pursuing hobbies, and prioritising health and wellness.

This shift reflects a growing desire for lifestyle resorts that offer not just a house, but resort-style amenities, social communities, and a focus on health and well-being.

Beyond just smaller, more manageable homes, many are looking for smarter living solutions that integrate technology and sustainability.

Downsizers are also increasingly prioritising locations close to nature and amenities such as healthcare, entertainment, and transport, with coastal and regional areas being popular choices.

“Downsizing isn’t just about less house – it’s about more life.

“Buying a smaller home might simplify things, but it often doesn’t change how you live,” Puljich says.

“From the locations we choose to the home designs, the resort facilities, and the sense of community – it’s all crafted to empower people to live life on their terms.

“At our resort we have best-in-class amenities, contemporary homes with real architectural design, and a level of finish that rivals the best residential estates at our resorts.

“But more than that, it’s the people and the energy of our communities that make it truly special.”

Karl, 65, and Deb, 58, moved to GemLife Moreton Bay in Burpengary East, situated 45 minutes north of the Brisbane CBD and 45 minutes south of the Sunshine Coast in January 2025.

“We had a 1050sqm block and five-bedroom home before this, and it was ours from new,” Karl says.

“It was a constant battle in summer to keep the lawns mowed and trees trimmed.

“It was time-consuming, so it’s great to have the extra free time now.

“The location is unique too, being so close to Brisbane but very in tune with nature, and it kept us close to family and friends.”

Understanding the land-lease community model

The land-lease model offers a unique financial structure where homeowners own their dwelling but lease the land it sits on, paying a weekly site fee.

This model presents several financial benefits including no stamp duty, lower upfront costs, the absence of entry or exit fees, and no council rates.

For many downsizers, this increased financial flexibility allows them to sell their family home, freeing up capital that can be used for travel, lifestyle pursuits, or further investments.

“Unlike traditional retirement villages, there are no entry or exit fees and no stamp duty, so your money goes further,” Puljich says.

“You own your home and lease the land, which means you’re not locked into complex contracts or hefty costs down the track.

“It’s a smart, transparent model that lets people downsize without compromise and frees up capital from the sale of a buyer’s family home to enjoy life.”

Puljich says one of the biggest misconceptions is that land-lease communities are just another name for retirement villages – but they’re not.

“The land-lease model is built for independence and transparency.

“It’s not about giving up ownership – it’s about smart ownership.

“There’s also a myth that this kind of lifestyle is out of reach, but when you consider the savings from no stamp duty, no exit fees, lower ongoing costs, and no more gym memberships or other club fees, it often makes far more financial sense than downsizing into the open market,” he says.

The land-lease model was a perfect fit for Karl and Deb, who signed their GemLife contract in November 2023.

“We haven’t had to pay for the land, which keeps the cost of the homes lower, plus we get great facilities which we don’t have to maintain.

“There is no yard maintenance either.

“Having no entry or exit fees means we keep all capital gains, and we’ve already seen the value of our home grow significantly,” Karl says.

In the past 12 months alone, Burpengary East has seen an annual compound growth rate of 6.1% for houses and 21.5% for units according to realestate.com.au data.

Lifestyle benefits of land-lease communities

Lock-and-leave freedom and onsite management are among the many lifestyle benefits of over-50s resorts that appeal to downsizers, ensuring the community is safe and well-maintained.

“It’s about creating places where people feel inspired and connected, whether they’re still working, travelling or discovering new passions,” Puljich says.

“We build true lifestyle resorts.

“With multi-million-dollar facilities including country clubs and recreational precincts with everything from pools, wellness centres, arts and crafts studios, bar lounges – you name it, it’s there to enjoy every day.”

The post ‘No stamp duty, exit fees or complex contracts’: Inside the land-lease community boom appeared first on realestate.com.au.