Texans Credit Union launched its first-time homebuyer program on Thursday, introducing three new loan options to spur home purchase activity.
The three loan options include:
Low down payment mortgages that require as little as 3% down.
Flexible-rate loans
The “Home Extra 105” package, which finances a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of up to 105% to cover the entire purchase price and provide closing cost credits
“First-time buyers are feeling the squeeze from every angle right now — from affordability to availability,” Angie Jackson, vice president of real estate lending at Texans Credit Union, said in a statement.
“We brought these solutions to the table in order to take some of the weight off their shoulders. Our members don’t have to figure it out alone; they have a partner helping them navigate today’s market and take that all-important first step toward homeownership.”
Jackson told HousingWire that all three products are only being offered to first-time homebuyers, and the property used to secure a loan through Texans Credit Union has to be in the state of Texas.
How is Texans able to do a 105% LTV ratio? Jackson says the solution is “specifically designed to address the challenge the upfront cost of home affordability while maintaining the integrity of our risk profile.”
She continued, “We have made the decision to invest back into our members and would-be members in Texas and maintain this loan on our portfolio to allow for those who need the assistance in supporting their ability to become a homeowner. Over the term that the loan is secured, there is enough of a return for a viable product.”
Nationally, homeownership rates have trended downward in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the overall homeownership rate slipped to 65% in the second quarter of 2025, marking the lowest level since 2019.
And despite existing-home sales posting a 2% uptick from June to July, sales activity still sits at its lowest point in the past year, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Founded in 1953, Texans Credit Union operates 11 branches across Texas. It provides financial products and services to more than 120,000 members and manages roughly $2.1 billion in assets, per the company’s website.
The former home of James Boag III has hit the market in prestigious Newstead.
Known as Daille, the property offers the chance to acquire a piece of Launceston architectural heritage, while enjoying modern living standards in a private, parklike setting.
This Federation estate was built in 1902 by renowned builders J & T Gunn for banker Mr McEachern and has housed several of Tasmania’s prominent families throughout its 120-year history, including the Boag family.
No.6 Pen-Y-Bryn Pl is for sale with Bushby Creese by expressions of interest.
Agency director George Bushby said Daille had never been advertised for sale before.
“The home has always sold quietly off-market,” he said.
“Iconic Launceston homes of this calibre are generational homes and rarely come to market, so when they do, they are very popular.
“The house has been very tightly held. One family owned it for 50 years.”
Four bedrooms occupy the upper level, serviced by two bathrooms, each containing shower, vanity and toilet facilities.
Two bedrooms access a covered balcony with an outlook over the surrounding landscape.
A fifth bedroom on the lower level functions as either guest accommodation or additional living space, with direct patio access.
The ground floor includes a full bathroom with bath and shower, plus a powder room near the main living areas.
James Boag’s Brewery.Here’s cheers!
The property sits on extensive landscaped grounds featuring established gardens, lawn areas and winding paths that provide privacy from neighbouring properties.
Mature trees and structured plantings frame the residence.
Vehicle accommodation includes a gated entry, multiple off-street parking spaces and a large garage incorporating workshop facilities.
Level access connects the parking areas directly to the house.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:082025-08-29 00:00:08Beer icon James Boag III’s home for sale
Matthew Salfinger (25) utilised a ‘postcode pivot’ to purchase his first apartment.
With Greater Sydney’s median apartment price exceeding $860,000, many first-home buyers are being priced out of their preferred locations, leading to a trend for buyers to ‘postcode pivot’ to secure a home.
And one train driver said it helped him score his first home without needing a substantial amount of money in savings.
The postcode pivot trend sees lesser-known neighbouring suburbs gain momentum as affordable alternatives that offer lifestyle appeal at an accessible price point for first-time buyers.
Granville is just one example, with the Western Sydney hotspot presenting a connected ‘pivot’ from nearby Parramatta.
Matthew Salfinger is a 25-year-old Light Rail driver who recently purchased his first apartment.
A recent analysis by SuburbsGuide ranked Granville the 25th most affordable out of 658 Sydney suburbs and sits within the four per cent of Sydney suburbs that have property priced under $550,000 with the suburb even offering brand new units at this price.
For 25-year-old Light Rail driver Matthew Salfinger, a ‘postcode pivot’ allowed him to purchase his new one-bedroom apartment for $570,000.
“I started looking for a property in 2023 just out of interest to see what was available and so forth and come 2024 I started a new job at Parramatta Light Rail,” he said.
“I pretty much saved everything that I had since I started working there and I started looking at places around Parramatta and that area to see what was available and what the prices were. I found it was very expensive. I ended up looking closer to where I am now which is in Granville.
“I ended up stumbling across this place and asked a few questions, obviously it was a lot cheaper.”
Mr Salfinger began working at Parramatta Light Rail in 2024
Using a property platform known as Coposit, which allows purchasers to secure homes with smaller payments instead of traditional deposits, Mr Salfinger was able to secure an apartment with a $10,000 payment upfront.
Under the scheme, he will pay weekly installments on the property while it is under construction to have a higher deposit ready by settlement.
He said he liked the convenience of Granville. “I don’t want a large commute, I don’t actually own a car so being within biking or walking distance was a must for me.
“I like that its close to everything. There’s a lot of transport around here so I can get to anywhere in the CBD or Parramatta in under 20 minutes.
“So it’s really convenient being here and significantly cheaper than being in the centre of any of the major hubs really.”
Location was a non-negotiable for Mr Salfinger who doesn’t own a car
Mr Salfinger is currently renting with his parents while he waits for the completion of his home in a development known as East+Cowper. The unit will be finished in 2027.
“I’m sharing with my parents, it’s a way that I can help again save more for my mortgage,” he said.
“It’s very small, but the new apartment will be bigger and nicer.
“For me, it’s obviously just having a place of my own and I’ll be away from my parents – it will give me basically first slice of my own freedom.”
Mr Salfinger said the larger apartment will also be able to better accommodate for his current train model collection with around 35 models from various countries.
“I started collecting trains when I was really young. It’s been something that I’ve carried on throughout my entire life and never thought I would be driving a real one either,” he said.
“I do have a small train layout that I like to put out, but space has always been a problem, so in my new apartment when I found that it had a detached area or almost a second room it worked perfectly as I’ll now have the space to put up something more permanent and be able to enjoy my trains after I come back from driving them.”
East+Cowper apartment interior.
Ellipse Property’s $215m East+Cowper development reflects a high turnaround of those looking for their first home, with 35 per cent of apartments sold to first-home buyers since the project’s launch.
Located at 2-6 Cowper St and 5 East St in Granville, the development offers brand-new one-bedroom apartments from $545,000, two-bedroom apartments from $735,000 to three-bedroom apartments starting at $925,000.
Construction is set to commence by the end of 2025 with iCIRT-rated builder Decode scheduling completion by the end of 2027.
East+Cowper will offer residents a rooftop terrace with city views and outdoor entertaining spaces.
According to Ellipse Property Associate Director Puja Khanna, the combination of lifestyle, budget and accessibility to transport have been particularly appealing for a younger generation.
“Granville ticks all the boxes in that sense,” she said.
“It is close to Parramatta, one stop away and the train station is two minutes away.”
Ms Khanna said Granville offers a hidden gem for those who can’t find anything within their budget in Parramatta.
“The latest buyers we have been getting are people who are wanting to get into Parramatta but because the prices are so high there, they have been looking at surrounding suburbs,” she said.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:082025-08-29 00:00:08Priced out first-home buyers ‘postcode pivot’ to secure homes
This waterfront mansion at 29 Cooran Court, Noosa Heads, has sold for close to $30m.
Noosa is fast becoming a primary place to live for cashed-up Queenslanders as another record home sale confirms it’s no longer just a holiday home magnet.
A landmark waterfront mansion on more than 1000 sqm in Noosa Heads has just settled for close to $30 million — the biggest residential transaction in the state this year.
Reed & Co principal Adrian Reed negotiated the sale of 29 Cooran Court to a Brisbane buyer, and said it was reflective of a broader trend he was seeing in the market.
“There’s a common misconception that A-grade properties will automatically be snapped up by southern or international buyers,” Mr Reed said.
The view from the home at 29 Cooran Court, Noosa Heads.
“What we’re actually seeing is a voracious appetite from Queensland’s high-net-worth market. For truly affluent buyers, property decisions are driven more by opportunity recognition and lifestyle objectives than by financing considerations.
“When these buyers identify properties that meet their criteria, they’re prepared to transact regardless of broader market conditions — and that’s exactly what we’re seeing across all of our prestige campaigns.”
Lazy afternoons spent here.Natural stone, timber, and voids to let in natural light are key features of the home.
Mr Reed also sold a waterfront home at 17 Mossman Court, Noosa Heads, for $14.45m in June to a cash buyer from Brisbane.
He refused to comment on the identity of the buyer of Cooran Court, but public records show the property was purchased by Nigel Gardiner, the chair of national builder, Paynters.
Mr Gardiner also owns a home in Indooroopilly, Brisbane.
The Noosa house has five bedrooms and five bathrooms and occupies an incredible 1035 sqm of living space, while the 1020 sqm block features a 48m water frontage.
The home at 29 Cooran Court, Noosa Heads, occupies an incredible waterfront position.
From the entry foyer, a bridge leads over a pond and into an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area with views to the water.
The design includes a voided ceiling space, double-sided stone fireplace extending two levels, bar and polished timber and travertine flooring.
In the kitchen are an island bench, butler’s pantry and stone-topped cabinetry. Doors open to a covered terrace looking to the water and a smaller covered terrace with views to a pool, spa and day bed towards the front of the property.
Indoor/outdoor living at its finest at 29 Cooran Court, Noosa Heads.
On the upper level, the main bedroom has a dressing room, ensuite with a separate spa bathtub and double shower, an outdoor shower and access to a terrace looking to the water. Also with access to the terrace are a study, retreat space with a fireplace and bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite with a shower.
In a separate wing towards the front of the design are a laundry with access to a drying court, and bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe, ensuite with a separate bathtub and shower and access to a wraparound terrace looking to the pool. The ground-floor terrace looking to the water also features an integrated barbecue and leads to a jetty.
Dreaming of tub soaks with this view.
Other features include a boat ramp, boat house, workshop and garden store.
The Sunshine Coast market is known for attracting some of the country’s wealthiest, with Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart, Kevin Rudd and Therese Rein, former racing car champion Mark Webber, celebrity accountant Anthony Bell, and TV presenter Karl Stefanovic all holding property in the tightly held area.
Values surged more than 50 per cent across Noosa’s top suburbs in the five years since Covid began, but have since softened in some areas, although the median house price in Noosa Heads has grown nearly 20 per cent in the past 12 months to $2.35m, according to PropTrack.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:082025-08-29 00:00:08Landmark Noosa mansion sells for nearly $30m to builder boss
VFL and AFL player Curtis Taylor is preparing to farewell 85 Ardmillan Rd, Moonee Ponds. Left picture: Michael Klein.
Ex-Kangaroos’ forward Curtis Taylor is looking to punt his Moonee Ponds home for $1.68m-$1.78m.
Taylor, who made his AFL debut in 2019, took part in 76 games across six seasons with North Melbourne.
In 2025, he officially signed with Collingwood’s VFL side after being delisted by the ‘Roos following a 12-month period in which he sustained both back and calf injuries.
Taylor, 25, said he and his partner Hannah Ilhan were planning to potentially put the money from the abode’s sale towards buying a home together.
Ms Ilhan is the daughter of the late Crazy John’s mobile phone retail empire founder John Ilhan and businesswoman and philanthropist Patricia Ilhan.
Taylor purchased his four-bedroom townhouse at 85 Ardmillan Rd, which has no owners’ corporation, about four years ago.
He bought the low-maintenance pad through Rendina Real Estate director Lou Rendina who is also managing the latest sales campaign.
Taylor said the home’s location close to train stations, schools and Puckle St’s and Aberfeldie’s cafes and shops made it “the perfect home in the perfect spot for my first home”.
Curtis Taylor and his partner Hannah Ilhan. Picture: Supplied.High ceilings, polished timber floorboards, ducted heating and cooling, and ducted vacuum are among the home’s features.
The three-level property features an open-plan living and dining area that opens through black-framed stacker doors to a terrace.
In the kitchen there’s Bosch appliances, stone benchtops, an island bench and soft-close cabinetry.
Taylor said one of his favourite rooms was the second living area that he had used as a home theatre to watch films, football finals and State of Origin games.
Curtis Taylor takes a big mark over Ed Langdon of the Demons during the AFL’s 2024 round 15. Picture: Michael Klein.The home is close to schools, Puckle St’s cafes and restaurants, Highpoint shopping centre, Maribyrnong River trails, parks and public transport.
The abode’s layout with separate living areas and three bathrooms, plus a powder room, was ideal for entertaining, he added.
“I got to host a family Christmas there once, that’s a really good memory with my Dad’s side of the family,’ Taylor said.
“A lot of other memories are having friends over and cooking dinners, that was something that I loved doing for them.”
Frequent visitors included his best mate from the Kangaroos, Cam Zurhaar, and their teammates Jaidyn Stephenson and Charlie Comben.
There’s a spa bath in the main bedroom’s ensuite.Curtis Taylor attempts to mark the ball during the 2025 AFL Match Simulation between the Lions and Magpies on the Gold Coast. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.
The home’s other highlights range from polished timber floors to a video intercom, garage and the main bedroom with an ensuite spa bath and north-facing balcony.
Taylor updated the townhouse, painting the interior and exterior, re-staining the balcony’s wall panels and installing artificial turf in the outdoor area.
He said Ardmillan Rd was a welcoming street with friendly neighbours who offered to help mow the nature strip.
The private outdoor terrace, accessible from the open-plan living and dining zone.There’s four bedrooms in the house with the option to use one as a study or work-from-home space.
Mr Rendina said the home would suit buyers including couples and families with older children.
“The property speaks for itself, it is a well-presented and beautiful home,” he said.
“It’s within walking distance to everything.”
Mr Rendina said with Moonee Valley City Council placing a heritage overlay over parts of Ardmillan Rd, there would not be many more opportunities for homes to be demolished to make way for townhouses in the future – making this address a rare offering.
Expressions of interest close at 3pm on Tuesday.
Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:082025-08-29 00:00:08Footy star Curtis Taylor selling Moonee Ponds home
Tom Trbojevic and Kristi Wilkinson have a new home ahead of their wedding.
Last year, the 28-year-old proposed to his partner Kristi Wilkinson, a sales director at ARN Media, with their wedding set for December over the summer break. They went “Insta-official” in April 2021, posting a picture with the caption “duo”.
The couple celebrated their recent house move with some Moet champagne.
It was the first time the Collaroy Plateau home had been sold since being built 12 years ago by its vendor, Anna Maria Cimino and Charles Parisi.
Comprising two levels, the home features multiple living zones, an alfresco deck with an outdoor kitchen, Gozney pizza oven, and wet bar, and a heated pool that sits in landscaped gardens with a level lawn. There are ocean views to Narrabeen Beach from the upper level. It was marketed as offering “incredible appeal for a growing family”.
Perfect for summer/One of the four bedrooms.Great for entertaining.
The median price for a four-bedroom home in Collaroy Plateau is $2,785,000, up 1 per cent in the last 12 months based on 26 sales, according to PropTrack. The median time on market is 38 days.
Trbojevic always bought property on the Northern Beaches, which is where his parents, Melissa and John, and brothers have focused their property portfolio too.
His first purchase was in 2016 on an $895,000 two-bedroom unit in Manly Vale.
His next purchase was another two-bedroom apartment, costing $1m, also in Manly Vale in 2017.
Trbojevic in action for Manly this NRL season. Picture: Getty
He spent $964,000 on house and land package on Cherry Lane, Warriewood, in 2018 with his four-bedroom home sold for $2,556,000 in June this year, as a forerunner to his recent big home purchase.
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom Clarendon Homes-built home was listed on its 2019 completion as a rental securing $1300 a week, but more recently had been the couple’s home base.
Tom and brother Jake, and parents, are locked in a NSW Supreme Court battle with a Melbourne-based property developer over thwarted off-the-plan purchases in the Mimosa project in Warriewood.
Bit of room for backyard footy.The house sits on two levels.The walk in robe.
The Trbojevics and their fellow purchasers claim the Knowles Group has acted unreasonably in not proceeding to construction completion after the builder exited the project in 2022.
The case in the civil court, which kicked off with 29 aggrieved buyers, has its seven-day hearing scheduled for next March.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:082025-08-29 00:00:08NRL star Tom Trbojevic buys new $4.3m Northern Beaches home
A showstopper waterfront home with lush landscaping by The Block’s Dave Franklin is tipped to create a stir when it goes under the hammer this weekend.
The luxury Broadbeach Waters property has attracted big interest from both local and interstate buyers drawn to its unique design across a north-east facing block with sweeping city skyline views.
Marketed by Ray White Malan + Co agent Rebecca Wiggins with Kollosche’s Tony Velissariou, the mansion at 20 Bal Harbour Dr is on the market for the first time since it was built by the owners in 2014.
A prime waterfront parcel in an exclusive Gold Coast pocketA firepit deck completes the alfresco offering
The home on a 792 sqm parcel in an exclusive Gold Coast pocket has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and a seven-car basement garage with a gym and man cave.
TV favourite Dave Franklin lent his flair to the property’s spectacular outdoor areas, comprising a sprawling barbecue terrace and tropical greenery surrounding a firepit, along with a poolside bar.
Dave Franklin (centre) with The Block’s Shelley Craft and Scotty Cam. Photo: Supplied/Nine
Mr Franklin is an award-winning landscape and pool designer best known for his work on Channel 9’s reno drama, The Block, and has worked on several other shows including Open Homes Australia and Australia’s Best Pools.
The basement garage with gym and recreational spaces has been popular with buyers
Ms Wiggins said the home had a charming “Old Hollywood vibe”, with eclectic touches including Marilyn Monroe and James Dean artwork and a freestanding bathtub under a miniature chandelier.
A white baby grand piano sits in the combined living and dining space, while the children’s bedrooms feature statement wallpaper with old newspaper clippings and pop art-style graffiti.
“There’s nothing else quite like it for sale on the Gold Coast,” Ms Wiggins said.
“You often see that coastal or Hamptons style around, but this is something else, and people are loving that fact that it is a little big different to your standard luxury home.”
Sleek interiors with polished concrete floorsThe statement spiral staircase
Designed by Shane Denman, the home has a striking copper and zinc exterior and spans three levels, with highlights including a sleek monochrome kitchen, spiral staircase, internal lift and polished concrete floors.
Upstairs, a master bedroom retreat has a huge walk-in robe, lavish ensuite and private balcony, while a kids’ play loft also includes rock climbing grips.
“It’s a home fit for a movie star,” Ms Wiggins said.
“There’s a large waterfront pool overlooking the canal and fire pit area looking back towards the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach skylines — perfect for entertaining.
Rooms with a viewA chandelier over the freestanding bathtub completes this dreamy bathroom
“It is also walking distance to the beach and dining strips, so it’s very much a lifestyle property.”
PropTrack data shows the median house price in Broadbeach Waters was up 18.4 per cent over the past 12 months to $2.44m.
The property will be auctioned on site at 11am on Sunday.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:082025-08-29 00:00:08The Block landscaper’s waterfront showpiece up for auction
Construction has commenced on two new apartment buildings overlooking a private Gold Coast lake, with easy future access between two of the city’s biggest hubs.
Lakeside Apartments, a joint venture between Keylin and Kinstone Group, is expected to offer 85 two and three-bedroom units split between two four-storey buildings.
With views of Lake Serenity and the Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area, the site is the latest in a series of offerings in the Serenity 4212 precinct in Hope Island.
Artist renders of Serenity 4212’s Lakeside Apartments, in Hope Island by the Gold Coast.85 two and three-bedroom units will be on offer, in a district with quick access to the upcoming Coomera Connector.
Sales lead, Ashwin Property Director Tony Ashwin, said the upcoming Coomera Connector roadway would mean residents were a short drive away from most of the Gold Coast’s best hotspots.
“You’re going to get access to two of the biggest health and education employment hubs in the city, and you’re gonna get easier access to central Broadbeach, Brisbane, and the rail,” he said. “It’s a transformational change for that zone.”
Available apartments will see prices starting at $949,000 for a two-bedroom apartment and topping out around $1.6 million for the more in-demand three-bedroom spots.
“A lot of the Gold Coast’s new two-bedroom apartments are 95-97 sqm – they’re less than 100,” Mr Ashwin said, with Lakeside Apartments units between 108 and 176 sqm. “There’s a very wide range of floor plans, aspects – there’s a significant amount of choice.”
Apartment prices range from $949,000 to $1.6 million, depending on the unit’s size and position.Sales lead Tony Ashwin said the apartments were between 10 and 60 sqm larger than the typical Gold Coast apartment made today.
The Lakeside precinct began work on the first stage in 2020, and has now developed several gated communities within Hope Island.
Lakeside Development Manager Joe Simpson said the precinct planned to include more retail features in the final stages, to give locals key amenities within the area itself.
“The idea behind it is that once you buy into Lakeside, there’s no reason for you to leave,” he said. “You wake up, you go take your dog down to the dog park, you grab a coffee at the local park by the lake, you go up and enjoy a swim and the jacuzzi … right up to taking a kayak out in the afternoon.”
Lakeside Apartments represents the latest stage in the precinct that Keylin and Kinstone Group began in 2020.The final stage is expected to include a further 120+ units and a retail district.
Retail amenities may include cafes and restaurants accessible to both the new apartments and previous residential areas. The final stage of the project is also planning to include another apartment complex with a similar design, offering between 120 and 150 new units.
“The apartments have got the park, the private garden,” he said, “but the idea of the final stage is that will act as a hub for all the other stages.”
The project is currently being built by CoStruct, with residents expected to move in by Spring 2027.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:082025-08-29 00:00:08Inside the Gold Coast apartments prepared to skip the busy city traffic
The Zammit family of Quakers Hill, long held up as folk heroes for standing firm against Sydney’s relentless urban sprawl, have found themselves at the centre of a very different storm – one that cuts to the heart of modern suburbia’s values.
Their five-acre block, a vivid green square swallowed by the grey density of The Ponds, has become something of a local landmark.
For decades, the family has refused to sell, thumbing their nose at developers even as offers ballooned from $50 million to whispers of $60 million.
In an age where most people can’t even scrape together a deposit, the Zammits’ resistance has been celebrated as a rare act of defiance against money, progress and homogeny.
But now, that admiration is cracking. The reason? Not property prices, not planning policy, not even neighbour envy. Trees. Or rather, the total lack of them.
The family’s manicured expanse of lawn has sparked outrage online, with critics branding it sterile and barren.
“And not a tree in sight. What a dystopian idea of a garden,” one Facebook user lamented, capturing a sentiment shared by many who view the treeless expanse as an aesthetic anomaly in a suburban landscape.
Another, more pointedly, declared: “And the Zammit’s haven’t planted a single tree on their land? Wankers.”
For decades, the Zammit family has famously rebuffed offers from developers, with figures reportedly soaring from $50 million to an estimated $60 million for their prime parcel of land. Source: Facebook
This vitriol highlights a cultural shift: private landowners are no longer judged solely on how fiercely they defend their turf, but on whether they’re seen to contribute to the broader ‘green good’ of the community.
In a suburb choking on heat and sameness, shade and biodiversity are fast becoming moral imperatives.
Yet the Zammits still have their defenders — and they’re just as blunt.
“I went to school with a Joe Zammit… great guy,” one supporter posted.
“They have every right to keep their land. Mow the grass n pay the rates. Childrens’ legacy. Trees not needed as there are no birds in the monoculture suburbs, and the insects left years ago.”
The Zammit family’s Sydney home has come under fire for a missing backyard feature – there are no trees. Source: Facebook
The clash is brutal, and symbolic. Is the family’s bare block an act of defiance – a middle finger to developers and green crusaders alike – or is it an outdated relic, an emerald paddock that has failed to evolve with its community’s values?
What began as a story of a family saying no to developers is now a lightning rod for a bigger question: in a city suffocating under density and climate change, is private land truly private anymore?
Stubborn family holds firm
In Quaker’s Hill the development – now known as The Ponds – has gone ahead all around the Zammits while their property remained intact.
However that hasn’t deterred some developers who continue to reach out to the family with offers reportedly to now be close to $60m, meaning the family have possibly earned another $10m or 20 per cent over the past year.
However, future price hikes are unlikely.
Latest PropTrack data shows house values in neighbourhood have dropped by 2.5 per cent over the past year, meaning its not just Ponds locals that could be copping a hit when looking to sell – but the Zammits.
However, some social media users have come to their defence, highlighting their right to do as they pleased on their own land. Source: Facebook
Then again, there’s been no indication that the family has plans to move in the immediate future, or do they?
In 2023, one of the property’s owners, Diane Zammit, told news.com.au, that the neighbourhood used to be “farmland dotted with little red brick homes and cottages” where space was aplenty.
“Every home was unique and there was so much space – but not any more. It’s just not the same,” she said.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:082025-08-29 00:00:08Fresh blow for stubborn Aus neighbours
Known for its eclectic and bohemian atmosphere, Newtown is an enclave of shopping, arts, dining and bars – it is also one of the most undervalued suburbs in NSW.
According to SuburbData, Newtown has become one of the city’s most “undervalued” suburbs, with prices below those of some neighbouring areas offering comparable homes and amenities.
Newtown was also considered undervalued due to slower growth relative to neighbours over recent years, which suggested the area was due “catch up” growth.
Simon Brock and partner Micaela Mandorff lived in Newtown for seven years and said the area offered a lot.
Mr Brock is now selling the apartment he purchased in 2017 which the pair had lived in for five years and leased out since mid 2022.
Simon Brock’s apartment at 205/359 King Street, Newtown is currently listed for $600,000
According to Mr Brock, the suburb is an exciting place for somebody who wants to feel the big city buzz but also feel part of a community.
Mr Brock said they found they got more “value for money” in Newtown than other locations.
“Newtown has a kind of logic and magic about it,” he said. “I think it maybe is overlooked when people are thinking about the suburb to call home.
“There’s the logic of all of the proximity, a train station on your front doorstep, parks and green areas, restaurants and all the rest.
“There’s also a buzz and an energy. It feels like a place where things are being made and creativity is always bubbling away. There’s always new venues, new people and something happening.”
Seller Simon Brock and partner Micaela Mandorff, at their apartment, in King Street, Newtown. Picture: Justin Lloyd.
Returning to Sydney from overseas 10 years ago now, Mr Brock said Newtown had an openness and friendliness with a magnetic buzz.
“It made me feel really welcome and it was a feeling I hadn’t had anywhere else in this amazing city,” he said.
“There’s always exciting things happening, you come home at the end of a long day and there’s people buzzing around the place whether to eat, go out and see a band or a show.”
Initially the pair were renting in the same building in the apartment across the corridor for two years when Mr Brock’s current property came up for sale.
“The thing we loved about the place and why we jumped at the opportunity to buy in the building first and foremost was the location,” he said.
“You’d walk out the front and be on King St and in all the buzz of what’s happening on that side or you’d walk out the back and be on Enmore Rd and straight to the theatre, restaurants or bars.
205/359 King St, Newtown balcony looks down upton the bustling street and across from St George’s Hall
“To be able to then go out to dinner or to see friends, whatever it may be and then be home again in about three minutes was just amazing.”
Mr Brock said the property includes a big bedroom, living area and balcony which you can sit on above the bustling street, adding it had always been a magnet for friends.
“The number of Friday night’s where people ended up at our place because the location is great and the space is great for having people over,” he said.
“It really is a great spot for someone who is sociable and loves being around people and the energy of others.”
Adrian Tsavalas, the director of inner west agency Adrian William, said Newtown was particularly good value at the moment.
5/58-64 Hordern Street, Newtown is currently listed with a price guide of $400,000
“It’s always been a popular area and it has had various growth spikes in the past but when you compare it to other inner city suburbs like Glebe and Annandale, its excellent value,” he said.
“Units are a really good entry point into the area because they’ve remained really good value for the past five years.”
Mr Brock said he has hopes the recent rate cut will positively influence buyers.
“I’m hoping it’s going to give people confidence again, partly because we are selling but also in general,” he said.
“I think the great Australian dream of owning the place you live has felt like it’s may be gotten out of reach for most people, a lot of my friends, a lot of my colleagues have the sense that that’s something they just aren’t ever going to be able to experience.”
115/88 King Street, Newtown is currently listed for $350,000
Mr Brock said the recent cut has created more optimism around the cost of living pressures starting to ease, making housing and the idea of owning a home more achievable as well as expectation rents will be consistent to assist those saving and into home ownership.
“I’m hoping that we continue to see that interest rate come down a little further and also that it maybe gives people a little more optimism about their chances of home ownership if that’s something they are excited about and want to get into,” he said.
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-08-29 00:00:072025-08-29 00:00:07Good deals: popular inner west suburb declared ‘undervalued’
We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
Essential Website Cookies
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
Other external services
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
Privacy Policy
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
JKDS is a licensed New York State real estate brokerage firm. #10351200205