Ellie Carmichael and Reece Robson with their daughter Hazel. Picture: Supplied
NQ Cowboys hooker Reece Robson and partner Ellie Carmichael have listed their Townsville home for sale as they farewell sunny North Queensland for Roosters territory.
The young couple bought their property at 15 Halstead St, Gulliver, in September 2023 just before their daughter, Hazel, was born.
“We had been looking for quite a few months and the first time we went to see this one, we knew it was the one,” Miss Carmichael said.
“It just felt like home.
“I love that it’s an old Queenslander but inside it is done up and very modern.
“We wanted the yard and the pool, and the shed was a massive tick for Reece straight away.”
The home at 15 Halstead St, Gulliver. Picture: Supplied
The character home has modern interiors. Picture: Supplied
Mr Robson said he and Miss Carmichael envisioned raising their family in the charming home.
“We were looking for a place with a bit of yard for kids to run around and grow into,” he said.
“But with football, nothing is guaranteed, so we didn’t grow into as much as we thought.”
The NSW State of Origin hooker admitted to being a fan of Queenslanders – the residential versions, at least – and was attracted to the character of the Gulliver property.
“I like the outdoor aspect as well, with the big backyard and porch,” he said.
“It suits that easy, relaxed Townsville living.
“It’s such an easy home to live in.”
Reece Robson is heading to the Sydney Roosters after six years with the NQ Cowboys. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Reece Robson and Ellie Carmichael will soon be calling Sydney home after listing their Townvsille house for sale.
Set on 1181 sqm, the home has timber floors, casement windows and a big veranda.
There are four bedrooms, with a luxurious ensuite and walk-in robe to the main and an open plan living, dining and kitchen space with a walk-in pantry.
The fenced block also includes a big shed, an in-ground pool, carport, boat parking and plenty of lawn space.
Miss Carmichael said it was going to be emotional saying goodbye to the property where she and Mr Robson had made so many memories with their daughter.
“I couldn’t have picked a better home to start out family in,” she said.
“If I could take it to Sydney with us, I would.”
The home comes with a pool, shed and big deck. Picture: Supplied
The home has character features including timber floors and casement windows. Picture: Supplied
A true North Queenslander, Ms Carmichael said she would also miss the weather and lifestyle on offer in Townsville.
“I genuinely love it so much up here,” she said.
“And our house is in one of the best locations – it’s pretty much 10 to 15 minutes from anywhere.”
Mr Robson said he would also miss the “cruisy lifestyle” of Townsville.
“There’s no hustle and bustle, just the easy and relaxed way of living,” he said.
Mr Robson inked a four-year deal with the Sydney Roosters in 2024 and will join the club from next year.
The property will go to auction on Tuesday, October 7, at 6pm in rooms at Ray White Townsville and is being marketed by Dan Ryder of Ray White Townsville.
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A Riverland CEO has been left shocked after every single one of the almost 60 properties his council forcibly sold as a last-ditch attempt to recover more than $170,000 in unpaid rates sold under the hammer.
The District Council of Loxton Waikerie took 57 properties to auction on Thursday – predominantly deceased estates – with the lots a mix of houses, wooded area conservation, cropping land and vacant land.
The 58 properties scheduled to go under the hammer were in Alawoona, Bugle Hut, Caliph, Kringin, Maggea, Malpas, Meribah, Murbko, Paruna, Peebinga, Pyap, Taldra, Talpan, Veitch, Waikerie, Woodleigh and Wunkar, however only 57 hit the auction block as the debt on one was cleared prior.
Council chief executive David Beaton said he was thrilled with the result.
“In the end I was expecting to sell five or six out of the 57,” Mr Beaton said.
“The vacant lot stuff varied from $1000 to $40,000 and there was one house that went for $180,000 – the total for the 57 was a bit over $500,000.
“We can only recover the rates, we have to pass on the rest of the funds to the mortgagee and the people that own the property.
“But we’ve got enough to recover the debt and that’s a fantastic result.
“It gets all those properties into the hands of new people, and a lot of them were bought by people that weren’t necessarily locals – there were some some people from Adelaide, people from interstate including New South Wales and Victoria, so they got brought out of the woodwork so that was good.
“Some of the blocks are quite isolated and one person brought 18, so that sort of put a floor in the market, so that was good.”
Mr Beaton told The Advertiser prior to the sale the auctions allowed the council to remove them from its books.
He also said the council was “not really expecting to sell any.”
“If we did I’d be surprised and you think they’d sell for sub-$1000,” he said.
“If the properties don’t sell the Act allows us to give them back to the Crown, so they won’t accrue rates.”
A council can only sell properties if all recovery steps have been taken and a property remains more than three years in arrears.
Under the Local Government Act, councils have the authority to sell land by public auction if a property remained more than three years in arrears.
The council’s website says it follows a strict debt recovery policy to collect outstanding rates and charges.
“If all recovery steps have been taken and a property remains more than three years in arrears, Council has the authority under the Local Government Act to sell the land by public auction,” it says.
“Each year, the chief executive officer provides a list of eligible properties to Council for consideration.
The District Council of Loxton Waikerie is selling almost 60 properties to recoup unpaid rates.
The sale was conducted at The Precinct in Loxton by Elders Loxton with about 100 people attending, and it took just 90 minutes to sell all 57 properties.
It attracted 60 bidder registrations.
It comes after Peterborough Council sold eight properties at auction earlier in the year to recover unpaid rates.
The six houses and two vacant blocks, all of which were in Peterborough local government area, were sold for various prices between $46,000 and $137,000 in May.
Selling agent Angus Barnden, of Wardle Co Real Estate, said at the time one other property that was due to be auction was withdrawn at the eleventh hour as the vendor paid their debt.
Each of the properties auctioned were in various states of neglect and disrepair and expected to fetch no more than $80,000 each.
The full results from the auction:
Lot 2 Karoonda Highway, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $11,000
Lot 26 High Street, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $3000
Lot 46 High Street, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $3500
Lot 52 High Street, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $4000
Lot 53 High Street, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $4000
Lot 67 High Street, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $3000
Lot 68 High Street, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $3000
Lot 69 High Street, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $1000
Lot 74 South Street, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $2000
Lot 75 South Terrace, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $2500
Lots 82-83 South Terrace, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $6500
Lot 87 South Terrace, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $2500
Lots 88-89 South Terrace, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $8500
Sec 88 Vinedale Road, Alawoona – Vacant Land – Sold for $30,000
Lot 31 Obst Road, Bugle Hut – Vacant Land – Sold for $4000
Lot 32 Obst Road, Bugle Hut – Vacant Land – Sold for $3000
Sec 65 Hutchings Road, Bugle Hut – Vacant Land – Sold for $2500
2167 Wormald Road, Caliph – House – Sold for $15,000
Lot 2 Railway Terrace, Caliph – Vacant Land – Sold for $2000
Lot 4 Railway Terrace, Caliph – Vacant Land – Sold for $3500
Lot 9 Wormald Road, Caliph – Vacant Land – Sold for $2000
Lot 10 Burnett Street, Caliph – Vacant Land – Sold for $5000
Lot 9-10 Kringin Rd, Kringin – Vacant Land – Sold for $10,500
Lot 32-33 Schubert Road, Kringin – Vacant Land – Sold for $3500
Lot 34 Schubert Road, Kringin – Vacant Land – Sold for $1500
Lot 1 Hamp Terrace, Maggea – Vacant Land – Sold for $4000
Lot 15 Ridgeway Street, Maggea – Vacant Land – Sold for $4000
Lots 18-19 Ridgeway Street, Maggea – Vacant Land – Sold for $7000
Lot 37-38 Teasdale Street, Maggea – Vacant Land – Sold for $9000
Lot 40 & 52 Teasdale Street, Maggea – Vacant Land – Sold for $5500
14 Malpas North Road, Malpas – Vacant Land – Sold for $9000
Sec 120 Cameron Highway, Malpas – Wooded Area Conservation – Sold for $4500
Sec 121 Cameron Highway, Malpas – Vacant Land – Sold for $4500
Lot 13 Railway Terrace, Meribah – Vacant Land – Sold for $9000
Lot 18 Railway Terrace, Meribah – Vacant Land – Sold for $4000
Lot 25 Bell Terrace, Meribah – Vacant Land – Sold for $2500
Lot 28 Bell Terrace, Meribah – Vacant Land – Sold for $3500
Sec 7 Murbko Road, Murbko – Vacant Land – Sold for $40,000
Lot 54 High Street, Paruna – Vacant Land – Sold for $6000
Lot 64 North Terrace, Paruna – Vacant Land – Sold for $2500
Lot 1 Railway Terrace, Peebinga – Vacant Land – Sold for $7000
Lot 3 Railway Terrace, Peebinga – Vacant Land – Sold for $7000
Lot 24 Main Street, Peebinga – Vacant Land – Sold for $2500
Lot 34 Main Street, Peebinga – Vacant Land – Sold for $5000
Sec 48 Mindarie Rd, Pyap – Vacant Land – Sold for $5000
2118 Crase Road, Taldra – House – Sold for $19,000
Lot 87 Taplan Rd, Taplan – Vacant Land – Sold for $4500
Lot 97 Hampel Road, Taplan – Vacant Land – Sold for $6000
Lot 98 Hampel Road, Taplan – Vacant Land – Sold for $5500
Lot 2 Railway Terrace, Veitch – Vacant Land – Sold for $3000
Lot 7 Railway Terrace, Veitch – Vacant Land – Sold for $4500
Lot 42 Hockridge Terrace, Veitch – Vacant Land – Sold for $3000
10 Andrew Street, Waikerie – House – Sold for $180,000
Lot 100 Browns Well Highway, Woodleigh – Vacant Land – Sold for $5500
Sec 165 Priest Road, Woodleigh – Cropping land – Sold for $20,000
Lot 23 The Crescent, Wunkar – Vacant Land – Sold for $4000
Lot 34 Walker Terrace, Wunkar – Vacant Land – Sold for $5000
Total value of sales: $538,500
Additional reporting by Jessica Brown and Erin Jones.
The architect-designed Werribee residence at 2 The Old Ford, built in 1995 on a 2212sq m riverfront block.
A Werribee mansion with its own heated pool, private river access and parking for more than 30 cars has stormed onto the market with $1.55m-$1.65m price hopes.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom home at 2 The Old Ford sits on a 2212sq m block backing directly onto the Werribee River, offering one of the suburb’s most tightly held lifestyle opportunities.
Architecturally designed by Sunpower Design in 1995, the residence blends sustainability with prestige, boasting two main suites on the ground floor, dual kitchens, multiple living zones, and “casino-inspired” bathrooms with floor-to-ceiling tiles and indulgent finishes. RELATED: Lorna Jane snaps up iconic celeb wellness retreat
Ray White Werribee’s Peter Krnjeta said the property was exceptional even by prestige standards.
“There’s only a small handful of homes in this pocket – about 120 in total – and at the moment nothing else is available,” Mr Krnjeta said.
“It’s incredibly tightly held, which makes this opportunity very hard to come by.”
The outdoor spaces are designed for entertainment and privacy, with a Wi-Fi controlled heated pool, fishpond, firepit and expansive decking framed by landscaped gardens, fruit trees, and lush velvet grass.
Heated in-ground pool with Wi-Fi lighting and landscaped surrounds overlooking the Werribee River.Decked entertaining zone with pool, firepit and river views, a private resort at home.
Automated irrigation and lighting systems, plus solar panels and solar hot water, add sustainable luxury.
Mr Krnjeta said the sense of seclusion was a major drawcard.
“The serenity is the standout. Sitting by the pool and facing the river, it’s absolutely gorgeous, everywhere you look at the rear of the home it’s just landscape and water views,” he said.
The property also caters to buyers seeking scale, with parking for more than 30 cars and scope to add a custom-built garage.
Indoor retreat with soaring windows, built-in bookshelves and trailing greenery for a garden-room feel.Shaded veranda wrapping the home, linking living zones with poolside entertaining areas.
“It’s perfect for the blue-collar market we service here in the west – tradespeople, business owners, and collectors,” Mr Krnjeta said.
“Anyone who needs secure car accommodation – or just loves to entertain – will find it ticks every box.”
The Ray White Werribee agent said the dual-kitchen layout is another highlight for buyers appealing to multi-generational families and cultural cooking traditions.
“In this part of Melbourne we work with a wide demographic – European, Chinese, Indian families – and many of them live multi-generationally or host extended family regularly,” Mr Krnjeta said.
Chef’s kitchen with stone benchtops, timber cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances.Renovated bathroom with floor-to-ceiling tiles, sleek vanity and walk-in shower.
“Having a second kitchen caters to that but also doubles as an entertaining hub.”
Werribee’s prestige market has become increasingly tightly held, with an average turnover time of 16.5 years according to PropTrack data.
The property also carries historical weight in it’s street name The Old Ford takes its name from the bluestone crossing built in 1835, the first major river crossing linking Melbourne to Geelong.
Fully equipped second kitchen designed for multi-generational living and cultural cooking needs.Formal dining zone flowing to outdoor spaces, framed by curved glass windows.
The surrounding land once formed part of the vast Chirnside pastoral empire, a 93,000-acre estate that dominated the Werribee plains in the 19th century. The same family built the grand Werribee Park Mansion in the 1870s.
Mr Krnjeta said today’s buyers recognised the rare combination of lifestyle, history and value.
Spacious bedroom with integrated study nook and garden outlook.Open-plan living area with glass doors opening to the pool and river backdrop.
“You couldn’t find a home with 30-plus car spaces and this level of scope in metropolitan Melbourne at that price point,” he said.
“It’s essentially a country lifestyle in suburbia, the best of both worlds.” The home heads to auction at 3pm October 11.
Ground-floor main suite with ensuite access, plantation shutters and plush finishes.
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Reece Walsh and Kotoni Staggs are among those throwing themselves into life after football already, making their salaries work harder. Picture: Liam Kidston
The Brisbane Broncos’ 23-man squad is sitting on tens of millions off the field – and it’s still climbing as a new wave of stars draws in more than three times the team’s salary cap.
Stars like Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs, Billy Walters, Patrick Carrigan, and Jesse Arthars are strategically managing their off-field earnings, setting themselves up for the future in Brisbane and South East Queensland’s hottest property market.
The run-on side chosen by Brisbane Broncos coach Michael Maquire is worth almost $40m off the field in one area alone. Picture: Liam KidstonBilly Walters had a blinder against Storm and will run on as five-eighth.
Analysis shows the squad selected by Michael McGuire for Sunday’s epic clash against the Raiders in Canberra is personally worth almost $40 million off-field from property alone – including injured captain Adam Reynolds.
The run-on team has spent $30.26 million buying homes, with Jack Gosiewski (21), Jaiyden Hunt (17), and Pat Carrigan (13) investing just over $3 million in new properties in the past few months alone.
Two players – Billy Walters and Jesse Arthars – have already secured total gains of over $1.2 million by selling homes between May and August this year.
Payne Haas is among players who have settled into a new healthier rhythm setting a great example for younger players. Picture:Steve PohlnerDeine Mariner has been named at number 5 for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. Picture: Liam Kidston
On top of this, simply holding their properties amid Queensland’s record-breaking property boom has added an over $9.5 million gain to the squad’s wealth on top of the prices they invested.
Only six players currently show no property in public records, though some may have invested via other vehicles.
The Broncos’ Week 1 squad for Sunday’s clash is star-studded, though they’ll enter the field as underdogs against a well-rested Canberra side.
Broncos Backs:
1 Fullback for Broncos is number 1 Reece Walsh
2 Winger for Broncos is number 2 Josiah Karapani
3 Centre for Broncos is number 3 Kotoni Staggs
4 Centre for Broncos is number 4 Gehamat Shibasaki
5 Winger for Broncos is number 5 Deine Mariner
6 Five-Eighth for Broncos is number 6 Billy Walters
7 Halfback for Broncos is number 7 Ben Hunt
Broncos Forwards
8 Prop for Broncos is number 8 Corey Jensen
9 Hooker for Broncos is number 9 Cory Paix
10 Prop for Broncos is number 10 Payne Haas
11 2nd Row for Broncos is number 11 Brendan Piakura
12 2nd Row for Broncos is number 12 Jordan Riki
13 Lock for Broncos is number 13 Patrick Carrigan
Broncos Interchange
14 Interchange for Broncos is number 14 Tyson Smoothy
15 Interchange for Broncos is number 15 Kobe Hetherington
16 Interchange for Broncos is number 16 Ben Talty
17 Interchange for Broncos is number 17 Jaiyden Hunt
Broncos Reserves
18 Replacement for Broncos is number 18 Jesse Arthars
19 Reserve for Broncos is number 19 Fletcher Baker
20 Reserve for Broncos is number 20 Delouise Hoeter
21 Reserve for Broncos is number 21 Jack Gosiewski
The historic one-time home of Nancy Bird Walton in Turramurra is seeking its next custodians after a full makeover by serial renovators, Telstra senior executive David Burns and Edwina Burns.
The pair have undertaken a full renovation of the 1930s residence at 27-29 Boomerang St, which pioneering aviator Bird Walton lived in during the 1980s and 1990s.
The Burns bought Wongala in 2021 for $7.875m, and set about transforming the heritage residence into a modern family-friendly home fit for the 21st century.
Her former home at 27-29 Boomerang St, Turramurra has just hit the market.The five-bedroom house is on a massive 2611sq m block.Nancy-Bird Walton lived in the house during the 1980s and 1990s.
“Unfortunately, it was very neglected and dated when we bought it four years ago.
“We put in everything from the solar heating for the pool to restoring the ceilings.
“It had such beautiful original elements; the stained glass windows and the fireplaces were just extraordinary and we wanted to make those features really sing.”
The five-bedroom house on 2611sq m is set to go to auction on September 27 with a price guide of $10m through Harriet France of Sotheby’s in conjunction with Tim Fraser of DiJones.
No strangers to period properties, the Burns also revived Walter and Marion Burley Griffins’ iconic 1930s house Coppins in Pymble, eventually selling the 5640sq m estate in 2020 for $13m.
“In a way, we rescued that poor place.,” Mrs Burns said.
“It’d been empty for years and repossessed by the bank.
“That was an absolute tragedy because it’s a stunning property.”
The current owners have done a major renovation.The vast contemporary kitchen has Wolf appliances.
Mrs Burns said she and her husband had an affinity with period homes.
“There are just layers and layers of detail, which we just don’t find anymore in new builds,” she said, adding that the couple are now set to make over a historic home in Wahroonga.
Beyond Wongala’s manicured gardens, sweeping driveway and port cochere entry, there are grand formal rooms with ornate ceilings, marble fireplaces, and Roberto Cavalli wallpaper.
The vast contemporary kitchen has Wolf appliances, a mammoth island bench and walk-in pantry, while the casual family zones spill out to an outdoor terrace, lawns and large swimming pool.
Additional features include a billiard room, a 2000-bottle wine cellar, Calacatta marble bathrooms and a main bedroom suite with a balcony, district views and two walk-in wardrobes.
At the rear of the 2611sq m block there is also a fully self-contained one-bedroom apartment.
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REA Group senior economist Angus Moore crunched the numbers on investment suburbs.
Looking to invest in property? There are two states that are full of prime opportunities, according to an exclusive new PropTrack report.
Qld and WA have dominated a list of the 200 best suburbs in Australia for investors, based on rental yield, 12 month value growth and the number of days on average it takes to tenant a vacant rental property.
Qld had nearly half of the suburbs on the list with 98 in total, while WA had 72. It was then daylight in third, followed by South Australia with 17, NSW (seven), the NT (four) and VIC (two).
The number one spot went to Spalding in WA, where a median-priced house cost $398,000, came with a 7 per cent rental yield, had grown in value by 38w per cent over the past year and could be tenanted after an average 22 days on market.
Rockhampton City, Qld was next best, with 35 per cent yearly growth bringing the house median to $375,000, while properties were rented out after 18 days on average and provided a gross yield of 6 per cent.
REA Group senior economist Angus Moore said regional, or outer suburban suburbs featured most strongly in the data.
“It’s not universal, but it is a theme,” Moore said. “One, regional areas often carry higher rental yields. And two, those areas have also seen stronger price growth over the past 12 months, but you could even extend that back to the past five years. Those sort of more affordable, more outlying areas have seen really strong growth on average since 2020, and that’s why they’re showing up in these sorts of lists.”
Western Australia featured prominently on the list.
Moore noted that regional and city fringe suburbs “often have thinner rental markets”.
“There’s just not as much supply and availability as the inner city, where you have a deeper rental market that historically can carry some risk of properties sitting vacant, and so you see higher yields to compensate,” he said.
“That hasn’t been true in recent years, where regional rental markets have seen extremely tight conditions. We’ve also seen very strong demand for regional and outer suburban homes, both to rent and to buy, and that’s driven up rents a lot in those areas.”
Why Qld and WA dominate the list
Moore said the growth of Qld and WA markets over the past year contributes to the large number of suburbs on the list.
“Regional Queensland is still solid, even if growth is slower this year and they’re also extremely tight rental markets,” he said. “These areas have seen extraordinarily low rental vacancy rates and commensurately very strong growth in rents over that period. So that continues to make them attractive to investors.”
Moore added that interstate migration had favoured some states, with families priced out of NSW and Victoria largely heading to Qld.
“There’s not a lot of opportunity in NSW and Victoria compared to the other states on this list. That’s not to say there aren’t good opportunities for investors in those states, but certainly relative to those smaller states and smaller capitals, Sydney and Melbourne just haven’t performed as well.”
Some entries on the list, such as Rochester, VIC (which is third) and Lismore, NSW (27th) have been ravaged by flooding or other disasters.
“One other caveat is the regions of WA and Qld that are mining areas,” Moore said. “These can be quite volatile markets, because they do depend on conditions in the mining sector, and that has historically seen some volatility.
“Investors do need to go and dig in and understand the area and what’s been driving that, to figure out whether it’s going to continue, because locally specific factors are going to be very important, such as new builds, whether people are moving to the area from other states, big construction projects, changes in local labour markets and employers.”
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The latest auction results from Australia’s biggest capitals suggest rising buyer interest and stronger competition, but not all buyers have a spring in their step.
Clearance rates in the auction capitals of Sydney and Melbourne have been gradually rising throughout the year on the back of three interest rate cuts. But Sydney-based buyer’s agent Dan Sofo says there are many markets, within markets, across the city, and that’s a key distinction to make.
“There are pockets of the inner west that are absolutely running so hot that some properties don’t even make it to auction,” Mr Sofo said. “But there are other pockets such as the eastern suburbs that are sluggish with a lot of nervous buyers and sellers.
“Then there are suburbs in the middle ring that have been running red hot, especially with houses around the median, that’s $1.2m to $1.5m.”
Auction clearance rates are strengthening in Sydney and Melbourne. Picture: Getty
Sydney auctioneer from Menck White Auctioneers, Clarence White, says he’s seeing a moderate uptick in buyer confidence and activity but it’s more gradual than explosive.
“Overall the market remains price cautious and price sensitive,” Mr White said.
“Assuming anticipated further rate cuts do eventuate, we would expect a gradually strengthening market.”
Investors capitalise on Melbourne’s underperformance
Auction clearance rates in Melbourne are sitting at a two year high as confidence builds that the city’s underperforming housing market has turned a corner.
Enquiry activity on realestate.com.au shows buyer demand in Melbourne has strengthened across more than 90% of its suburbs, with enquiries up on average 23%.
Melbourne is now the third most affordable capital city for housing, ahead of only Darwin and Hobart, following years of lagging price growth.
Melbourne’s property market has lagged since Covid, and buyers are taking advantage of opportunities. Picture: Getty
Melbourne buyers agent Carly Susic says she’s seen more interstate investors lately trying to capitalise on the city’s slower pace.
“We’ve come out of a pretty low speed market and it’s patchy,” Ms Susic said.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a strong market at this stage – it feels like a recovery mode,” she said. “Buyers are still being a bit picky. They’re out there and looking but to some degree the confidence hasn’t returned.
“We’re seeing more than one buyer but there’s still that gap between the vendor’s expectations against where the buyer is sitting.”
But opportunistic buyers are seeing the market bottom-out in Melbourne.
While homebuyer sentiment dipped slightly in September according to the latest Westpac consumer sentiment survey, the state breakdown show homebuyer sentiment is outright positive in Victoria.
Consumers are optimistic that now is a good time to buy in Melbourne. Picture: Getty
Buyers are much more pessimistic in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia – where property prices have experienced rapid growth in recent years. NSW buyers are neutral on whether it’s a good time to buy a home.
A lack of new supply in Melbourne could also turn the tide.
“We haven’t seen the volume [in Melbourne] we were hoping to see. So we might have a late run but last week was very slow just four weeks out from the grand final. So we hope it’ll pick up,” Ms Susic said.
Ms Susic says up to $1.2m or $1.3m there’s good competition and first-home buyers are at least active at that mark.
“Not enough stock” driving competition
Forward looking demand data signals some of the previously underperforming capital cities are now experiencing a resurgence in enquiries.
REA Group senior economist Eleanor Creagh says this matters because expectations can be self-fulfilling, when households anticipate rising prices, urgency builds and demand is brought forward. This can reinforce the very price momentum that’s expected, she says.
“Markets are not only about fundamentals but also about expectations,” Ms Creagh said. “Lower mortgage rates are central to this shift. Recent interest rate cuts have boosted borrowing capacity and reduced monthly repayments, giving buyers greater confidence to stretch budgets.”
Packed Saturday auctions can also be a motivating force, especially when there’s not enough properties to bid on.
Stock is constrained nationally, according to REA Group’s latest listings report.
For example, new listings in July were down 8% year on year nationally, with broadly consistent declines in metro and regional markets.
Furthermore, new listings were lower in all capital cities relative to the prior year, with Melbourne down 9% and Sydney 5% lower. Brisbane’s total stock has also slumped 8% on year.
The Brisbane housing market remains tight as stock levels slump. Picture: Getty
Chief auctioneer at Holmes and Co., David Holmes says it’s been busy in Brisbane of late and he expects further uplift this spring.
“I think Brisbane is leading the charge when it comes to momentum at the moment,” Holmes said. “Our auction numbers are very solid. Last week we had a limited number of auctions at around 143 on the weekend, due to a dip in stock at the moment.
“Auctions are proving very popular again and it’s very hard to price things in a rising market. But we just can’t get our hands on enough stock at the moment, that’s the issue.”
No matter which city you’re looking to buy in, there’s widespread belief that even lower interest rates will drive market momentum. Rate cuts tend to boost sentiment, says Ms Creagh.
“With three RBA rate cuts delivered this year and further reductions expected, borrowing costs are easing, sentiment has improved, and demand is rebuilding as we head into the spring selling season,” she said.
“Auction clearance rates have strengthened and nationally enquiries per listing are at a three-year high, signalling that there is renewed competition.”
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A first-home buyer has purchased a property in Melbourne so that victims of domestic violence can live in it while she rents elsewhere.
First-home buyer Sherele Moody has been saving for years to purchase a home for at-risk women. Picture: Supplied
Trigger warning – this story includes details of child and female abuse.
Sherele Moody has named her first home “Stacey’s Sanctuary”, in memory of nine-year-old Stacey-Ann Tracy who was murdered by Ms Moody’s stepfather in Queensland in 1990. Stacey wasn’t his first victim. He also murdered five-year-old Sandra Dorothy Bacon in 1962.
The horrific loss of two innocent children at the hands of her stepfather propelled Ms Moody to save for a property she could buy outright and use as housing for women escaping violence.
“It’s really important that these girls’ stories remain in the public conscience. If I had two apartments the other one would be Sandra’s Sanctuary,” Ms Moody said.
It took three decades of saving funds through her work as a journalist before Ms Moody was able to achieve her goal. This year, at the age of 54, she purchased a one-bedroom dwelling located in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, which is close to public transport and not too far from the CBD.
Giving at-risk women a home
Ms Moody runs the Red Heart Campaign, which maps femicides (female homicides) across Australia. Being mortgage-free means she can continue to rent elsewhere with her partner, while the apartment she has bought provides suitable housing for those escaping domestic violence.
Although she could generate rental income from the property if she wanted to, Ms Moody said, “I want women at risk to have a home and this is an excellent way to do so”.
Ms Moody’s first property purchase will house at-risk women. Picture: Supplied
For now, the property is not suitable for Ms Moody and her partner.
“The apartment is not big enough for us, we both run businesses and need space. We can’t afford to buy a house in Melbourne.”
Protecting women and children with housing
Following settlement of the apartment this month, Ms Moody plans to partner with a First Nations women-led organisation, making the apartment available to Aboriginal women who are fleeing dangerous environments.
“The agency provides holistic wrap-around support for women leaving violence – they set women up to succeed but also encourage them in their autonomy and strength.”
“My grandmother, a proud Gamilaraay woman, was married to a white man (my grandfather) who subjected her to high levels of abuse. She was forced to stay in the home with him and only found safety when he died,” Ms Moody said and added that her nan went on to become her “safe space”, shielding Ms Moody from violence in her own childhood home.
The unit has been named “Stacey’s Sanctuary” in memory of nine-year-old Stacey-Ann Tracy. Picture: Supplied
According to Ms Moody, Victoria is among hardest places in the country to secure low-cost transitional housing. “We have so many women who cannot be accommodated, because we don’t have the housing stock.”
Through her work, Ms Moody also understands that if women don’t fall into the “high risk zone” with the police and housing services, it’s hard for them to secure long-term housing.
“The barriers are huge and women are dying because they are not able to get homes,” Ms Moody said.
She is proud to provide this accommodation, which will be transitional for those who are out of emergency refuges, but not yet able to secure a private rental.
“Women deserve a place that’s nice and secure, clean and well cared for. Financial insecurity should not be an impediment to that,” Ms Moody said.
Crowdfunding the renovation
Although she owns the apartment, Ms Moody has called on the public to help her fund the renovation so that she can provide quality accommodation for the women who will temporarily call the property home.
She says the apartment’s floors need work and the kitchen’s 30-year-old oven and hotplates need to be replaced. CCTV and an alarm system will also be installed. The aim is to raise $30,000 and she is well on her way.
A crowdfunding page aims to raise $30,000 for minor updates and a new security system. Picture: Supplied
Once the works are completed, the first women will be able to move in. The length of time each woman stays will be determined by her specific needs – some will stay longer than others.
Sacrificing personal security for others
Ms Moody’s plan is to provide housing to women, free of charge, for the next 10-15 years. However she says that in time she will also have to think about her own housing security – in 15 years she will be almost 70.
“It will no doubt be used 15 years down the track for us,” she says, but for now she is happy to make the sacrifice for those who need the apartment more. “This provides support that gives women autonomy as they’re leaving violence.”
In memory of nine-year-old Stacey-Ann Tracy. Picture: Supplied
However Ms Moody concludes that her contribution to Australia’s housing crisis can only help one woman at a time. “A lot of women leaving violence can’t afford to rent. We need more homes.”
https://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.png00JKentshttps://www.juliankent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/logo.pngJKents2025-09-12 12:00:082025-09-12 12:00:08First-home buyer gives her property to victims of domestic violence
Market expectations of a rate cut later this month have dropped from 26% to 14% in just two weeks.
The Australian Stock Exchange shows the already slim likelihood of a rate cut at the end of the month is now significantly lower that it was.
While expectations sat at 26% at the end of August, the release of June quarter gross domestic product data has sent them plummeting.
Excluding Covid, the data confirmed 2024-25 was the weakest financial year for growth in Australia since the early 1990s. This came in spite of a small bounce back, thanks to a jump in household spending.
The data showed Aussies upped their discretionary spending between April and June, increasing money spent on hotels, cafes and restaurants, as well as public transport.
While the Reserve Bank has been anticipating an uptick in consumption off the back of the first three rate cuts, the June quarter data – which came after just two cuts – showed overall economic growth was now 0.2% higher than the bank’s forecasts.
In further worrying signs for a September cut, the latest inflation data also painted a similar picture. Australia’s Consumer Price Index for July came in above expectations and at its highest level in 12 months.
Aussies have been spending more than the Reserve Bank anticipated. Picture: Getty
Trimmed mean inflation, which the bank uses to consider what to do with the cash rate, also jumped to hit 2.7%.
Alongside spending and inflation, downwards pressure is expected on the Australian dollar if interest rates are cut in the US next week.
The US has been the outlier among major central banks this year, tipped to finally begin a rate cutting cycle while other comparable economies come to the end of theirs.
Webull Securities Australia chief executive Rob Talevski said the Reserve Bank would need to keep a close eye on where the US was headed and how it would impact possibilities domestically.
The cash rate is still sitting at 4.38% in the US though it is widely anticipated a 0.25% cut next week – the first of the year – will lower it slightly.
“Australian investors and the Reserve Bank share the same concern – while local monetary policy settings and economic conditions have little bearing on the rest of the world, those same US dynamics have a significant bearing on Australia’s economy and listed markets,” Mr Tavleski said.
“Further cuts deemed to be unnecessary could feed into the RBA’s concerns over importing inflation from the US, where a double-whammy of trade tariffs and lower interest rates could add on costs to Australian imports.”
These factors could lead to fewer chances of rate cuts in Australia, marking a disappointing end to the year that was anticipated to hold five or more cuts for households.
The Reserve Bank will make its next decision on 30 September.
This article first appeared on Mortgage Choice and has been republished with permission.
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After talking with and interviewing hundreds of mortgage professionals, I can say with certainty: the loan officers who win in this market aren’t the ones with the best/lowest rates. They’re the ones who know their database.
The reality is most loan officers treat their database like a phone book. Names and emails stored away, touched only when rates drop or birthdays roll around. That ends now.
Because in this business, your database isn’t just a record of the past. It’s the single biggest predictor of your future.
Why real-time visibility matters
Think about the signals hiding in your database right now:
Someone in your sphere logs in three times in a week to check their home value.
A Gen Z renter you met last year sets a “monthly payment goal.”
Each of these is a moment of intent.
A green light flashing: “Talk to me now.”
And here’s the kicker, if you don’t see these signals in real time, the big brands will. The Rocket, Zillow, and Credit Karma ecosystems are already engineered to respond instantly to consumer behavior. If you want to compete, your visibility has to be just as sharp.
From drip campaigns to meaningful engagement
Traditional CRMs gave us cadence campaigns and birthday reminders. Not bad, but not enough.
Today’s competitive advantage comes from systems that surface changes in consumer behavior:
Property-related alerts: someone favoriting the same listing multiple times.
Credit-related changes: a client moving from “fair” to “good.”
Engagement spikes: inactive users suddenly logging in three times a week.
Readiness signals: a buyer marking themselves “ready to purchase” or hitting their savings goal.
The best loan officers build outreach strategies around these moments. They don’t wait 90 days for a drip email to hit. They pick up the phone the day the signal fires. That’s how you create conversations competitors never see coming.
What the data says
J.D. Power’s 2025 Origination Study confirms what many of us have felt anecdotally: 45% of borrowers now engage a lender at the very start of their homeownership journey, and that number climbs to nearly 50% for Gen Y and Gen Z.
When borrowers engage early:
Satisfaction scores jump 71 points.
Trust rises 80 points.
Repeat business is 133% more likely.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when loan officers monitor their database, spot intent signals, and show up before the consumer starts shopping elsewhere.
Competing with giants by owning your niche
The 2025 State of the Mortgage Industry Half-Time Report made this clear: Rocket and other national players are racing to build all-in-one ecosystems that control the consumer from first home search through servicing.
You’re not going to outspend them on marketing. But you can out-local them on relationships.
Your competitive advantage is knowing the people in your database, their stories, their timelines, their milestones, and combining that with the signals technology now provides. That combination makes you irreplaceable.
How to put this into practice
Here’s my challenge to every loan officer reading this:
Audit your database. Is it clean, segmented, and tagged with meaningful attributes? Or is it a messy list of names?
Identify the key signals. Choose 5-7 alerts that would change how you engage (credit score up, readiness score change, savings milestone, property search activity).
Build playbooks. For each signal, create a talk track, a text, and an email you can send within 24 hours.
Show up consistently. Don’t just automate. Pick up the phone when the signal is big enough. Consumers can smell canned outreach.
The bottom line
Your database is alive. It’s breathing, changing, signaling every day. The loan officers who treat it that way, who organize it, monitor it, and act on it, are the ones who will thrive in this market.
Because relationships aren’t owned. They’re earned. And the best way to earn them is to show up at the right time with the right conversation.
So ask yourself: Are you really seeing your database? Or are you letting the biggest moments pass you by?
Brian Vieaux is the president and COO of FinLocker.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HousingWire’s editorial department and its owners.
To contact the editor responsible for this piece: zeb@hwmedia.com.
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