A massive $47.25m sale which took two years to orchestrate will bring new student housing options to Sydney’s north.

Property developers Point Capital Partners has acquired an amalgamated site across three adjoining unit blocks at 5 & 7 Cottonwood Cr and 8 Lachlan Ave in Macquarie Park.

Over the course of two years, negotiations were conducted with 45 individual owners in one of the largest transactions completed in the area in recent years.

It has been revealed exclusively to The Daily Telegraph that Point Capital Partners intends to transform the site into purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), offering more than 600 apartments and creating one of the largest PBSA developments in Macquarie Park.

The sites purchased at 5-7 Cottonwood Cres and 8 Lachlan Ave, Macquarie Park as part of the $47.25m deal.

The blocks were acquired on behalf of the developers by commercial buyers agents Costi Cohen.

Co-founder Tas Costi said the acquisition marked “an important step in shaping the future of Macquarie Park”.

“With more than 600 student apartments planned, this transaction reflects the increasing demand for purpose built student accommodation and the continued appetite for high quality sites in Sydney’s growth corridors,” she said.

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A closer look at the site, which took over two years to purchase in full. Picture: Supplied.

Current options for students in the area include the University’s ‘Central Courtyard’ and three residential colleges, as well as nearby PBSA’s in Campus Village North Ryde, Dayman Apartments, Iglu and EPIISOD.

A ‘Central Courtyard’ studio sets students back $537 a week, while Student Village North Ryde charges $613 per week for a one-bedroom apartment.

The median rent in the area for a single-bedroom unit is $695 per week.

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The development will provide new accommodation options for students of nearby Macquarie University (pictured above). Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Regarding the new development on Cottonwood Cr, Point Capital Partners director Mark Peters said the group were looking forward to “unlocking the potential of the site.”

“It’s rare to see an amalgamation of this scale in such a tightly held location,” he said.

“The persistence shown throughout the two year process was instrumental in making this deal possible.”

His fellow Point Capital Partners director Lucas Salagaras said Macquarie Park was “one of Sydney’s most exciting growth corridors”.

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The post Plans unveiled for huge student housing complex in Macquarie Park appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Three-time NBA champion Luc Longley is selling his beloved beach house on Western Australia’s spectacular south coast near Denmark after 34 years.

The former Chicago Bulls champion is farewelling his cherished coastal retreat, a sprawling 140ha sanctuary at 132 William Bay Rd, William Bay which he purchased sight unseen in 1991 at the age 22 while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He’s listed the property with price expectation of over $4.5m.

The basketballer, who became the first Australian to play in the NBA and win three championships, bought the property with the money he made from his first trading card deal as the first Australian in the big league.

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“Dad nailed it in 1991. I set him a challenge to find me a place near the bush and the beach. He found this total unicorn with a freshwater supply and no neighbours,” Longley recalls of seeing the property for the first time in April 1992.

“It was wild and rudimentary but I fell in love with it straight away. I’ve always loved the smell of peppermint trees.

“There’s nothing better than the smell of peppy trees and salt air.

“It’s not a working farm but there is scope to add wind and solar power and be self-sufficient.”

Basketball legend Luc Longley has listed his beloved WA beach house for sale.

The William Bay property has been a hideout for 34 years.

The cubby Longley built for his kids.

The 2.18m tall basketballer from Fremantle always loved the bush, sitting around fires and riding bikes and so this property always represented far more than real estate, it was the place where one of Australia’s greatest sporting heroes found peace, raised his family, and reconnected with the land he loved.

The property became Longley’s “tethering point” throughout his high profile career, serving as the ultimate reset facility between seasons and following his retirement in September 2001.

“It’s been the best place on earth to rest and reset,” he says.

“It was also my hideout.”

During his 15 years playing in America, including the historic three-peat with the Chicago Bulls alongside super stars Michael Jordan, Denis Rodman and Scottie Pippen from 1996 to 1998, the beach base served as a sanctuary of sorts for Longley.

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The property comes with its own lake.

The home gym.

One of the home’s three bedrooms.

In the decade leading up to 2024, Longley lived there full time with his wife Anna Gare, embracing a lifestyle of surfing, sustainability and solitude.

“I retired in September 2001 and went straight to the beach house. I couldn’t wait to get there,” he says.

Selling agents Ray White Cottesloe – Mosman Park principal Jody Fewster and Andrew Barrow of Ray White Denmark have both been appointed to the campaign with a closing date of November 5.

The agents said the property’s appeal lies in its extraordinary setting within the William Bay National Park.
“The estate boasts a remarkable 943-metre coastal boundary leading directly to the pristine Mazzoletti Beach. From the doorstep, you can access world-famous natural landmarks including Greens Pool, Elephant Rocks, Madfish Bay, and Waterfall Beach, with the Bibbulmun Track and Wilderness Ocean Walk running along the property’s edge,” the duo said.

The family-friendly kitchen.

The property has been a place to relax and connect with family and friends.

Luc Longley and Michael Jordan celebrate in East Rutherford in 1998 following victory over New Jersey Nets in first round of NBL playoffs.

For Longley, the manual work required to maintain the property provided ideal cross-training for a professional basketballer.

He built a treehouse for his blended family with four children, constructed a viewing platform for sunset sundowners and yoga plus established a productive orchard growing citrus, olives, and Mediterranean produce.

“We grew vegetables, fruit trees, chillies, olives, Mediterranean fruit and vegetables work well here,” he explains.
“With more than 140ha and no one around you, it’s special. We even built an amphitheatre!”

The main residence sits elevated above a private lake with sweeping lawns, featuring expansive open-plan interiors and a commercial-grade kitchen designed for both family living and large-scale entertaining.

Luc Longley and Scottie Pippen share a laugh at Michael Jordan”s on court antics during the game against the Detroit Pistons at the United Center in Chigago, Illinois. Source: Jonathan Daniel/ALLSPORT

Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls knocks the ball away from Shawn Kemp of the Seattle Supersonics with help from teammate Luc Longley during the second half of the Sonics 89-78 victory over the Bulls in game five of the NBA Final

Multiple outdoor entertaining areas and a generous deck capture serene views.

A lakeside chalet provides self-contained guest accommodation, while the property includes substantial infrastructure for self-sufficiency: rainwater tanks, natural spring that flows year-round and a fire suppression system.

Extensive outbuildings house vehicles, boats, and machinery, alongside a gymnasium and dedicated mountain-bike workshop.

Eight kilometres of private trails wind through grasslands and coastal bushland.

With the children now grown, Longley says the time is right to downsize.

“The kids are older now, so it’s the right time,” he reflects on the property he’s owned for 34 years.

The estate is 14km from Denmark, 436km from Perth and offers potential for further development with elevated sites providing panoramic views across the coastline and national park, subject to shire approval.

The post Bulls, NBA legend Luc Longley lists William Bay sanctuary for $4.5m appeared first on realestate.com.au.

Apartments dominated the Queensland real estate market over the first full week of October, with just four of Brisbane’s best unit sales making a combined total of more than $20 million.

Prestige Property AU found apartments took up four of their top ten recorded sales finalised over the last week, including an $8.5m sale topping the list.

The three bedroom apartment at 18E/39 Castlebar St, Kangaroo Point, featured 470 sqm of internal and external living space in the prized Castlebar Cove complex.

Sold by Simon and Courtney Caulfield, open homes for the property were cancelled when a buyer swooped in with an offer the vendors couldn’t refuse.

18E/39 Castlebar St, Kangaroo Point, was one of Brisbane’s best unit sales finalised in the first full week of October – selling for $8.5 million, topping Prestige Property AU’s list.

Sales such as the $4.3m price tag for 1201/161 Grey St, South Brisbane, meant units in the city saw a combined sales total of more than $20m this week.

Other apartments in the top ten list this week included 1201/161 Grey St, South Brisbane, 1403/20 Wyandra St, Newstead, and 37/410 Stanley St, South Brisbane, which sold between $3.6 and $4.3 million.

But one of Queensland’s best auction sales this week was a four-bedroom unit in Main Beach, formerly owned by billionaire Harry Triguboff.

The real estate developer sold the Gold Coast vacation home due to no longer visiting it after the passing of his wife Rhonda in 2024.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do going forward,” he said. “After 35 wonderful years of Silverpoint being our Gold Coast holiday home, it’s time to pass the property on to new ownership.”

51/3510 Main Beach Pde was the Gold Coast vacation home of real estate developer Harry Triguboff, one of Australia’s richest people.

The two-storey penthouse apartment went to auction between five registered bidders, selling for $11m under the hammer after 30 bids on the day.

Sold by Ray White Main Beach agent Robbie Graham and Ray White Bell Group agent Andrew Bell, the home went to auction over the weekend with five registered bidders and four active bidders.

“It started at $6m and did not stop all the way to $11m,” Mr Graham said, adding the $11m sale price went “well beyond” the reserve.

The winner grabbed the two-storey penthouse property with a raise of $50,000, after exactly 30 bids on the day.

“The people who bought it are a Melbourne based family, who will use the property as a holiday home and undertake a substantial renovation on the property,” Mr Graham said.

10 McNally Cl, Seventeen Mile Rocks sold for $1.305m, $105,000 over the reserve price – one of many having sold well above reserve over the last week.

Many auctions throughout the week went well over the recorded reserve price. Ray White Queensland Chief Auctioneer Gavin Croft said he called in excess of 40 auctions over the last week, with eight of them actually seeing bids begin at or above the reserve.

“[It] gives you an insight into what people are doing to knock their competition out,” he said.

One home that sold for $105,000 above reserve was 10 McNally Cl, Seventeen Mile Rocks.

Five registered bidders attended the weekend auction, arranged by Place Graceville agent Julian Maddox.

The auction reached a hectic pace over 15 to 20 minutes, going past 20 bids as the home shot past the reserve price the vendors had set.

The final sale was $1.305 million, going to a young family of owner occupiers.

First home buyers flocked 128 Normanhurst Rd, Boondall, which saw six registered bidders and a sale of $841,000.

Young families, particularly first home buyers, are continuing to crowd Brisbane’s congested housing market.

128 Normanhurst Rd, Boondall, saw a crowd of 25 on the Saturday morning auction, who Ray White Aspley agent Chris Rhode said were mainly first home buyers.

The vendors, Peter Foo and his brother Paul, were selling the three-bedroom home on behalf of his late family, who had built the home in 1964.

“They took out a mortgage to buy here,” he said. “It’s a lovely family home and it’s nice to see it’s going to someone else now.”

The home sold for $841,000, with six registered bidders and three active bidders – with renovations expected to be done on at least the bathroom and kitchen.

The post Apartments dominate city home market for more than $20 million in sales appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The stylish $4.5m home of the late Maggie Tabberer is for sale and it’s a fascinating look into the world of the style guru.

The Bellevue Hill apartment of the late fashion, publishing, television and property icon Maggie Tabberer has been listed for auction on November 3.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment with north-facing aspect is being offered through Michael Pallier of Sydney Sotheby’s International, who was guiding $4.5m at its first Saturday open inspection.

One of 12 residences in a secure complex on the edge of the Bellevue Rd village, it has been listed by her daughters, Brooke and Amanda.

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The late Maggie Tabberer’s Bellevue Hill apartment has been listed. Picture: Supplied

In Maggie Ts signature white-on-white, the darkest object in the apartment is the commanding painting of her that hangs in the dining space.

Spanning 160sq m internally, the layout includes an expansive open-plan living, modern island kitchen and dining area with seating for 10. There’s a big master suite, a home office and two more king-sized bedrooms.

The apartment includes two car spaces in the basement.

Tabberer, who died last December, bought the apartment for $2.05m in 2014.

It was after she sold her Sydney Rd, Randwick, home – set around a courtyard dominated by a fragrant frangipani tree and pool – for $2.41m.

Tabberer ranked as the earliest of all-white decor influencers, and the Sotheby’s marketing photos show that she maintained that theme until the end.

The darkest object in the apartment is the commanding painting of her that hangs in the dining space.

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Maggie Tabberer. Picture: AAP Image/Chris Pavlich

It is the Paul Newton portrait done for the 1999 Archibald Prize, showing her as glamorous, elegant and sophisticated.

Between the plantation shutters, there’s plenty of wall space for other art, including one by family friend Stuart Membery.

Born in Adelaide, she moved to Sydney, via Melbourne, for modelling in 1960.

It was Maggie Tabberer and Richard Zachariah’s hit ABC television series, The Home Show, that sparked much interest in home decor style in the early 1990s.

“I’ve always been a white-on-white person,’’ she said at the time.

One of the three bedrooms.

Outdoor dining.

The kitchen.

Study area.

“I dress in white shirts and trousers, and my houses always have been white throughout – ceilings, walls, the lot.”

Tabberer adored property, and I was was thrilled when she launched my book, The Sydney Hot Property Guide, in 2002.

Columnist Susan Owens once noted her endearing and enduring role having begun “the cult of the home show”.

And Tabberer was never outshone.

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The post Maggie Tabberer’s typically stylish $4.5m luxury home for sale appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Federal Reserve’s decision this month to cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points was encouraging news for Americans eager to become homeowners. Although mortgage rates aren’t set by the Fed, they are impacted by its policy changes. Indeed, prior to — and in anticipation of — the Fed’s announcement, mortgage rates fell to their lowest level since October 2024, with the 30-year fixed rate dropping to 6.39% — spurring a 29% spike in mortgage loan applications. 

While high mortgage rates are contributing to the housing affordability crisis, lack of housing supply and regulatory barriers to development continue to be the main drivers of our nation’s housing market challenges. The Trump administration is already exploring measures to address the lack of housing supply, including potentially opening up federal land for residential use, and there are reports that additional affordability measures are also being considered. 

In Congress, Reps. Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), and Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) earlier this month introduced the Saving the American Dream Act, which would establish an interagency task force to plan and initiate a whole-of-government approach to the housing affordability crisis. The bill calls for federal agencies to develop policy solutions on several fronts, including increasing housing supply, reducing local barriers to development, and strengthening disaster recovery, among several other approaches. The American Land Title Association (ALTA) is proud to support this legislation. 

ALTA shares the goal of making homeownership more accessible, especially for first-time borrowers. For that to be done effectively, there needs to be greater understanding about the critical role that title insurance plays for homebuyers and the health of the U.S. economy. 

Title insurance plays a dual role in real estate transactions, protecting the financial interests of the homeowner and the lender while also providing stability and security to the broader real estate market. 

For lenders, title insurance is a way to protect their investment should any issues arise that could impact the ability to collect on the funds disbursed to the homebuyer. By protecting the lender’s financial interests, title insurance mitigates the risk they are taking in extending a mortgage loan that might otherwise appear too risky — giving assurances that their investment is safe and promoting a stable, secure lending environment. 

While buying a home is a monumental life event, it’s also a significant financial investment, and homebuyers want to know they won’t have ownership issues years later. Title insurance offers assurances that their investment is secure, giving them the peace of mind to proceed with the transaction. This adds a safeguard to the real estate transaction that provides critical confidence to the broader real estate environment. 

With title insurance, homebuyers are protected against undiscoverable defects not found during the title search — like fraud, forgery, and unrecorded liens — for as long as they own their homes. Should a dispute arise, title insurance ensures the homeowner isn’t on the hook for the fees incurred during a legal fight over their property rights. 

The nuts and bolts of title insurance are often misunderstood. It’s not just a document or records check. It’s a one-time investment, rather than a recurring premium, that supports perhaps the most important purchase a person will ever make. Title professionals spend an average of 22 hours resolving issues like unpaid liens, boundary disputes, and recording errors — issues that, if left unaddressed, could take the certainty and sustainability out of homeownership.

The work done every day by the industry’s 155,000 title professionals — 90% of whom are small businesses on main streets across America — doesn’t end at the closing table. The title industry remains in homeowners’ corners to help resolve and cover challenges to their property rights. In fact, the title industry has paid nearly $2.9 billion in claims over the past five years. The average cost for a title company to defend a claim can range from over $26,000 for common claims to over $143,000 for more complex issues like fraud and forgery, which are rising in prevalence.

Finally, when it comes to costs, the industry is not standing still — it’s innovating. Thanks to technology and process improvements, the average cost of title insurance coverage has decreased by 5% in recent years, based on ALTA’s analysis of annual financial statements submitted to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). 

Fees for title insurance and settlement services are well below other costs charged to borrowers over the life of the mortgage loan, with most of what is paid supporting the skilled professionals, systems, and services that ensure secure and efficient closings.

We recognize that affordability challenges are real, and we are committed to being part of thoughtful discussions on how to address these challenges without sacrificing protections for homebuyers or increasing risk in the real estate market. 

To that end, we are hopeful the Federal Reserve’s decision is a step toward a series of smart, balanced policies that make homeownership more affordable and accessible for all homebuyers.

Chris Morton is the Chief Executive Officer for the American Land Title Association (ALTA).
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.