📈 Today's Commercial Property & SMSF News
Luxury Homeowners Abandon Noosa for Coastal Town, Driving Record $13M Sale
Wealthy individuals are reportedly shifting away from Noosa, favouring the coastal town of Moffat Beach. A modest three-bedroom house in Moffat Beach recently sold for $13 million, setting a new record for the suburb. The property, situated on oceanfront cliffs, is slated for demolition to make way for a large residence designed by architect Shaun Lockyer. The sale attracted interest from developers and luxury home builders.
Source: www.news.com.au
Tiny Potts Point Studio Sells for $315k to First-Home Buyer
A 16-square-meter studio apartment in Potts Point, previously owned by the late Bill Abbott, was purchased by a first-time home buyer for $315,000. The unit, located in an Art Deco building, was originally bought for $27,000 in 1979. Despite its small size, the property attracted multiple offers, with the buyer receiving financial assistance from their parents. The apartment includes a kitchen, bathroom, and living area.
Source: www.news.com.au
Housing Market Gridlock Traps One Million Australian Homeowners
Approximately one million Australian homeowners are experiencing difficulty selling their properties due to a housing market stalemate. Many are hesitant to list their homes before securing their next purchase, creating a cycle of limited inventory. Research indicates that a significant number of Australians are interested in selling, but fewer are proceeding with their plans. New property listings have decreased year-on-year, despite recent interest rate cuts intended to stimulate market activity. The complexity of the current market is a contributing factor to this hesitation.
Source: www.news.com.au
Retirees Risk Losing Thousands Due to Underperforming Superannuation Funds
Super Consumers Australia warns that retirees with poorly performing superannuation investment options could lose up to $205,000 during their retirement. Their analysis of APRA data reveals that retirement investment options are not subject to the same performance tests as pre-retirement funds. This means retirees may unknowingly be invested in underperforming funds. The number of retirees relying on superannuation is expected to double in the next decade, highlighting the need for better information and safeguards for retirement investment options.
Source: www.abc.net.au
Car Dealership Purchases Hobart City Block Previously Earmarked for UTAS
The Tony White Group, a major Australian car dealership, has acquired a prime Hobart city block for $31 million. The site was previously owned by the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and had been intended for university development. The sale price exceeded UTAS's initial purchase price in 2019. While a community group expressed worries about a car yard, the new owner is considering a mixed-use development for the site.
Source: www.abc.net.au
📊 Yesterday's Key Developments
SMSF Association Urges Immediate Overhaul of Compensation Scheme of Last Resort
The SMSF Association is calling on the government to release the findings of the Treasury's review of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR), prompted by the scheme's escalating costs. The CSLR's FY27 initial levy estimate has surged to $137.5 million, not accounting for the impacts of the Shield and First Guardian collapses. SMSFA CEO Peter Burgess emphasizes the urgent need for substantial reform, particularly concerning the scheme's funding mechanisms, as the personal financial advice sub-sector is disproportionately affected.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
Timely Documentation Needed for Multiple Pension Fund Payments
According to Sean Johnston, SMSF specialist for Heffron, multiple payments and lump sum withdrawals from pension funds, beyond regular pension payments, necessitate immediate processing and documentation. Relevant lump sum documents and minutes must be prepared and signed promptly. Batching these payments into suspense accounts for later processing is not permissible, as each transaction is unique and requires individual treatment.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
SMSF Association Appoints Ben Taylor to Board
The SMSF Association has appointed Ben Taylor, Managing Director of Oxygen Capital Group, to its board, effective January 1, 2026. This follows the retirement of long-serving directors Michael Houlihan and Bernie Ripoll. SMSFA Chair Scott Hay-Bartlem highlights Taylor's expertise in financial services, innovation, digital transformation, and SaaS, which will enhance the board's capabilities as the association navigates rapid changes in the sector.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
RBA Indicates Potential Interest Rate Cuts Contingent on Jobs Market Weakness
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has indicated that further interest rate cuts are possible if the jobs market weakens significantly. Minutes from the November RBA board meeting reveal that a softening labour market or increased household spending caution could prompt a rate cut. While factors like persistent high inflation could keep rates steady, a weaker-than-expected jobs market or household spending could necessitate easing monetary policy.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
Expert Predicts Sydney and Melbourne Real Estate to Reclaim Market Dominance by 2026
According to Rethink Group CEO Scott O’Neill, Sydney and Melbourne are poised to regain their leading positions in the Australian property market by 2026. This resurgence follows a period where smaller markets outperformed. O’Neill cites population growth, constrained supply, easing interest rates, and expanding borrowing power as key factors driving this new growth phase. Melbourne is projected to lead house price growth, potentially reaching a median of $1.1 million, while Sydney is expected to closely follow, with substantial growth also predicted.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
Sydney Suburbs Primed for Development Following Government Rezoning Announcements
The NSW government has revealed significant rezoning plans across several Sydney regions, potentially triggering a surge in home building. These changes encompass a Transport Oriented Development (TOD) scheme on the north shore, planning proposals open for public consultation in the north-west, and a fast-tracked rezoning in the south-west. This initiative aligns with the state's push to accelerate housing supply through planning law reforms and the Pre Sale Finance Guarantee program, indicating a proactive approach to addressing housing demands in key growth areas.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
ATO Scrutinizes Holiday Home Tax Deductions
Australian holiday homeowners may face restrictions on tax deductions under potential new ATO rules. These rules target properties not consistently available for rent, especially during peak seasons. Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ) highlights that from July 1, 2026, holiday homes might be classified as ‘leisure facilities’ by the ATO. This reclassification could prevent owners from claiming deductions for expenses like interest, rates, and maintenance unless the property is primarily used for income generation through rentals.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
Melbourne's Fraser Rise Experiences Surge in Demand for New Homes and Land
Fraser Rise, located in Melbourne’s northwest, is attracting increased attention from buyers seeking contemporary homes, more space, and a strong sense of community. Realestate.com.au economist Anne Flaherty notes that Melbourne’s west has been Victoria’s fastest-growing region due to affordability and new infrastructure. Fraser Rise has seen a 23% increase in searches for land on realestate.com.au in the past year. The Society 1056 community offers approximately 1200 new house and land opportunities across 93 hectares.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
True North Copper Strikes High-Grade Copper in Queensland Drilling
True North Copper has announced significant copper findings at its Mount Oxide project in northwest Queensland. Drilling results revealed a standout intercept of 7 meters with 7.9% copper concentration, located 134 meters below the surface. The Phase 2 drilling program confirmed substantial copper, cobalt, and silver zones, suggesting a growing mineral system at the Aquila zone.
Source: www.smh.com.au
TMK Energy Achieves Record Gas Production in Mongolia
TMK Energy has set a new daily gas production record at its Pilot Well project within the Gurvantes XXXV coal seam gas project in southern Mongolia, extracting 500 cubic meters of gas daily. The company anticipates a record-breaking November gas production, estimating an average of 480 cubic meters per day, surpassing October's average of 395 cubic meters.
Source: www.smh.com.au
Aurum Resources Hits High-Grade Gold at West African Project
Aurum Resources reported high-grade gold discoveries at its Boundiali project in West Africa. Drilling yielded 3.1 meters at 70.78 g/t gold, as part of a larger 5.10 meter section at 43.13 g/t gold, found at a depth of 112.9 meters. These results are outside the current gold resource estimate for the BMT3 deposit.
Source: www.theage.com.au
Auric Mining Nets $14.6 Million from WA Gold Sales
Auric Mining has generated $14.6 million in gold sales from its Munda starter pit near Widgiemooltha, Western Australia, achieving $8.8 million in net revenue after accounting for milling and haulage expenses. The company sold 2,355 ounces of gold across three pours, including a recent sale of 565 ounces at A$6,406 per ounce.
Source: www.theage.com.au
Advance Metals Intersects High-Grade Gold in Victorian Goldfields
Advance Metals Limited has discovered high-grade gold at its Happy Valley Deposit, part of the Myrtleford Project near Wodonga in the Victorian Goldfields. A 3.7-meter section yielded 16.6g/t gold, including a 0.8-meter zone with nearly 2 ounces of gold per tonne, extending a high-grade zone by over 500 meters.
Source: www.smh.com.au
Renewable Energy Curtailment Explained: Balancing Supply and Demand
This article discusses the practice of curtailment in the renewable energy sector, where generators reduce electricity output during periods of oversupply. It explores the economic and non-economic reasons behind this practice. The piece also mentions government initiatives, such as free electricity periods and battery subsidies, aimed at encouraging household consumption of abundant renewable energy. It explains what curtailment is and how it may impact consumers.
Source: www.abc.net.au
CBA Defends Fee Practices, Cites Shareholder Responsibility
The CEO of Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has defended the bank's fee-charging practices during a parliamentary hearing. He argued that reimbursing fees deemed 'excessive' by regulators to low-income customers would be an inappropriate use of shareholder funds. This stance contrasts with other banks that have committed to refunding such fees. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) had identified that CBA and Bankwest charged approximately $270 million in fees to roughly 2.2 million low-income customers over a five-year period.
Source: www.theguardian.com
Apartment Project in Dalkeith Faces Second Rejection
A proposed four-story apartment complex in Dalkeith has been denied approval for the second time. Further details are behind a paywall.
Source: www.businessnews.com.au
Dalkeith Apartment Project Rejected Again
A proposed four-story apartment complex in Dalkeith, valued at several million dollars, has been denied approval for the second time. The reasons for the rejection are not specified in the provided snippet.
Source: www.businessnews.com.au
Published: Wednesday 19 November 2025 | Fresh Articles: 32 | Sections: 22 | RunID: 2025-11-19T08:11:06+11:00
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