📈 Today's Commercial Property & SMSF News
NSW Government Targets Underquoting with AI Monitoring
The NSW government is planning to use AI to identify real estate agents who provide misleading price guides. Real estate expert Tom Panos likens the system to 'speed cameras' for home sales. The proposed reforms aim to increase transparency in property listings and boost buyer confidence by penalizing agents who quote prices below the estimated selling price. Agents could face fines up to $110,000 or three times their commission.
Source: www.news.com.au
Gen X Predicted to Dominate Australian Property Gains
A new report suggests that Generation X (born between 1965 and 1979) is poised to be the biggest winner in the Australian real estate market. National home values are increasing, with the fastest monthly gain since June 2023. Gen X currently holds the largest housing portfolio compared to other generations and is expected to benefit the most from capital gains.
Source: www.news.com.au
NSW Government Demands Royalty Payment to Lift Mine Lease Restriction
The NSW government has placed a fixed charge on the Tahmoor coal mine's mining leases, preventing the company from selling or borrowing against the mine until a $29.4 million royalty debt is paid. The mine, owned by Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance, has been closed since February 2025 due to financial issues. The government has refused to lift the restriction until adequate assurance of repayment is provided.
Source: www.abc.net.au
St John Group Reports Reduced Net Loss Amidst Private Sector Challenges
St John of God Health Care has announced a net loss of $22.4 million for the last financial year. This is an improved result compared to previous years, achieved with $2.2 billion in revenue, despite ongoing difficulties in the private sector.
Source: www.businessnews.com.au
📊 Yesterday's Key Developments
SMSFA Argues Superannuation Should Not Cover Bad Advice Compensation
The SMSF Association's CEO, Peter Burgess, has voiced strong opposition to the proposal that the superannuation sector be included in the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort (CSLR). He argues that making super funds responsible for compensating victims of poor financial advice is unfair and unsustainable, as the root cause of the misconduct often lies outside the superannuation industry. Burgess believes that placing a disproportionate share of the CSLR's costs on this single sub-sector is not a fair distribution of responsibility.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
ACTU Criticizes Treasurer Over ASIC and APRA Performance
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has publicly criticized Treasurer Jim Chalmers regarding the performance of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The ACTU's criticism stems from the government's consideration of imposing a levy on super funds to address the rising costs of the Compensation Scheme of Last Resort. Shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien echoed these concerns, accusing the government of readily targeting Australians' superannuation savings.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
SMSF Property Sales Require Careful Handling: Legal Expert
Michael Hallinan, a special counsel at SUPERCentral, emphasizes the complexities involved in selling investment properties held within Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) using Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs). He notes that such properties must be held in a separate holding trust until the loan is fully repaid. This holding trust acts as a 'bare trust,' meaning the trustee must follow the SMSF's directions regarding the property. This structure can present complications when the SMSF decides to sell the property.
Source: www.smsfadviser.com
Australia's Premium Property Market Shows Extreme Price Variation
Recent data reveals significant disparities between typical Australian house prices and the values of premium properties. The most expensive homes sold in the past year were up to 70 times more valuable than the average Australian house, which is valued at $952,000. While the top-end of the market commands substantially higher prices, more affordable homes have recently experienced faster value growth, according to REA Group's economic analysis.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
Tasmanian Town Bucks Upzoning Trend with New Planning Scheme
Kingborough, a town south of Hobart, is implementing rezoning changes that could restrict building development on existing properties, contrasting the widespread upzoning trend across Australia. These changes are linked to Tasmania's new Planning Scheme, requiring each council to develop a Local Provisions Schedule. The introduction of the Landscape Conservation Zone (LCZ) aims to protect areas of environmental and scenic significance but may limit the extent of permissible construction on over 1500 properties.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
Exclusive Beach House with Uninterrupted Coastal Views Hits the Market
A rare five-bedroom beach house in Mona Vale, perched on a clifftop, has been listed for sale. The property boasts panoramic ocean views from Warriewood to Pittwater and has only one neighbouring property, providing exceptional northerly vistas. The current owner purchased the original cottage in 2013 and commissioned architect James de Soyres to design the current beach house.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
Victorian Government Mandates Reserve Price Disclosure Before Auctions
Under new legislation in Victoria, homeowners will be required to disclose the reserve price of their property before an auction can proceed. This policy change aims to combat underquoting, a practice that has been a concern for prospective buyers for many years. The reform stems from recommendations made by the Underquoting and Integrity of Auctions Forum in 2023 and has been advocated by real estate industry veterans as a solution to improve transparency in the auction process.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
Geelong West Renovation Achieves Near-Triple Value at Auction
A renovated three-bedroom house in Geelong West has sold for $1.225 million at auction, demonstrating the potential to significantly increase property value through renovation. The original 1950s brick house, located on a 527sq m block, attracted strong interest, particularly from a group from Kensington. The sale price exceeded expectations, with the property listed between $1.15m and $1.25m.
Source: www.realestate.com.au
Fresh Gold Targets Identified in WA Eastern Goldfields Through Soil Sampling
Augustus Minerals has identified a gold anomaly at its Clifton East target near Leonora, WA, following a soil sampling program. The anomaly spans approximately 1.2km x 0.6km and remains open to the west, with peak gold values reaching 44.1ppb. The anomaly's core is contained within a halo of lower but still significant soil values, potentially associated with a lithological boundary. Samples were collected at the Music Well project, situated north of Leonora.
Source: www.smh.com.au
Pacgold Commences Drilling at Queensland Gold-Antimony Project
Pacgold Limited has initiated drilling at its St George gold-antimony project in north Queensland. This maiden reverse circulation program targets the historic mine, following the discovery of high-grade surface rock chips containing up to 52.7% antimony and 10.2 g/t gold. The nine-hole, 900m program aims to assess the depth and continuity of gold-antimony veins mapped along the old workings, focusing on the St George prospect.
Source: www.smh.com.au
Rinehart Invests Heavily in US Tech Stocks
Gina Rinehart, known for her iron ore mining ventures, is expanding her investment portfolio into the US technology sector. While not fully invested in all FAANG companies, Rinehart has acquired shares in Nvidia, Meta (Facebook), Amazon, and Alphabet (Google). This move signifies a shift in investment strategy, focusing on technology stocks.
Source: www.smh.com.au
Tungsten Boost for Larvotto's NSW Gold-Antimony Project
Larvotto Resources has identified a potential third revenue stream at its Hillgrove gold-antimony project in NSW. Metallurgical testing indicates a 90% tungsten recovery rate, yielding a high-demand concentrate. This discovery follows recent assays at the Freehold prospect, revealing significant tungsten grades alongside gold-antimony zones, suggesting a promising tungsten system.
Source: www.smh.com.au
Augustus Minerals Identifies New Gold Targets in WA's Eastern Goldfields
Augustus Minerals has discovered a gold anomaly at its Clifton East target near Leonora, WA, through soil sampling. The anomaly spans 1.2km x 0.6km and remains open to the west, featuring peak gold values up to 44.1ppb. The high-grade core is surrounded by lower but significant soil values, potentially linked to a lithological boundary within the Music Well project area.
Source: www.theage.com.au
Pacgold Commences Drilling at Queensland Gold-Antimony Project
Pacgold Limited has initiated drilling at its St George gold-antimony project in North Queensland. The maiden reverse circulation program targets the historic mine, following surface rock chip samples revealing high antimony and gold grades. The nine-hole program aims to assess the depth and continuity of outcropping gold-antimony veins along the old workings.
Source: www.theage.com.au
Mortgage Repayment Frequency: Monthly vs. Fortnightly Savings
Paying mortgages can be a long endeavor, but making payments more frequently can reduce the total loan term. Experts suggest that due to daily interest calculations, more frequent payments, such as fortnightly instead of monthly, can lead to significant interest savings over the life of the loan. Understanding how your bank calculates these repayments is crucial before switching payment schedules.
Source: www.abc.net.au
Tasmea Acquires WorkPac Group for $60.7 Million
Tasmea, an ASX-listed company, has reached an agreement to purchase WorkPac Group, a privately held labour hire firm. The deal is valued at up to $60.7 million. This acquisition expands Tasmea's portfolio within the labour and workforce management sector.
Source: www.businessnews.com.au
Published: Thursday 20 November 2025 | Fresh Articles: 32 | Sections: 20 | RunID: 2025-11-20T08:10:39+11:00
Enjoyed this article?
Get weekly commercial property insights and market updates.
Join 450+ property investors • Unsubscribe anytime