Agents in South Australia's South East say more than half of their recent property sales have gone to Victorian buyers. Mount Gambier director Jason Malseed said such sales were rare 15 to 20 years ago. He linked the rise to frustration with the Victorian government, including its land taxes. Ray White Mount Gambier principal Tahlia Gabrielli said retirees make up most Victorian arrivals. A recent survey ranked the Victorian Labor Party as the worst state government in the country.
A $40 million luxury apartment project at Hope Island Resort on the Gold Coast has sold more than $28 million of residences ahead of completion. GH Properties says 14 of the 21 Sage apartments have sold at an average price above $2 million. The developer's managing director, Ellen Guan, said the boutique, north-facing waterfront units have drawn strong interest from downsizers. Prices start at $1.63 million for large two-bedroom apartments and $1.96 million for three-bedroom apartments. Residents will have access to the resort's golf course, pool and wellness programs.
Real estate professionals Peter and Liza Conaghan have launched their own independent agency, Local Properties Australia, alongside sales agent Ethan Johnston. The business will focus mainly on its local region, drawing on the team's knowledge of local properties, communities and the market. Peter said the team is excited by growth across the Scenic Rim, pointing to new housing, businesses and services. He said patience and sensible pricing can be important when a property does not sell quickly. The agency combines the couple's experience in sales, marketing, negotiation and client care.
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A modest bungalow in Maroubra with ocean views sold at auction for $7 million on Saturday, well above its $6.5 million reserve, after a developer competed with two owner-occupier bidders. The buyer plans to demolish the house and build a new home. Ray White director Angus Gorrie said the result surprised him. Across Sydney, Domain recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 45 per cent from 490 reported results, with 184 auctions withdrawn. In Como, a family upsizing bought a five-bedroom home for $3.14 million, while an Alexandria apartment sold for $1.31 million after being passed in.
A Canberra property at 6 Heales Place in Curtin sold for $2,010,000 at auction, with the sale handled by Rick and Tina Meir from Home by Holly. The result was reported as part of a weekly roundup of Canberra auction outcomes for the period from 19 to 25 October 2026. Across the region, 23 auctions were scheduled over the past week.
Ronan Keating and his wife Storm have lodged development application plans with council for a new three-storey home to replace their Tamarama beach cottage. The five-bedroom property was bought under Storm's name for $6.3 million, and is understood to be an investment. The architectural plans say the existing building is structurally unsound. In Double Bay, the late Ervin Vidor's widow Charlotte Vidor has listed their penthouse with a price guide of $21 million. A former governor's Snowy Mountains home is also on the market with a $950,000 price guide.
Nearly a third of The Grove, a premium townhouse development in Weston, has already been taken up. The project includes 60 two-, three- and four-bedroom townhouses beside Fetherston Gardens. Eleven dwellings sold before the public release, with seven more reserved. Prices start from $699,900 for a two-bedroom townhouse. Completion is planned for 2028, and more than 130 new trees are planned across the precinct.
Agents in Victoria say new laws requiring reserve prices to be published seven days before auctions are already affecting sales. One North Melbourne home sold for $1.29 million, just below its $1.3 million reserve, after the reserve was set at the lower end of the quoted range. A Black Rock house sold for $2,283,000 against a $2,175,000 reserve after four bidders competed. Agents said some buyers misunderstood that vendors can still lower reserves on auction day. It is too early to judge the overall impact on clearance rates, which stood at 53 per cent last week.
A family from South Strathfield paid $3.1 million at auction for a four-bedroom Federation-era home at 62 O’Connor Street in Haberfield, $200,000 over the reserve. The new owners said the market had opened up some areas to buy. In Croydon Park, a two-bedroom semi sold for $1.3 million, $150,000 below its reserve, with a single bidder. In Woolooware, a family from Dulwich Hill bid against themselves to buy a three-bedroom townhouse for $1.43 million, below its $1.52 million reserve.
The freestanding commercial property at 8 Lanyana Way in Noosa Junction has sold for $3.6 million to a local owner-occupier planning a food-based business. The adjoining properties at 10 and 12 Lanyana Way are also moving. Number 10 is under contract, and talks are under way about a refurbishment and long-term lease at number 12. The three sites were once held by one owner and are zoned for retail, hospitality, medical, commercial and residential uses.
A luxury apartment development in South Brisbane has recorded $519 million in sales before going on the open market. Developer Aria Property Group says the Sanctuary Residences project is Queensland's biggest apartment launch in history. Buyers are showing strong interest in larger three and four-bedroom homes, priced from $2.72 million and $4.01 million. Of the 231 apartments, 86 remain available. The remaining units will be released publicly on October 19, with prices expected to rise. Construction is due to finish in mid-to-late 2029, ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.
