Fixing Housing the Smart Way(Amy - DTP & Cara - OVGA) + 1 Storey Build(Michael)

***RSVP PROCESS - CRITICAL INFO***

Please be aware, we don't use the Meetup website to take RSVPs, so you will need to register on this link to lock in your place (bookings essential) - https://propdev.info/uMKh

We run events most weekends around Australia so you can attend either physically in your local area, or live-stream to any event around the country.

In-Person: 1:30pm (Melbourne time) to 'Mingle With The Expert'
Virtual: 2pm (Melbourne time)

INTRODUCING THE INDUSTRY EXPERT:
Fixing Housing The Smart Way - Amy Mak from the Department of Transport and Planning and Cara Wiseman from Office of the Victorian Government Architect

Fixing the Missing Middle!! Why We Need Smarter Medium-Density Now.
We all know housing supply is tight… but have you stopped to ask why we keep getting it so wrong?

How to tackle a problem that is hiding in plain sight: the lack of well-designed, small-scale (3-storey) apartment developments in the right locations close to amenity, transport, and the kind of lifestyle people actually want.

Instead of smart, liveable apartments that serve families, downsizers, and future generations… we keep chopping land into tiny townhouse blocks. Quick wins? Maybe. Smart long-term planning? Not even close.

The result? Massive housing shortages in the very suburbs people are desperate to live in and prices that are climbing out of reach. Families squeezed out. Older residents forced to leave their communities. And developers missing the opportunity to deliver true value on sites with serious potential.

So, what is the alternative?

This month’s Industry Experts Amy Mak from the Department of Transport and Planning and Cara Wiseman from Office of the Victorian Government Architect are here to unpack the Future Homes model. A new way to approach medium density that is not just about cramming more people in, but about creating homes that are functional, beautiful, and feel like places you'd want to live.

Join us to learn:

• How to investigate opportunities to develop a Future Homes model.
• Why townhouses might not be the best solution for high amenity sites
• What "missing middle" really means and why it matters
• How the Future Homes exemplar designs were created to embed great amenity and design
• How to access the streamlined dedicated planning process for faster approvals
• The key principles of the Future Homes model you can start applying now

If you are looking to do more than just develop for profit, if you want to build smarter, more sustainable communities and stack your numbers at the same time then this session is one you don’t want to miss.

Come along to challenge the norm, rethink what is possible, and walk away with a strategy to future-proof your next project.

The market’s shifting. Don’t get left behind.

INTRODUCING THE REAL DEAL:
1 Single Storey Build (Michael Silverstein)

740m2, R1, Woodend – Macedon Ranges Council , Victoria

When Pre-Approval Isn’t a Green Light…

You’ve done all the right things, crunched your numbers, got your finance pre-approval, and secured the site. The plan is solid, the timeline is tight, and the bank says yes… what could possibly go wrong?

Well, here’s the thing they don’t tell you, pre-approval is not a promise. And sometimes, just when you’re ready to hit the go button, the bank decides to move the goalposts.

That’s exactly what happened to our next Real Deal speaker, Michael Silverstein.

Midway through the deal, after months of preparation and planning, Michael’s bank changed the rules. Suddenly, they required pre-sales before they’d release any funds, a condition that hadn’t been mentioned at the outset. And with no way to meet the new requirements in time, he was forced to make a tough call: forfeit one of the blocks, lose his deposit, and drastically pivot his strategy.

But rather than walk away from the whole deal, Michael did what any seasoned developer would do - he adapted. He salvaged the project from the brink and walked away with some hard-earned lessons in his back pocket.

Join us as Michael shares the raw, unfiltered truth about:

• What went wrong and why it caught him off guard
• The cost of relying too heavily on bank promises
• What he'd do differently if he had his time again
• And most importantly how you can protect yourself when lenders change their tune mid-deal

Because let’s be honest: if this hasn’t happened to you, it could. And when it does, you’ll want to know exactly what to do next.

This is your chance to talk property with other enthusiasts!

See you all soon!