Development Ready Podcast

TC Bakhour sat down this week with Robert Wilson of Prime Square, a hotel advisory and investment business. Robert is an expert in the hotel property sector, working with many of the major affiliates before joining Prime Square. His breadth of experience and insight into the industry makes this episode a 'must-hear' for any commercial and hotel minded property enthusiasts.

Show notes

• 01:14 - Introduction
• 01:59 - Who he is and what he does
• 03:02 - How he got started in real estate
• 04:59 - Prime Square and their focus
• 07:47 - Clientele
• 09:47 - Hotel acquisition
• 11:51 - Prime Square’s involvement and value
• 14:10 - Assessing hotel development sites
• 18:54 - Operator’s involvement in design
• 20:36 - Relationship between operators and developers
• 22:49 - Length of process
• 24:54 - Operator’s demands and goals
• 28:51 - How Airbnb has affected the sector
• 31:02 - The future of the sector
• 33:14 - Best advice; life or business

Links

• Robert Wilson
• Prime Square
• Holiday Inn
• Marriott
• Morgan Stanley
• 2008 GFC

In the Development Ready Podcast's latest episode, we hear TC Bakhour and Robert Langton discuss the current and future states of the property development market with Jon Purcell, Director of SEMZ Property Advisory and Project Management.

Through the episode's discussions you'll hear some of Jon's experiences in the sector, including his time working at Grocon, as well as his expertise relating to initial project feasibility studies, the structuring of joint ventures and project management.

Show notes

• 01:13 - Introduction
• 02:07 - What he does, how he got into property
• 04:23 - His time at Grocon, Crown Casino project
• 07:32 - SEMZ and how he started it
• 16:41 - SEMZ today and how the business has grown
• 18:59 - The current market and where it’s going
• 24:21 - How the process is different for each client
• 25:34 - Passion and philosophy
• 30:11 - Developers in today's market
• 34:17 - Build-to-Rent model, home ownership
• 38:04 - Biggest problems facing developers
• 40:09 - The future of the market and SEMZ
• 43:38 - Characteristics of a good development manager

Links

• SEMZ Property Advisory and Project Management
• The University of Melbourne
• Grocon

This week in the Development Ready Podcast, Rob Langton and TC Bakhour were joined by Kris Daff, Director of Make Ventures. This episode was incredibly insightful as Kris shared his broad and detailed experiences through the property development sector. Topics broached were Kris' movements from Docklands Authority to Evolve Developments, experiences with is Assemble venture and his views on and the exciting build-to-rent sector.

Show notes

• 01:48 - Introduction
• 02:40 - Who Kris is and what he does
• 03:51 - How he got into working in property
• 06:14 - His time at Docklands Authority
• 09:19 - The Docklands development
• 15:41 - Ashley Williams, Evolve Development
• 22:54 - Learnings from his time at Evolve
• 25:38 - Ron Walker and his involvement at Evolve
• 28:43 - Greenfield development
• 31:57 - Make Ventures
• 38:15 - Socially responsible development
• 41:40 - Assemble & their partnership with ANZ bank
• 49:12 - Inspiration for the Assemble business model
• 52:50 - Assemble’s pilot project
• 01:02:43 - Community focus, tenant retention, risk
• 01:10:47 - Future of Assemble
• 01:15:39 - Marketing, how his companies stand out
• 01:18:32 - What it takes to excel in development
• 01:21:31 - Best piece of advice, life or business

Links

• Kris Daff
• Make Ventures
• Evolve Development
• Ashley Williams
• Fieldwork
• Assemble & ANZ partnership

In Development Ready's latest podcast episode, TC Bakhour and Robert Langton were joined by Hugh Gretton-Watson, Founder and Director of HGW Projects, a project and development management firm in Melbourne. Through their enlightening discussion, these three industry experts discuss entering the property development sector, the ins-and outs-of project and development management and Hugh's first hand industry insights; including where it is currently placed and where he sees growth and movement in the future.

Show notes

• 01:49 - Introduction
• 03:02 - How he got started in the property industry
• 05:16 - HGW Projects, current and past projects
• 07:48 - Evaluating large projects
• 09:18 - Clientele
• 10:24 - What value HGW brings to the table
• 12:03 - What products are moving in the current market
• 13:47 - Investment property
• 16:22 - Projects that anticipate that future markets
• 18:13 - A look at specific markets
• 20:50 - Problems & opportunities facing developers
• 23:43 - Investment market, lenders
• 26:41 - Child care & aged care
• 27:41 - The acquisition process, evaluating a viable site
• 30:32 - Derisking retail sites
• 31:15 - Technology in the industry, Aconex
• 33:31 - What hasn’t changed but should, solar/thermal interest
• 36:59 - What it takes to be a good project manager
• 37:52 - Best advice, life or business
• 38:34 - The benefits of working with HGW Projects

Links

• HGW Projects
• Impact Investment Group
• Woods Bagot
• Stockland
• High Point Property Group
• Aconex

In the latest episode of Development Ready's Industry Podcast, Rob Langton and TC Bakhour were joined by town planning expert, and Bennett+Bennett's Brisbane Director, Craig Wood. Through this comprehensive and insightful discussion, Rob and TC dug deep into Craig Wood's property development journey to uncover key learnings of the town planning and surveying sector.

Show notes

• 01:50 - Introduction
• 03:08 - His journey into property surveying
• 04:38 - Bennett + Bennett, surveying
• 06:50 - Growth they’re seeing
• 07:15 - Their niche, specialties, current projects
• 08:55 - The Queen’s Wharf project
• 09:54 - Development process
• 12:22 - Brisbane market
• 15:39 - Investing and development in Queensland
• 16:23 - Surveyor’s day-to-day, technology
• 18:07 - Adapting from the old to the new
• 20:10 - Town planning compared to surveying
• 22:21 - Relationships with the local council
• 23:09 - What to look for in a surveying firm
• 24:59 - Skills needed to work in town planning/surveying
• 26:21 - Best piece of advice, life or business
  

Links

• Craig Wood
• Bennett + Bennett

This week on the Development Ready podcast we have Alex Mirzaian of CBRE, Western Sydney.

Show notes

• 01:49 - Introduction
• 02:33 - Background and how he got into real estate
• 04:37 - CBRE and their 360 offering
• 06:17 - What it’s like working for a large agency
• 07:38 - CBRE’s edge over competitors
• 09:05 - Collaboration within CBRE
• 10:29 - Current state of the market
• 11:39 - What developers are doing differently now
• 15:17 - The build-to-rent sector
• 17:05 - Biggest problems facing developers
• 17:47 - What’s hurting demand, affordability
• 20:12 - Developer opportunities, quality vs quantity
• 22:23 - Vendor expectations, educational process
• 24:45 - Prospecting nowadays
• 27:24 - Developer relationships
• 31:18 - Consulting and advising
• 34:23 - Next 18 months of the development space
• 36:52 - Characteristics of a good agent
• 37:57 - Best advice, life or business

Links

• Alex Mirzaian at CBRE
• CBRE

This week on the Development Ready podcast we have Michael Ryan, Director of Allard Shelton.

Show notes

• 01:12 - Introduction
• 01:51 - Allard Shelton
• 03:31 - His role and background
• 07:13 - How he started out
• 09:02 - His time with ASL and Beller
• 14:54 - Experience working for a startup
• 16:26 - Niche based agencies, fluctuating market
• 20:55 - His experience with Fitzroys
• 24:59 - The transition to Allard Shelton
• 30:36 - Adapt or die
• 31:30 - Long-term vision for Allard Shelton
• 32:15 - Current state of the market
• 35:34 - How developers are adapting to the market
• 37:43 - Problems agents are facing
• 39:36 - Vendor expectations
• 41:29 - Foreign buyers, local developers
• 43:40 - Interactions with developers and owners
• 48:03 - Next 18 months of the development space
• 49:34 - Best advice, life or business

Links

• Allard Shelton
• Beller Commercial
• Fitzroys

This week on the Development Ready podcast we have Gus Moors, the National Director of Hotels at Colliers International.

Show notes

• 01:33 - Introduction
• 02:23 - Background
• 03:37 - Colliers International
• 05:42 - Their roles within the hotel sector
• 07:20 - What makes a good developer
• 09:48 - When they get involved in projects
• 11:19 - Length of process
• 13:37 - How competitive the space is
• 19:11 - How big hotel operators/developers work
• 22:36 - Establishing yourself in the space
• 24:22 - Off-market transactions
• 25:41 - Operators role in hotel transactions
• 27:52 - Nature of hotel market, supply
• 30:59 - How hotel development differs
• 32:14 - What buyers are looking for in a hotel
• 33:58 - Where they’re seeing the most activity
• 36:13 - Foreign interest in hotels
• 37:43 - Transitioning to the hotel space
• 40:25 - Advice for newcomers
• 43:27 - Best advice, life or business

Links

• Colliers International

This week on the Development Ready podcast we have Property Specialist and Co-founder of Secoya Property and Project Marketing, Spiro Skiadopolous.

We speak to Spiro about his journey into the property industry, and discuss topics such as:

•    What makes a development project successful
•    The evolution of amenities within apartment developments
•    How the emergence of the local buyer is changing the development landscape and
•    Why listening to consumer demand is so important plus much more.

Remember as always to like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see who we have on next week’s series.

Show notes

• 01:33 - Introduction
• 02:19 - What he does and how he got started
• 03:25 - How has the industry changed
• 04:13 - Secoya Property
• 05:36 - The current project marketing space
• 06:29 - Oversupply
• 08:38 - What stock is in low supply?
• 09:41 - Development areas of interest
• 10:32 - Sale case study and the wow factor
• 14:21 - Developer approach
• 15:25 - How Secoya works with developers
• 18:21 - When Secoya gets involved
• 19:40 - What value Secoya offers the consumer, investor
• 20:48 - Consumer’s deposit to settlement process
• 24:46 - Local and foreign buyers
• 27:00 - FIRB’s impact on foreign investment
• 28:26 - Where he’s finding the most opportunity
• 30:41 - Difference between good & bad project marketer
• 32:04 - Best advice

Links

• Secoya Property
• Foreign Investment Review Board

This week on the Development Ready podcast we have Managing Director of Di Marco Group and publisher and founder of The Urban Developer, Adam Di Marco.

We speak to Adam about his journey from property developer to start-up founder & entrepreneur, plus discuss topics such as:
⁃ Boutique development and its place in the Brisbane market
⁃ How technology is changing the way we find and acquire property
⁃ How the urban developer was conceived and founded and
⁃ What the future of information looks like.

Remember as always to like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see who have on next weeks series.

Show notes

• 01:34 - Introduction
• 02:31 - Who he is and what he does
• 03:08 - His business startups
• 05:29 - Background
• 07:32 - The purpose of The Urban Developer
• 09:46 - The Urban Developer
• 14:37 - Events and connecting with community
• 18:09 - Urbanity Conference, September 2018
• 22:57 - Their content readership
• 24:30 - Extracting and sharing information
• 26:49 - Education and delivery
• 29:36 - Current market trends
• 31:37 - Foreign developer data
• 34:58 - Biggest problems facing developers right now
• 36:24 - Offshore funding
• 37:35 - Di Marco Group
• 40:15 - Brisbane boutique development
• 42:06 - Target market area
• 43:02 - Lessons learned and key traits
• 45:10 - Getting started
• 46:30 - The future of the Urban Developer
• 48:51 - Founding core values
• 52:50 - 1 focus, 1 goal
• 53:47 - Best advice

Links

• The Urban Developer
• Cityshape
• Urbanity
• Leighton Properties
• Marquette Properties
• Neometro