Selling a Canalfront Property in Burleigh Waters for Knockdown-Rebuild: Lifestyle Meets Luxury Investment

Selling a Canalfront Property in Burleigh Waters for Knockdown-Rebuild: Lifestyle Meets Luxury Investment

Burleigh Waters Is No Longer Just About The Home — It’s About The Block

In 2025, the value of a canal-front property in Burleigh Waters often has more to do with what can be built — not what currently exists.

Buyers are no longer interested in tired, low-set homes with original kitchens.
They want clean lines. Water views. Sunset terraces. Rooftop zones. Dual living.
They want modern, prestige builds — and they're willing to knock down to create them.

If you own a home on the water in Burleigh Waters — even if it's older, even if it needs repairs — you're sitting on a prime site, not just a house.

LIFESTYLE LENS: WHO’S BUYING BURLEIGH WATERFRONT SITES?

1. 🏡 Executive Families Moving from Brisbane

Selling $2.5M–$3M homes in inner Brisbane
Wanting Gold Coast lifestyle, schools, water access
Looking for a home with flexibility (5+ beds, home office, media)
Often engage builders before settlement

"We’re not buying a house. We’re buying where we want our forever home."

2. 🏡 Luxury Builders & Developer-Owners

Seeking canal sites to custom-build then sell (or hold for family)
Building dual-storey prestige with 3.5–4.5 bathrooms, pools, lifts
Selling new homes between $3.2M–$4.8M depending on frontage + design
Often pay above market for flat, wide, clear sites

"We’ll pay more for the block if we can control the design and floorplan."

3. 🏡 Return Buyers Already Living in Burleigh

Selling renovated non-water homes to upgrade to water
Looking to build once, then never move again
Happy to spend $1.8M+ on land, then $1M+ on build
Interested in privacy, layout, and smart design

THE VALUE OF THE BLOCK: WHAT MATTERS MOST

Norton’s helps sellers understand what makes a block valuable, not just livable.

Feature	Value Weight (High/Med/Low)
Water frontage width	High
Block orientation (north/east)	High
Block shape (square > narrow)	Medium to High
Site gradient	High (flat blocks preferred)
Existing build condition	Low
Demolition access	Medium
Jetty or pontoon rights	Medium
Neighbouring builds	High (new homes increase demand)

📈 Premium canalfront streets include: Acanthus Ave, Dabchick Drive, Cootamundra Dr, and Mattocks Road.

UPLIFT LENS: HOW MUCH MORE COULD A BUILDER REALISE?

Strategy	Site Type	Potential Gross Uplift
Buy → Knockdown → Build	Original 1980s home on 600–750m²	$850K–$1.25M+
Buy → Split Dwelling (STCA)	800m²+ with corner or width	$1.3M–$1.8M+
Buy → Build + Hold	Prestige rental, dual-living	$70K–$130K/year gross income
Buy → Build + Sell	High-end custom spec home	Resale up to $4.8M+

Norton’s works with buyers, builders, and SMSF investors who see the long-term build potential as the real driver of value.

HOW NORTON’S SELLS CANALFRONT SITES DIFFERENTLY

We don’t list to the public first.
We market to builder-buyers, lifestyle upgraders, and Brisbane executive families before any open homes.

OUR STRATEGY:

💼 Initial buyer-matching with our developer + prestige homeowner database
💼 Professional photos, videography, drone — free, included in every listing
💼 RealtyAssist = you pay nothing upfront for marketing — only on settlement
💼 Email campaigns to our architect + designer contact list
💼 Pricing guidance based on build feasibility + resale metrics
💼 Discreet pre-market previews for selected buyers only

WHEN TO SELL

Right now. Here's why:

Construction prices have stabilised
Canalfront resale of new builds is setting new benchmarks
Buyer migration from interstate is at a 3-year high
Supply of flat, buildable land is nearly exhausted
Developer and prestige-owner cash reserves are ready

RECENT CASE: SELLER UPLIFT THROUGH STRATEGIC POSITIONING

Location: Cootamundra Drive
Original home value (as is): $2.15M
Norton’s marketed as: Builder-ready block with dual-living DA draft
Buyer: Brisbane-based developer-owner with prestige portfolio
Contract: $2.73M
Settlement: 42 days
Uplift for seller (vs market appraisal): $420,000+

📈 The difference? The seller didn’t just list a house. They sold a future home.

TIPS FOR CANALFRONT HOMEOWNERS CONSIDERING SALE

Don’t renovate for sale – unless it's structural or urgent
Get drone photography – highlight block orientation and width
Know your zoning – some streets allow multiple dwelling (STCA)
Don’t list publicly before testing buyer match
Stage for concept, not style – buyers want to imagine the rebuild

💼 Norton’s includes planning advice, buyer matching, and price modelling before your home is listed online.

FAQs

Q: What if I already live in the home?
A: We can negotiate delayed settlement or lease-back agreements while you transition.

Q: What if I’m not sure about selling yet?
A: We offer a free, obligation-free Canalfront Value Report with recent sales, build potential, and zoning overlays.

Q: Do I need council approval first?
A: No. We help identify if your property is best suited to live-in, invest, or redevelop, and match buyers accordingly.

📞 Thinking of Selling Your Canalfront Property in Burleigh Waters?

Don’t list it as a home.
Sell it as a site.
Sell it with the only agency specialising in block-to-builder transitions and prestige waterfront resales.

📞 Norton’s Real Estate – Prestige & Canalfront Division

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer

This content is general in nature and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Norton’s Real Estate disclaims liability for property, contractual, or financial decisions made based on this article. Please consult a legal or financial advisor before selling.

Selling Your Unit Block for Redevelopment in Surfers Paradise – How the 75% Rule Works, and Why Norton’s Is the Go-To Agency Subtitle: When repairs are too costly and the building is no longer viable, Norton’s steps in to manage full-block sales — from strategy to settlement. IS YOUR BUILDING AT THE END OF ITS LIFESPAN? Not every unit block in Surfers Paradise is fit for repair. If your strata property: Requires structural repair or fire compliance upgrades Has major waterproofing or concrete cancer issues Can’t raise special levies due to owner resistance Faces insurance hikes from unaddressed defects Has a body corporate constantly deferring upgrades …then you’re not managing real estate — you’re delaying the inevitable. 📉 And in these situations, it’s often better to sell the building in one line to a developer, rather than suffer loss of value or collapse of the strata scheme. WHAT IS THE 75% STRATA RULE? In Queensland, body corporate schemes can now vote to terminate and sell the entire building, even if not all owners agree — provided: At least 75% of lot owners vote in favour The building is deemed not financially viable to repair or maintain Proper legal and financial pathways are followed Valuations and independent reports support the termination Norton’s is the only selling agent on the Gold Coast actively assisting strata buildings with 75% resolution sales. WHY CHOOSE NORTON’S FOR A UNIT BLOCK SALE? 1. 🧱 We Are Selling Agents Only We don’t manage buildings. We don’t develop property. We represent you, the owners, and we only act for the selling party. 2. 📉 We Understand the 75% Rule We’ve worked with: Buildings in financial distress Complex owner groups Stalled maintenance plans Council zoning and uplift mapping We guide owners and committees through: Unit-by-unit valuations Independent engineer reports Coordination of EGM + voting structure Buyer matching to credible developers only SIGNS YOUR BUILDING IS REDEVELOPMENT READY Red Flag What It Means Repeated roof, plumbing, and waterproofing issues Future cost exceeds building value No sinking fund or levies declined Inability to maintain core infrastructure Insurance premiums increasing annually Building flagged as high-risk Owner disputes over repair costs Blocked decisions = asset decline Age of building exceeds 40+ years End-of-life for multiple internal systems 📉 Norton’s provides a free block health check, including: Zoning map Planning overlays Sales vs repair cost comparison Buyer interest level for redevelopment HOW WE HANDLE A ONE-LINE UNIT BLOCK SALE This isn’t a standard listing. It’s a coordinated campaign with multiple stakeholders. Step 1: Site Review Building age, condition and past repair history Recent B&P and insurance summaries Sales value (if sold as single units) vs block uplift price Step 2: Buyer Positioning Zoning confirmation (HDR = High Density Residential preferred) Height limits, plot ratio, and frontage Developer demand for precinct (e.g. Chevron Island, Trickett St, Old Burleigh Rd) Exit price range for resale, investor, or build-and-hold models Step 3: Committee Engagement We prepare a "Site for Sale" briefing pack Present value uplift comparisons Coordinate legal pathway for EGM (via solicitor) Meet with each owner if needed — unit by unit Step 4: 75% Resolution Requires a special resolution Owners vote on building termination Norton’s liaises with strata lawyer + valuer We manage buyer due diligence conditions to avoid long DA delays Step 5: Off-Market Campaign Buyer shortlisting: local builders, Sydney funds, Gold Coast developers No open listings — off-market exclusivity Highest and best offers structured with milestone deposits All owners briefed on contracts and timeline HOW NORTON’S PROTECTS OWNERS DURING A BLOCK SALE Independent valuation per unit Voluntary participation prioritised Developer offers checked for planning capacity All sale contracts reviewed by strata solicitor Deposits structured with security (5–10% with staged release) RealtyAssist: Pay no upfront marketing or legal costs – settled post-sale RECENT EXAMPLE: TRICKETT STREET – 6-PACK UNIT BLOCK Block Value (individual sales): ~$4.2M Developer Offer (one-line): $5.35M Status: 5 of 6 owners initially agreed Norton’s Actions: Brought in strata lawyer to explain process Obtained engineer report showing $480K in repair needs Sixth owner agreed after valuation confirmation + above-market offer Outcome: All owners received more than independent market value Contract settled in 76 days Developer lodged DA for 8-storey build CAN YOU SELL A UNIT BLOCK IF ONE OWNER SAYS NO? Yes — under Queensland's 75% rule (Body Corporate and Community Management Act amendments): If: Your building meets the "not financially viable to maintain" criteria A formal vote is held Process is followed legally …then a single objecting owner cannot block the termination. But only a qualified agency like Norton’s can coordinate: Legal guidance Individual owner support Multi-party valuation Buyer structuring that accounts for different lot sizes, titles, and timing WHO’S BUYING UNIT BLOCKS IN SURFERS PARADISE IN 2025? Buyer Type Why They Want Your Building Boutique developers High-rise approved areas = major ROI SMSF investors Buy to renovate, sell or rent in one line National developers Landbanking in view corridors Local builders Knockdown + 12-unit resi rebuilds Coastal lifestyle syndicates Rebuild into private short-stay suites Norton’s qualifies all buyer groups in advance. We don’t list your site unless we know who it’s for. 📞 Selling Your Unit Block? Speak with the only agency who understands 75% strata exits. Norton’s Real Estate – Unit Block Redevelopment Sales (07) XXXX XXXX 📧 Email: strata@nortonsrealestate.com.au 🌐 nortonsrealestate.com.au/surfers-unitblocks ⚠️ Legal Disclaimer This content is provided for general informational purposes only. Norton’s Real Estate disclaims liability for any legal or financial decisions made based on the content of this article. Owners should seek independent legal and financial advice before voting on or participating in a body corporate termination. A Merry Christmas from. ›