It’s About Money: How NSW’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms Enable Property Owners to Sell or Develop for Maximum Returns
The NSW Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy isn’t just about housing, it’s about money. For those who move quickly, it presents one of the biggest opportunities for property owners and investors in years. With an estimated 24,000 hectares rezoned across 171 key locations, development potential has skyrocketed, including in some of Sydney’s most valuable suburbs.
Why This Matters to You
If you own property in areas such as the Lower North Shore, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney Council area, Northern Beaches, Ku-ring-gai, Gladesville, Drummoyne, Maroubra, Kingsford, Kensington, Inner West, Lane Cove, Crows Nest, Wollstonecraft, and Northbridge, your land could be considerably more valuable than it was before.
To put the estimated 24,000 hectares of land likely to be directly impacted in perspective, if the average lot size is approximately 800 square metres around 300,000 properties could potentially benefit. For property owners, this could mean a substantial uplift in value. However, the impact will vary based on location within the rezoned area, existing land use and existing zoning. Some properties will see substantial new development potential.
The Numbers: Why Acting Now Pays Off
Around 300,000 properties are estimated to have their development potential boosted.
Many properties can now support apartments, terraces, townhouses and dual occupancies, depending on zoning.
Rezoning alone doesn’t create money—strategic decision-making does.
Developers are expert at buying at less than full value because often owners don’t know the full development value; do not let developers underpay you.
The market will adjust over time and those who act early will secure the best deals.
Key Risks: Don’t Sell Yourself Short
While the potential for many owners is large, property owners who rely on general advice from real estate agents or developers are at high risk of leaving money on the table. Developers' business models rely on acquiring land at the lowest possible price, every dollar they save is a dollar you don’t make.
Key questions to ask before making a move:
What is my land’s value for development under the new planning rules?
Should I sell now, hold, enter a development partnership or develop?
Is my land more valuable as part of a combined site with neighbours?
How do I structure a deal to ensure I get full market value?
Smart Property Owners Are Already Moving
Opportunities like this don’t last forever. As the market absorbs the changes, sites will become more competitive and prices will stabilise. Early movers are likely to secure the best deals and latecomers could be left negotiating in a crowded market.
Getting the Right Advice
At Augusta Advisors, we specialise in helping property owners navigate and capitalise on rezoning opportunities. Our team provides in-depth analysis to determine the optimal approach, whether that’s selling, holding, entering a development partnership or developing. With an agile professional approach, we ensure our clients make informed, strategic decisions that maximise value.
Our client base is growing rapidly because our advice is grounded in real world experience, backed by dozens of successful negotiations with hard nosed developers. We understand the intricacies of property value maximisation, transactions and development, and work tirelessly to ensure our clients achieve the best possible outcomes.
If you own land in the newly rezoned areas and are serious about maximising profit, contact us today. The window of opportunity is open, but it may not stay that way forever.