GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

On 26 September 1983, Australia II ended the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak to claim the America’s Cup — a victory built on innovation, strategy and the courage to challenge convention (yes, the now-legendary winged keel). John Bertrand, the skipper and helmsman who led Australia II to that historic win, captivated the Connect 2025 audience with powerful lessons on vision, trust and building a high-performance culture. “What’s the game going to look like in twenty years’ time? And let’s get there faster than anyone else in the world,” he said, describing the forward-thinking mindset that sparked the winged keel breakthrough.

Culture, he explained, was the real turning point: “Without trust, you have nothing. Until we got the culture sorted, we couldn’t win.” When the pressure was at its peak, the team’s focus was simple but transformative: “We called it racing to calmness; under extreme pressure you bring your body and mind down to optimum so you can perform at your best.” For John, leadership means inspiring people to dream bigger and stay relentlessly curious: “It’s not about hitting a target. It’s about creating something so exciting that people want to be part of it,” and “Curiosity is everything.

The moment you stop asking questions, you flatline.” In real estate, we all chase our own “America’s Cup moments” - winning the listing no one thought you could, backing a bold marketing idea that cuts through, or thriving when others are pulling back. Bertrand’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to be the biggest player to achieve extraordinary results; you need belief, adaptability and the courage to back yourself.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 22 seconds

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SALES STRATEGY

Buyer’s agents, high yields fuel regional mid-market momentum

$300K–$630K properties selling in days, often sight unseen

While many regional markets across Australia are experiencing a slowdown, Mildura’s property market is bucking the trend. Properties priced between $300,000 and $630,000 are moving within days, sometimes even hours, as investor demand fuels rapid transactions. Ray White Mildura’s Damian Portaro describes the current pace as “faster than COVID” in this tightly defined bracket.

”It’s complete bedlam in that price range,” he says. “Many homes receive between five to 30 offers, frequently from buyers who have never stepped foot in the property.”

Above $650,000, demand drops significantly, highlighting a highly segmented market.

Yield-driven investors reshape the local market

Investor interest has spiked the back of attractive fundamentals. With rental returns between 5.5–6% and vacancy rates at just 0.78%, Mildura is outperforming many metropolitan areas on yield. Notably, buyer’s agents, virtually absent from the region until recently, now drive up to 80% of investment activity. Damian says this influx has put the town firmly “on the radar” for yield-seeking buyers priced out of major cities.

"Rental returns of between 5.5 and six per cent are common, vacancy rates have hovered below one per cent for years – currently it’s about 0.78 per cent.”

Sales tactics shift toward off-market and digital channels

The method of sale has evolved alongside demand. Off-market deals and social media pre-launches are now standard practice, with some properties attracting offers within hours of a personal post going live. Open homes are quieter, often with only 3–5 groups, but enquiry levels remain high.

"I’ll do a sneak peek or a prelaunch on social media and I start getting offers site unseen,” says Damian. "Sometimes the post has been up an hour or two and I’m already getting offers."

The sales bonanza has prompted agencies to expand staffing, with Daman hiring both local team members and offshore support to maintain service levels under intense pressure.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday why self-leadership can be your most underrated superpower.

TIKTOK ANALYSIS

What first home buyers really want: TikTok data reveals strategic approach to property

Analysis of TikTok’s trending content shows that first home buyers are far from simply being “priced out” of the market. Young Australians aged 18–34 are approaching property with a strategic, investment-focused mindset, using the platform to learn about wealth creation and market entry rather than treating homeownership purely as a lifestyle goal. Nerida Conisbee, Ray White Group Chief Economist, found that over 30 days, hashtags such as #propertyinvestment, #australianproperty, #homeloans and #propertytips ranked among the most engaged-with in the Financial Investment category.

RBA

Will there be a pause on rate relief?

Despite three rate cuts already this year, the Reserve Bank of Australia is now expected to keep interest rates on hold following unexpected inflation data. Monthly CPI rose to 3%, higher than the anticipated 2.9%, creating uncertainty around the central bank's next move. Experts still predict further cuts before year-end, with November looking promising if economic conditions cooperate..

US FLIP FLOP

Home flippers face profit crisis as margins hit 17-year low

Home flipping profits have collapsed to 25.1% in Q2 2025, marking the lowest returns since the 2008 financial crisis as acquisition costs surge to record highs. Despite flippers purchasing 78,600 properties representing 7.4% of all US home sales, median purchase prices hit US$259,700 while resale prices remained flat at US$325,000, squeezing typical gross profits to just US$65,300.

Georgia dominated flipping activity with Warner Robins leading at 18.5%, while Texas markets like Austin struggled with returns as low as 5.5%. The dramatic decline from 62.9% margins in 2012 reflects increased competition from priced-out homebuyers targeting the same lower-cost properties

CELEBRITY HOMES

Jazz legend's former suite hits the market

Ella Fitzgerald's former French Riviera hotel haunt has been transformed into a luxury apartment priced at €7.75M (AUD$14.7M). The three-bedroom residence at Le Provençal spans 2,172 square feet with an additional 562 square feet of terraces overlooking the Mediterranean. The "Queen of Jazz" stayed at the landmark hotel multiple times during the 1960s for the Jazz-à-Juan festival, once even giving an impromptu performance from her window for gathered fans.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Acton | Belle Property expands with Mount Hawthorn office

Top-performing agent Hamish Laidlaw will lead the new inner-city hub, joined by Executive Assistant Holly Barry, strengthening the brand’s Perth presence. More here.

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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

Always early, never needs coffee and waves at every buyer like they’re VIP. 💨👋

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Wishing you a productive day!

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