GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today.

The same is true for building your AI advantage in real estate.

A year ago, AI-powered agents started learning the prompts, workflows and strategies that are now giving them an unfair advantage.

Today, you have one more chance to close that gap before we head into 2026.

The AI-First Agent Accelerator starts tomorrow at 12 pm Sydney time – six weeks of plug-and-play systems that help you write better listing copy, automate repetitive tasks, and position yourself as the agent who leads, not follows.

This is the last public course until March 2026. Final spots here – doors close tomorrow when the course begins.

Today’s read time: 8 minutes, 16 seconds

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LEADERSHIP

The future belongs to the adaptable

Insights from Paul McGee on thriving through change in real estate

As the real estate industry faces constant disruption, from shifting markets to evolving technology, adaptability is fast becoming the ultimate competitive edge. In this exclusive conversation, best-selling author and mindset expert Paul McGee explains why resilience isn’t about grinding through challenges but learning to adapt with clarity, care, and control.

Resilience is about adaptation, not endurance

“What does resilience mean? Well, let's just think about this. Um, Blockbuster weren't resilient. Blackberry weren't resilient. Nokia weren't resilient.”

Paul says true resilience isn’t about being unbreakable; it’s about staying flexible when things change.

“The future does not belong to the strongest or the most intelligent. The future belongs to those who are best able to adapt to change. In a nutshell, if you can't adapt to change, you won't be resilient. You're no longer in the game.”

For agents, that means moving with the market, not against it, whether by adopting new digital tools, rethinking client engagement, or refining their marketing strategy when the old ways stop working.

Leading with clarity and care

When uncertainty hits, leadership defines how a team responds.

“I think first of all just step back and understand, look, we're not magically born with a set of skills to go, ‘Oh great, we're moving into the unknown and the uncertain, that sounds like a plan.’ So as much clarity as is possible is really important.”

But clarity alone isn’t enough. “Staff need to feel they're cared for and valued,” says Paul and communication and empathy builds trust when answers aren’t always available.

For principals and directors, that means balancing tough decisions with consistent support and helping teams stay grounded, even when outcomes are uncertain.

Focus on what you can control

“Step back, press pause, and just understand this: uncertainty is inevitable. I have a phrase - reality rules.”

Paul reminds agents that stress and discomfort during change are normal, but not everything is within their control: “What can I influence or have some control over? Because every day there are some certainties. We need to focus on those rather than things that are not in our control.”

In our industry, that might mean improving systems, nurturing client relationships, or sharpening negotiation skills. The goal, Paul says, is to “focus on what you can influence” - because perspective, not panic, is what keeps professionals performing at their best.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, last week we looked at why reinvention, not routine will drive your business further.

TOGETHER WITH PROPERTY ME

PropertyMe acquires Phoenix Software to create an all-in-one real estate platform

PropertyMe, a leading property management software provider, has acquired Phoenix Software, the proptech company behind the AI-powered Phoenix CRM. The move extends PropertyMe’s platform beyond property management into sales, creating what the company calls a single connected ecosystem for the entire real estate journey.

“Now we’re extending our innovation to the sales side of real estate, giving agencies one connected platform to manage their entire customer journey,” said Chief Customer Officer Sarah Dawson.

Chief Product Officer Scott Shepherd said the goal is to simplify workflows, adding, “We know how hard real estate teams work. They shouldn’t have to flip between five different platforms to get the job done.” Meanwhile, Phoenix Software CEO Luke Paverd said joining PropertyMe will “accelerate our roadmap and continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in real estate technology.”

The full Phoenix Software team has joined PropertyMe as part of the deal.

Read more about the acquisition here.

THOUGHT LEADERS

12 Months Ago, AI Video Was 4-Second Train Wrecks. Watch What We Just Created in 8 Hours.

The leap in generative video lately has been staggering. Last year's wobbly clips have become today's broadcast-ready content. Voice cloning went from robotic to conversational. Digital avatars have evolved from creepy to compelling. The UK’s Channel 4 fooled everyone with an AI Correspondent last week.

So, not to be outdone, if you press play on this video, you’ll see a dramatic improvement that can serve as a stand-in for market updates, onboarding videos, and more.

This entire video – script, voices, presenters, production – was created using AI tools that anyone can access today. Imagine creating personalised property tours and vendor updates as easily as sending a text.

Watch the 17-minute video here—and if you’d like to deep-dive into how it was created, Sam breaks it down here.

NSW RENTAL LAWS

NSW strengthens rental laws to protect domestic violence victim-survivors

The NSW Parliament has passed new rental reforms giving domestic violence victim-survivors greater power to leave unsafe homes and protect their privacy. Under the changes, tenants escaping abuse will no longer be required to notify co-tenants when ending a lease, with landlords or agents now responsible for that process. Victim-survivors will also gain broader rights to change locks without landlord consent and stronger financial protections, including easier bond recovery and safeguards against being held liable for damage caused by violence.

DOUBLE THE PROFIT

A decade of double-digit growth in 98 suburbs

Australia has nearly 100 suburbs where house prices have risen by at least 10% annually for the past decade, with regional areas outperforming capital cities. Queensland dominates with 45 high-performing suburbs, while Melbourne's Aintree tops the list with an impressive 15% annual growth since 2015. Surprisingly, affordability hasn't been a barrier, with nearly two-thirds of these growth hotspots having median house prices below $1 million.

POLITICAL REAL ESTATE

Trump, the world’s most famous real estate developer, is now redesigning the White House

As one of the world’s most recognisable real estate developers, President Donald Trump is now reshaping the most famous property in America. The East Wing of the White House is being demolished to make way for his proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom, a US$300 million project he says is privately funded. While Trump calls it a “modernisation,” preservation groups have condemned the demolition, warning that the new structure could “overwhelm the White House itself.”

CELEBRITY HOMES

Supercars mogul's $4M beachfront splurge

Supercars team owner and property mogul Betty Klimenko has snapped up a $4 million beachfront home in Culburra, NSW, adding another trophy property to her impressive portfolio. The two-level residence sits on a 1016 sqm parcel fronting Warrain Beach and ranks as the seventh most expensive sale in the seaside town, about 18 km southeast of Nowra. Once a top-performing Airbnb, the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home boasts ocean-view balconies, a bar, gym, and pool. The property last traded for just $956,500 in 2010 before a major renovation in 2017 lifted its value.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

John Foong steps down at Domain

The Chief Commercial Officer will leave his position in two weeks after four years but remain as an advisor into 2026 following CoStar Group's acquisition.

Kate Blucher joins Ray White Special Projects Queensland.

The experienced acquisitions specialist brings nearly two decades of property advisory experience to strengthen the team's development site and greenfield land capabilities.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
Get the latest on top agent and agency moves every Sunday with our weekly roundup in Movers & Shakers. Subscribe now.

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

If Zara sold properties, every open home would have perfect lighting, folded throws no one’s allowed to touch, and buyers asking if the coffee table comes in beige. ☕🕯️

Seen an Agent On Social we should include? Let us know here (email link)

Wishing you a productive day!

Elite Agent is the definitive platform for ambitious agents and industry players. Thought Leaders is the weekly show where top operators reveal how they’re reinventing real estate. AI-Powered Agents is your playbook for deploying AI that sells homes and scales teams.

Elite Agent is crewed by Mark Edwards, Catherine Nikas-Boulos, Rowan Crosby, Charmagne Arrubio and Samantha McLean. We aim to uplift the real estate industry by delivering forward-thinking, hype-free news and education that fosters knowledge and fuels ambition.

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