GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

TRUE OR FALSE?

Is it possible to “own” a property in the traditional sense, (keys handed over, settlement complete, the whole deal done), but still not actually own the land beneath the building.
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer!)

In today’s edition of The Brief

• How agents can use AI to guide clients through the Budget changes

• Budget fallout shifts from tax debate to housing supply pressure

• Find out why Zillow is back in the courtroom

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 40 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

BUDGET 2026: THE AI EDITION

Build the tools - then pick up the phone.

Your clients can Google the budget changes. They can ask ChatGPT for advice. They can read a hundred hot takes before lunch. What they can't get from any of that is someone who knows their property and situation and picks up the phone to walk them through it.

Samantha McLean is one step ahead; she spent the morning after (Budget night) building tools.

An interactive flowchart that walks investors through the decision tree: Do they already own? Are they buying? New build or established? Each path leads to a clear outcome: what's grandfathered, what's in the grace period, and what's restricted.

Here are some ideas you could explore:

• The interactive flowchart approach: How to build a decision tree your clients can actually use – and put it on your website today

• The CGT calculator framework: Show clients the difference between old and new rules side by side, without giving tax advice

• The rent roll impact model: A tool for principals to quantify revenue risk over the next two to three years

• The five-step playbook: Exactly what to do between now and tomorrow morning to be ahead of every agent in your market

Usefulness will be in short supply for the next few weeks. Opinions won't be. The full article shows you how to be the former. And you can click the buttons on the interactive tool as well.

Read the full article

ICYMI yesterday: The Budget debrief

TOGETHER WITH THE AI SPRINT

Provide a more human touch in your sales process using AI

The free four-week AI Sprint from Elite Agent is off and running. With Week 1 done, it's not too late to join Week 2, where we'll be covering DISC profiling – upload an email, a questionnaire or your notes and understand exactly how your client communicates, their blind spots and the scripts that will land.

By all accounts, Monday's session was a hit. Agents are saying things like "So valuable!", "Can't wait to experiment!", "I didn't know what I didn't know" and "Looking forward to being AHEAD OF THE GAME."

Register free to access the Sprint

BUDGET: INDUSTRY RESPONSE

Budget fallout shifts focus from tax to supply

Australia’s real estate industry is already shifting its focus beyond the politics of the Federal Budget to a bigger concern: whether the country can build enough homes and maintain investor confidence before the 2027 tax changes take effect.

Industry leaders, including Dan White, John McGrath and Will Gosse, warned that the next phase for the market will be defined by housing supply, rental pressure and changing buyer behaviour, with concerns that established rental stock could shrink faster than new housing is delivered.

BACK TO BASICS: LAND TAX

The forgotten tax investors overlook

While negative gearing is grabbing the headlines, land tax is the ongoing cost many investors forget about. Victoria's threshold starts at just $50,000 (NSW is $1.075 million), and investors holding a portflio in a single state can face annual bills of $50,000 to $60,000.

INTERNATIONAL

Zillow sues Compass over private listing access

Zillow has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Compass and Chicago-area MLS operator MRED, claiming they conspired to cut off its access to listing data. The dispute centers on "private listing networks" that let sellers market to a limited audience before going public – Compass calls it seller choice, Zillow calls it a transparency breach. The case raises questions about who controls listing data – agent, MLS, or portal?

NT MARKET

Darwin vacancy hits 0.3% with only 75 rentals

A grand total of 75 rentals across all of Darwin, that's a 0.3% vacancy rate, the tightest in the country. National rents have climbed 7.3% year-on-year to $697 a week, while Hobart leads the pain with a 15.2% annual jump. SQM Research warns negative gearing changes will pile on more pressure, with Louis Christopher declaring "the time for talking is now over."

HOW IT SOLD

Failed listing becomes $4m sale in 21 days

Professional staging and strategic positioning made all the difference. After a previous unsuccessful campaign, Elisa McMahon's reset for a Clayfield character home generated 42 enquiries and three pre-auction offers, securing $4 million in three weeks.

A listing lasts weeks. The case study lasts forever. getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

Broadway stars' fairy-tale castle hits market

When Broadway power couple Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy needed a base during their late-1960s theatre run, they rented an unlikely retreat: a four-turret stone castle in New York’s Westchester County, where two of the turrets were designed as bedrooms. Known as Villa Keen, the property, located near Manhattan, is now on the market for US$1.8 million (around AUD$2.85 million).

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Nick Johnstone merges with Jellis Craig

He's joining the Brighton office in late June, doubling the group's presence in the premium Bayside market. More here.

REMAX's top auction agent Henry Wong

The Brisbane-based agent with REMAX Revolution has been recognised as the network's number one auction agent in Australia. He specialises in connecting buyers to suburbs through his extensive network. More here.

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

Behind every great real estate agent is a great solicitor turning “unconditional” into “under control.” 🏡⚖️🎶 📞

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

TRUE OR FALSE:

It is possible to “own” a property in the traditional sense, (keys handed over, settlement complete, the whole deal done), but still not actually own the land beneath the building.

And the answer is …

TRUE. Yes, and it’s a standard feature of the Dutch market. It’s called “erfpacht” (leasehold), where the purchaser owns the dwelling but the land remains under a long-term lease, typically with a municipal government landowner. It’s essentially a structured way of separating land ownership from building ownership to manage urban development and long-term investment returns.

Wishing you a productive day!

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