GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

Signed, sealed, delivered ... it’s still a lead. Happy World Post Day to all the agents still dropping DL flyers, handwritten notes, and settlement gifts the old-school way. In a world of DMs and email drip campaigns, there’s still something powerful about a well-timed letter in the mailbox, especially when it lands in front of the right seller. Postal services might feel a bit retro, but they’ve been quietly helping us connect, list, and sell for decades. So here’s to envelopes that open doors (literally) and to every agent who knows that sometimes, the best way to get noticed is to go postal, in the best way.

Today’s read time: 8 minutes, 57 seconds

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FUTURE PROOFING

Celebrating the past and planning for the next century

Heritage to innovation

Compton Green is approaching its 100-year milestone by refusing to rely solely on history and instead investing in adaptability, innovation and a people-first culture. Managing Director Adrian Butera believes the agency’s longevity comes from honouring its heritage while constantly evolving.

“It’s extraordinary to be part of an organisation that has been trusted by its community for a hundred years,” he says. “But you can’t survive that long by staying the same. Longevity isn’t about doing the same thing for 100 years; it’s about listening, evolving and making sure your business remains relevant to the people you serve.”

People and culture as the foundation

Adrian credits Compton Green’s resilience to its team and a deliberate approach to culture. “Few companies last a hundred years in any industry, and the reason we’re still here is because of the people we’ve had along the journey,” he says. “Some have been with us a really long time, some for shorter periods, but have made a huge impact.”

He believes culture is built through consistent, thoughtful actions. “I’m a big believer in you attract the people you deserve,” Adrian says. “This morning I had coffee with a client. When I paid, I bought three muffins, brought them to the office, chopped them up and put them out. People don’t stay because of muffins, but every little one percenter chips away at culture. For every muffin I give them, they give me two or three in return in another way.”

Innovation beyond traditional real estate

Rather than relying only on sales and listings, Compton Green has broadened its scope with ventures such as CGS, a government-focused property management arm. “We remain very innovative,” Adrian says. “I love sharing the vision. Not all ideas or innovations get created, but we have one and we evolve it.”

CGS has grown into one of Victoria’s largest property managers for government. “At one stage and even now, we’re the biggest property management company for the state of Victoria,” he explains. “We manage properties for the Victorian state government, and now we have state, local and federal government as clients. We saw the opportunity, tendered for it, and built something that allows us to compete against companies 100 times our size.”

Balancing heritage with forward thinking

While respecting the past, Compton Green has refreshed its brand and sharpened its vision to engage modern clients. “We wanted to refresh and make sure we were on track,” Adrian says. “We captured some history, but the look and feel needed to engage people beyond a hundred years.”

He is also pushing environmental and social impact to the forefront. “If we’re going to talk the talk, we need to walk the walk,” he says. “Businesses need solar, proper recycling, a social procurement policy - if there’s a choice between a coffee shop that’s just a business and one that’s a social enterprise, we should support the social enterprise. This may be common in big business but not in small suburban agencies. We want to stand out in that way.”

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we gave you real tips for office launch success.

TOGETHER WITH BIZCOVER

How Professional Indemnity Insurance can protect real estate agents

BizCover reports a case where a property investment sales agent faced a costly dispute after recommending a block of land advertised as “duplex suitable,” only to discover later that council access restrictions made duplex construction unfeasible.

The agent had relied in good faith on assurances from the selling agent and shared that advice with their client. When the development collapsed, the client suffered about $30,000 in losses, including stamp duty, legal fees, resale commissions, and bank costs.

A professional negligence claim was made against the sales agent despite their honest intentions and fortunately, the agent’s Professional Indemnity insurance responded, covering $17,000 in legal defence expenses and a partial settlement payment.

According to BizCover, this case shows that good faith is not always enough; agents should verify critical information independently, keep clear records, and maintain adequate insurance.

Read more about BizCover here.

MARKET REPORT

Spring property market tightens as prices climb

Australia’s housing market opened spring with fewer total listings and firmer prices, as fresh sellers entered but overall stock shrank. SQM Research found national listings fell 4.8 per cent in September and are 6.6 per cent lower than a year ago, led by steep drops in Brisbane and Perth. New listings did rise 3.7 per cent month-on-month, driven by a surge in Hobart and Canberra, but remain below 2024 levels.

Distressed sales plunged 27 per cent year-on-year, signalling stronger market stability, while older stock cleared in most cities despite Sydney and Canberra seeing more stale listings. Asking prices rose across the board, with houses up 9.5 per cent annually and units 7.8 per cent, while Perth’s unit market jumped 20.1 per cent in a year. Brisbane and Adelaide also posted double-digit price growth, underscoring seller confidence. Analysts say tight supply and steady demand could keep upward pressure on prices, though affordability and interest rates remain key risks.

QLD SOCIAL HOUSING

Gold Coast social housing pipeline ramps up with record state investment

The Queensland Government says 595 social and affordable homes are now under construction or under contract across the Gold Coast as part of its push to address housing need. This forms part of a $5.6 billion, four-year investment in social and community housing aimed at delivering 53,500 new homes by 2044. Among the projects, 36 new community homes in Southport have been fast-tracked through the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation process and are being delivered with Community Housing (QLD) Limited. The government plans to lift annual construction to 2,000 social and community homes by the end of this term, after what it says was a decade of underinvestment.

RBNZ

Big rate cut aims to lift New Zealand economy and housing confidence

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has cut the Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to 2.50 per cent, a stronger-than-expected move aimed at stimulating a weakening economy. Unemployment has risen to 5.2 per cent and is forecast to climb further, while business and consumer confidence remain low and migration outflows weigh on the labour force. Inflation is steady at 2.7 per cent, giving the central bank room to act more aggressively.

Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee said the larger cut should provide more meaningful mortgage relief and could lift housing market sentiment, though conditions remain balanced rather than growth-driven. CoreLogic’s Kelvin Davidson said the move was the “least-regrets option” to support the economy, with another cut possible in November if conditions don’t improve.

CELEBRITY HOMES

The Weeknd’s mega mansion hits all the right notes

Looks like The Weeknd is adding “dock a superyacht” to his weekend plans. The chart-topping singer is reportedly snapping up one of Florida’s most extravagant homes - a Coral Gables estate with 574 feet of waterfront, a 140-foot dock, and views worthy of a music video. The house even has a 19 metre mosaic pool, plus eight bedrooms, a double staircase, and a dressing room fit for a fashion-forward star. At nearly AUD$86.5 million, it’s a big flex - even by celebrity standards. And with room for a yacht that’s longer than most office buildings, this place is less house, more lifestyle statement. One thing’s for sure: The Weeknd knows how to make a splash.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Belle Property expands in Sydney's northern suburbs

Simon Harrison, James Bennett, and Ramsy Batshon have acquired Belle Property Ryde, adding to their existing portfolio of Lane Cove, Hunter's Hill, Lindfield, Willoughby, and Commercial North Shore offices. More here.

Ray White Alliance team takes over Pacific Pines

Simon Finlayson, Jason Atkinson and Brad Wilson bring their high-performing leadership to their third office, with local experts Corey and Stephanie Banks running operations. More here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

Ever get a listing so extra it reads like a client’s vision board? Pools, casitas, curb appeal, theatre, even a ball pit. Yep, it’s got everything. Good luck topping this one.✨ 🤸‍♀️

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

Wishing you a productive day!

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