GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

We’re back - hope your long weekend was relaxing (and that any leftover chocolate eggs survived the public holiday clean-up).

Today also happens to be Earth Day, a global reminder to be a bit kinder to the planet. In real estate, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword. More buyers are asking about energy ratings, greener builds, and how much sunlight a place actually gets. So it’s worth keeping an eye on how those eco-friendly features can stack up to help your listings stand out.

We’ve got plenty of news and insights lined up to get you back into gear — let’s get into it.

Today’s read time: 4 minutes, 59 seconds

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MOTIVATION

Finding your WHY: how tapping into true motivation can transform your real estate career

Many agents enter real estate chasing external rewards, “commissions, awards, or social recognition.”

But according to Gayle Fitzmaurice, Sales Performance Specialist at Ray White WA, those incentives only drive “short bursts of effort.” The key to long-term success? “You need to find intrinsic motivation - the deep, personal reasons that make you jump out of bed in the morning, excited to take on the day.”

Go deeper than “I want to earn more money” or “I want to be successful.”

Ask yourself:

• “Why do you want financial freedom?”

• “What would that allow you to do for your family, your future, or your passions?”

• “What personal legacy are you working to create?”

Gayle urges agents to reflect on the lifestyle they want to create and how their work supports those goals. “Motivation is the fuel that powers the engine. Without understanding your true ‘why,’ even the best strategies will eventually lose momentum.”

Mission, vision, values: your compass for purposeful business

Once agents define their “why,” the next step is building a framework for purpose. As Gayle puts it, “Your mission is about the now - why you’re in business and what you aim to achieve daily. It’s about your approach and your impact on clients and the community.”

She offers a sample mission statement: “To help families find homes they love, while delivering an experience built on integrity, care, and results.”

Your vision, on the other hand, should paint a picture of what life and business look like “if everything goes to plan” while values, she explains, are “the behaviours and standards that guide how you operate.”

Lead with purpose, not just performance

By aligning your business with your “mission, vision, and values,” Gayle believes agents can create careers that are “not just productive, it’s purposeful.” When motivation runs deep, so does consistency, resilience, and fulfilment

Read the full article here.

ICYMI, last week, we looked at the AI shift helping PMs spend more time with people, instead of paperwork.

TOGETHER WITH PROPTRACK

Noise now a key factor in home values

A new PropTrack and Ambient study has quantified how road, rail, and aircraft noise affects property prices across Victoria. Using PropTrack’s AI-powered valuation model and Ambient’s high-resolution noise data, researchers found aircraft noise had the biggest impact, reducing values by 6–9% per 10dB(A), which is the unit used to measure sound levels while accounting for the sensitivity of the human ear).

This was followed by road (6%) and rail (4%). PropTrack says the integration of environmental data into property valuation reflects growing demand for more transparent, data-driven insights. The findings could help buyers and investors weigh liveability factors, and give agents more precise tools for appraisals. Read the findings of the noise study here.

DEPT OF RENT

Rental market steadies, though prices still on the rise

Australia’s rental market is showing signs of stability, even as prices continue to edge upwards. In March 2025, the national weekly rent reached $630, marking a 5% lift compared to the same time last year, equivalent to about $30 extra a week. While Queensland and South Australia are seeing the strongest growth, Sydney remains the priciest city, with tenants paying around $9,100 more annually than their counterparts in Melbourne. The good news? Experts say the pace of growth is still below the highs we saw in 2022 and 2023, suggesting things may be starting to settle.

DEPT OF AUCTIONS

Easter holiday brings auction market to a standstill

Australia's typically bustling property auction scene hit the brakes over Easter, with scheduled auctions plummeting 78.1% compared to the previous week. Only 672 capital city homes went under the hammer during the holiday period, down from 3,066 the week before. Sydney remained the busiest market with 384 auctions, while Melbourne experienced the most dramatic decline. Expect a rebound with approximately 1,050 auctions scheduled for the Anzac Day long weekend.

DEPT OF AI

Real estate meets AI: adapt or get left behind

We break down 10 sharp, no-fluff lessons on how AI is shaking up real estate - and why agents can’t afford to sit this one out. From ditching typing for smarter prompting to letting AI handle the first draft of your listing kit, it’s all about working faster, not harder. Inspired by Shopify’s bold AI-first move, this one’s packed with real-world tips, a few laughs, and a gentle nudge for the laggards. If you’re still avoiding ChatGPT like it’s a fax machine, now’s the time to get with the program.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Kendall Bora’s stealthy Sydney exit

Nine’s US bureau chief, Kendall Bora, has quietly sold her tiny Woollahra apartment for $795k after relocating to LA. The 35sqm spot came with Harbour Bridge glimpses and just enough space for a window seat and a car park. She bought it solo back in 2017, before husband Matt Doran and their greyhound Murphy entered the scene. Now settled in the States, the couple has also listed their Berowra Waters retreat for $3 million.

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

Who needs rest when you're in real estate? This agent takes a call from a hospital bed - mid-drip, still pitching like a pro. Because even in a gown and compression socks, the hustle doesn’t stop. Actually … this is no laughing matter. 🏥 📞

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

Wishing you a productive day

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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