GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

The latest Emerging Trends in Real Estate Global Outlook 2025 report from PwC and the Urban Land Institute hints at a long-awaited market reset, with optimism bubbling up despite political and economic wobbles. Investors are eyeing hot sectors like data centres, energy infrastructure, and logistics, thanks to AI growth and energy security needs.

Europe is stabilising, North America is hoping for rate cuts, and Asia Pacific’s rising stars - India and Southeast Asia - are catching attention. While uncertainty still lingers, the mood is shifting from doom and gloom to cautious excitement. Could 2025 be the fresh start international real estate has been waiting for?

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 12 seconds

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OPINION

Is your juice worth the squeeze? A business perspective on effort versus reward

After several days confined to a hotel room during Cyclone Alfred, NSW CEO Katrina Tarrant found herself binge-watching With Love, Meghan.

One moment in particular stood out - Meghan Markle’s reflection on juicing, where she posed the question: “Is your juice worth the squeeze?” Initially, Tarrant found humour in it, calling it “a metaphor wrapped in citrus wisdom”, but on further reflection, she recognised its relevance to business, decision-making, and real estate.

In an industry that demands high-stakes negotiations, relationship management, and constant problem-solving, determining whether an opportunity is worth the time, energy, and stress is essential. While some deals progress smoothly, others, as Katrina puts it, “feel like you’re squeezing a rock and hoping for orange juice.”

Weighing the value of client relationships
Not all clients are created equal, and real estate agents know that some can be far more demanding than others. Katrina acknowledges that certain clients “take up every waking moment, question every decision, and demand the impossible.”

The challenge is determining whether they will be valuable in the long run. “At the end of it all, is the transaction worth the stress? Are they a lifelong client who will send referrals your way or just a one-and-done ordeal that leaves you emotionally drained?”

Identifying which clients are worth the investment and which will only deplete resources is critical for maintaining efficiency and professional well-being.

Understanding when to let go of a listing
Agents often encounter properties that, on paper, should sell quickly but instead become the longest-running show on the market. These listings consume time, money, and energy, often with little return.

Katrina highlights this issue, asking, “Is it just a tough nut to crack, or are you holding onto something that’s wasting your time and energy?” Knowing when to persist versus when to move on is essential for optimising efforts and focusing on properties that provide better results.

Balancing growth without burnout
Beyond individual deals, the pressure to scale a business can be overwhelming. In a competitive industry, there is constant encouragement to expand teams, take on more listings, and increase market share. However, Katrina challenges this mindset.

“As professionals, we’re always told to level up, grow the team, expand the business, take on more. But at what point does more become too much? When is the squeeze leading to real juice, and when is it just sucking the life out of you?” Sustainable growth requires strategy, not just blind expansion.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we discussed why character skills could be the missing piece in real estate training.

TOGETHER WITH BIZCOVER

A costly reminder why real estate agents need insurance
A real estate agent was hit with a $238,248 liability claim after failing to follow up on reported decking issues, which later caused a tenant to suffer injuries. Fortunately, their Professional Indemnity insurance covered the claim, highlighting the importance of protection against professional negligence.

Real estate agents face various risks, from property damage claims to cyber threats, making Public Liability, Cyber Liability, and Management Liability insurance crucial considerations. With BizCover, agents can easily compare and purchase coverage to safeguard their business, finances, and reputation. Can you afford not to be covered? Read more about BizCover here.

SMART SNIPPETS

New homes proving cheaper in five states
Challenging the notion that new builds always come with premium price tags, homebuyers in five Australian states are taking out smaller mortgages for new homes than for established properties.

The ACT leads this trend with new home loans averaging 20% less than those for existing properties, followed by Tasmania with a 12.5% gap. Experts put this down to regional land affordability and government incentives like stamp duty concessions and first-home buyer grants.

Renovations won’t always add value
Encouraging your sellers to undergo home renovation before going on the market might not add as much value as you think. While Ray White Group Chief Economist Nerida Conisbee explains that market movements, neighbourhood price ceilings, and personal taste all impact returns.

Dubai’s property market booms as Gulf cities compete for luxury buyers
Dubai’s real estate market continues its rapid growth, with residential sales hitting AED 120 billion ($32.7 billion) in Q3 2024 and property prices soaring 147% over five years. A shift towards long-term buyers, driven by the Golden Visa program and high rental yields, is reshaping the market with larger, family-friendly developments. Neighbouring cities, including Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, are adapting their strategies to attract investors.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Rob Lowe slashes mansion price again
Actor Rob Lowe has reduced the asking price of his Beverly Hills home to US$5.2 million, marking the second cut since listing it in July 2023 for US$6.575 million. The 3,000-square-foot property, purchased in 2020 for US$3.75 million, features four bedrooms, multiple wet bars, a pool, hot tub, and putting green. According to the listing, the home can be sold partially furnished for buyers seeking a move-in ready Beverly Hills address.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Elders Lifestyle Group unveils ‘Lifestyle’ rebrand across NSW
Elders Lifestyle Group has rebranded its 21 offices across New South Wales under the new Lifestyle name. The move follows eight years of expansion across the Mid North Coast and Northern NSW with sales totalling $830 million in 2024. More here.

Experienced trio take ownership of Ray White Drouin 
Dale Atkin, Libby Talbot, and Felicity Bryant bring over a decade of collaborative experience to their new roles as agency owners in regional Victoria. 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.

SOUNDWAVES

The power of self-talk in real estate: how mindset shapes motivation

A recent study published in Small Enterprise Research explores how self-talk influences entrepreneurial motivation, revealing a direct link between positive self-talk and intrinsic motivation and negative self-talk and extrinsic motivation.

While traditionally associated with sports psychology, this curated listen discusses how self-talk plays a critical role in business decision-making, particularly in high-pressure industries like real estate.

Dive straight into the listen below or the deeper dive here.

Read the article from Taylor and Francis here.

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

When the real estate photographer arrives to shoot a listing but finds half packed boxes and furniture out of place, they don’t just adjust the lighting, they start shifting furniture too. Congrats, you’re now a professional removalist … and still only getting paid for the photos. 📸🪑

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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