GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

Construction is underway on a 50-apartment block in Adelaide’s CBD to support women at risk of homelessness, with completion set for 2026. Managed by the SA Housing Trust, it will offer onsite support, communal spaces, and a touch of community care. It’s part of a bigger plan to create over 100 safe and supportive homes for vulnerable women.

Today’s read time: 4 minutes, 44 seconds.

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COVER STORY

Casey Laulala: from All Black to real estate champion

Casey Laulala, former All Black star, has swapped the scrum for the property market, diving headfirst into his new career as a real estate agent with Harcourts in Christchurch.

Known for his discipline and grit on the field, Casey is now channelling that same energy into navigating the twists and turns of the real estate world. From a Samoan teenager adjusting to life in New Zealand to a celebrated athlete and now a driven agent, Casey’s story is all about reinvention.

“Honestly, [real estate] is so hard … harder than being on a rugby field,” he says. “But I wouldn’t trade it. Every day I get to make a difference.”

On embracing change

Reinvention has been a recurring theme in Casey's life, and he sees change as something to be embraced rather than feared. “With the right mindset, anything is achievable,” he says. For Casey, stepping into real estate wasn’t just about trying something new, it was about taking on a challenge and adapting to a different kind of competition. “Change is something everyone can embrace, and real estate is no exception; it’s all about adapting and staying open to new opportunities”

The lessons from rugby

Casey credits much of his success in real estate to the lessons he learned on the rugby field. “Discipline, focus, and doing the ‘one-percenters’ … those habits from my rugby career are what I rely on now,” he says. Just as in rugby, where preparation off the field defined success on game day, Casey applies the same philosophy to his work in real estate. “It’s about showing up every day, putting in the work, and giving clients my best.”

A new kind of competition

For Casey, transitioning from the rugby field to real estate meant redefining what competition looks like. “In rugby, the competition was on the field. In real estate, it’s about running my own race.” 

Instead of comparing himself to seasoned agents, he focuses on personal growth and incremental progress. “I focus on growth, doing better than I did yesterday, and being someone my clients can trust with their biggest asset,” he says.

ICYMI, yesterday we covered some tips on relationship building in real estate

TOGETHER WITH MILK CHOCOLATE®

Milk Chocolate®, founded by Michael Cleary and Richie Ragel, has launched a proprietary digital platform to simplify the property buying experience in Australia.

Drawing on eight years of property services experience, the platform streamlines every step of the property journey, from planning and purchasing to management. With real-time data, personalised Game Plans™, and a user-friendly design, the platform empowers buyers to make informed decisions and track their property’s performance seamlessly.

Backed by major investors like REACH Australia, Milk Chocolate® aims to modernise an outdated industry and plans to expand with an active portfolio tracker in 2025, positioning itself as the “Robinhood for property investment.”

Read more about Milk Chocolate® here

SMART SNIPPETS

Home buyers spoiled for choice
October saw the highest number of property listings in a decade, with total volumes up 8.7% year-on-year. Cities like Melbourne saw listings more than double in some suburbs, while Sydney recorded its highest October volume in nine years.

Immigration outpaces supply
Nine in ten city leaders say housing affordability is now Australia's biggest urban challenge. As overseas immigration hits record levels, housing costs are outpacing wage growth, making homeownership increasingly unattainable for many Australians. Experts are calling for urgent policy changes, with two-thirds viewing rising housing costs as the primary challenge facing major cities. More here.

Renting in retirement: a flexible option for downsizers
In the UK renting is emerging as a practical and appealing choice for retirees looking to downsize. For many, it provides greater flexibility, allowing them to relocate easily without the financial and logistical burdens of buying and selling property.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Record-breaking excellence in Queensland
Queensland's real estate industry just celebrated its biggest awards night ever, with over 1,000 industry professionals gathering at The Star Brisbane. The 33rd annual REIQ Awards for Excellence recognised winners across 29 categories, with Tristan Rowland from Stone Real Estate Aspley taking home the coveted Residential Salesperson of the Year award. See all the REIQ winners here.

Western Australia crowns its best
The REIWA Awards for Excellence have recognised the best in Western Australia's property industry. Industry veteran Hayden Groves took home the prestigious Kevin Sullivan Memorial Award for his 25-year contribution to real estate. The event celebrated 23 outstanding agents and agencies, with Hedland First National securing Large Residential Agency of the Year, while Realmark Karratha took home Medium Residential Agency of the Year. See all the REIWA winners here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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SOUND WAVES

Weekend auction snapshot

Today’s curated listen reports on the 2,882 auctions nationally, with Melbourne and Sydney leading activity but showing softer clearance rates of 64.9% and 63.4%, respectively.

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

Read the article from Elite Agent here

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

Check out this guy zipping through the house like he’s playing hide and seek. Of course, because he’s an agent he’s only showing us the best bits (and who can’t relate?). 🙈🏡

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, Giverny Pringle, 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.

Stories marked with * are sponsored, including 'Together With' and the weekday 'Movers & Shakers' sections. Interested in promoting your brand to Elite Agent’s audience? Learn more at eliteagent.com/advertise.

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