GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

On days like today, it’s worth remembering that real estate isn’t just about transactions - it’s about the spaces where life unfolds. The events of September 11 reshaped more than a skyline; they reminded us how buildings, communities, and people are intertwined. As professionals, it’s a prompt to take our work seriously, not just for the deals we close, but for the lasting impact those spaces have on people’s lives.

Today’s read time: 7 minutes, 35 seconds

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CELEBRATING LEANNE PILKINGTON

Part I: Three decades of grit and grace

Leanne Pilkington marks 30 years at Laing+Simmons

Leanne Pilkington never planned on a real estate career, and her first sale involved scribbling an offer on a business card with an eyeliner pencil. Yet from that scrappy beginning, she’s grown into one of the most respected and stylish leaders in the industry. This profile traces her unconventional journey from reluctant recruit to the part owner of Laing+Simmons, showing how grit, empathy, and integrity can transform not just a career, but a whole network.

A reluctant start, a relentless work ethic

Leanne’s career was forged under pressure, quite literally from her father, Peter, who insisted she work in the family agency from age 12. “I was never allowed to have a day off,” she recalls. Despite dreading real estate, Leanne couldn’t escape its pull. Her early years were tough, balancing uni at night with full-time sales and property management.

Yet the values she learned from both parents: resilience, accountability, and doing the right thing even when it’s hard, have defined her leadership style. “You do the right thing always... even if it’s not necessarily the right thing for you.”

Breaking barriers in the boys’ club

Before becoming an owner, Leanne navigated a working world that many women will find disturbingly familiar - sexist jokes, inappropriate advances, and bosses who were checked out or downright toxic. Yet she stayed the course, joining Laing+Simmons in 1995 and quickly rising through the ranks thanks to her hands-on leadership.

Her appointment to general manager was as unceremonious as it was telling: “You’re much better at this franchising sh*t than I am,” her boss said, and handed over the reins. From there, Leanne’s reputation only grew as someone who deeply cared - not just about business results, but about people.

Owning the brand, owning the future

In 2020, at age 58, Leanne did what some said she couldn’t: she led a franchisee-backed buyout of Laing+Simmons. “It was the best decision I ever made,” she says. Her leadership now blends strategy with empowerment, giving her team autonomy and energy.

Beyond the boardroom, her signature bold style (think sequined COVID updates) has become part of her brand. And while she avoids the word “legacy,” her work to improve the industry speaks volumes. “If good people don’t get involved, where is the industry left?”

Read the full story here.

Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow: How Leanne Pilkington created a national platform for women in real estate.

ICYMI, yesterday we showed you how to turn social media followers into clients.

TOGETHER WITH A HOME FOR ALL FOUNDATION

Property leaders unite to launch A Home for All Foundation.

The Australian property industry has launched the A Home for All Foundation, a new initiative to tackle homelessness and housing insecurity. Backed by a 12-member advisory committee with representatives from major groups including REA, LJ Hooker, Ray White and Knight Frank, the foundation will fund programs that deliver long-term solutions. REA Group has pledged to cover all administration costs, ensuring every dollar raised goes directly to frontline services. The foundation’s first major fundraiser, “A Night Without Home,” will be held on 10 October, inviting property professionals to spend a night without home comforts to raise money and awareness. The event will support charities already working to reduce homelessness and improve housing pathways. Industry leaders say the initiative is designed to create lasting impact by uniting the sector behind a single, coordinated effort.

Read more about A Home For All Foundation here.

PROPERTY POWER

Australia’s housing market hits $11.1 trillion milestone

Australia’s housing market has reached a record value of $11.1 trillion, according to the latest ABS figures. The average home price nationally is now about $1.14 million, with more than 11.5 million dwellings included in the tally. New South Wales remains the priciest market with a mean dwelling value of just over $1 million, while Western Australia ($836,000) and Tasmania ($1.19 million) sit closer to the national average.

Preliminary data showed unusually high estimates for Victoria and Queensland, which the ABS cautions may be revised. Market activity stayed solid, with Sydney leading at 5,253 established house transfers, followed by Melbourne (2,095) and Brisbane (820). The ABS stressed that these figures are preliminary but highlight the scale of housing as Australia’s largest household asset and a key driver of wealth.

FIRST HOME BUYERS DATA

Young buyers face record barriers as “affordable” homes disappear

Housing affordability in Australia has deteriorated to its worst level in decades, new Domain analysis shows. Entry-level homes, typically sought by first-home buyers, have risen faster in price than premium properties across most capitals since 2022, with Perth and Adelaide showing the sharpest increases.

The time needed to save a 20 per cent deposit has blown out to more than eight years, up from six in the early 2000s. Mortgage repayments now consume 54 per cent of household income, the highest share in 20 years. The generational divide is widening, with only half of Australians aged 30–34 owning a home today compared with 68 per cent of those born in the late 1940s.

In New South Wales, the rate is even lower at 45 per cent. Domain’s Chief of Research and Economics, Dr Nicola Powell, has called for urgent reform, starting with a shift from stamp duty to land tax to ease barriers for first-home buyers.

LUXURY HOMES

From polo fields to cryotherapy spas

Forget just a pool and concierge - the new wave of branded residences is going all out. From Ferrari and Fendi to Ritz-Carlton and Six Senses, big-name brands are selling not just homes, but entire lifestyles. Buyers can now move into estates with polo fields or even surf breaks by Kelly Slater, or equestrian centres where you can bring your own horse.

Wellness is also on trend, with developments offering cryotherapy chambers, biohacking labs and nutritionists on call. Prices start in the five-million-dollar mark for a horse-lovers’ estate in France, and run far higher in Dubai, London and Miami, where these schemes are booming.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Great Scott! Christopher Lloyd lists Montecito retreat

Back to the Future icon Christopher Lloyd is selling his Montecito hideaway for $9.8 million (US $6.385 million). Perched on six acres above Santa Barbara, the three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home comes with sweeping views of the Pacific and the Channel Islands. Lloyd and his wife, Lisa, bought the property in 2017 after the infamous Tea Fire destroyed their previous home, and they’ve since given it a stylish makeover.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Sid Arora joins RWC Queensland

The experienced commercial property professional brings his development site expertise to the Brisbane CBD agency led by Tom Barr.

Harcourts promotes mental wellness on R U OK? Day

The company is encouraging people to have meaningful conversations and offering their free RealCare App, providing confidential mental health resources tailored to real estate professionals.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

The secret to great property videos? A shy agent who’d rather stay behind the camera… and an outgoing agent who never met a lens they didn’t love. 🎥🤝

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Wishing you a productive day!

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