GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

When Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on 14 October 1964, he didn’t talk about power or politics; he talked about people, dignity, fairness and service. Those ideas go well beyond civil rights and still shape good real estate today. The best agents don’t just chase listings or transactions; they lift up their neighbourhoods.

Acting with integrity, treating every client fairly, and building genuine trust in the community isn’t just good ethics, it’s good business. King’s message still fits: success isn’t measured by your title or your tally but by the difference you make where you live and work.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 28 seconds

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COMMUNICATION

Stop sending long emails

The business case for writing less and saying more

Email is one of the most used tools in business, yet many professionals still get it wrong. Long, rambling messages waste time, dilute clarity, and often get ignored. According to Darren Krakowiak, Founder of CRE Success, “A long email might feel thorough, but in practice, it’s likely to be skimmed, misunderstood, or ignored altogether.”

The solution? Write less - and say more. By keeping messages short, structured, and purposeful, you’ll get faster responses and close more deals.

Keep it clear and brief

If your email takes more than 30 seconds to read, it’s too long. Darren recommends applying a “four-sentence rule”; basically aim to make your point in four sentences or fewer

“Concise emails respect your recipient’s time, get to the point, and often get a quicker reply,” he says. Every extra word reduces the likelihood of your message being read, so keep it focused, relevant, and easy to scan, especially on mobile devices, where most business emails are now opened.

Write for action, not explanation

The purpose of an email is to move something forward, not to document every detail, thus clarity should always outweigh completeness.

“If your goal is action, not just dumping information, you don’t need more than 100 words,” he says.

Make the next step explicit: ask for a decision, a confirmation, or a deadline. Attach supporting material if needed, but keep the email itself short enough that the key message doesn’t get buried.

Simplify things

Complex language doesn’t make you sound smarter; it just slows down understanding.

“Write at a level that would make sense to someone in Year 5,” Darren says. “That doesn’t mean dumbing it down, it means making your message clear and easy to absorb.” Use plain English, short sentences, and direct phrasing. Brevity, he adds, isn’t about cutting corners - it’s about being precise.

“Shorter emails don’t just save time. They get read. They get answered. And they help you move faster in a business where speed and clarity are critical.”

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we covered why community involvement and real estate go hand-in-hand.

MARKET GROWTH

Melbourne returns to growth as Darwin emerges among Australia’s strongest markets

Melbourne has finally shaken off its slump, with prices up 3.1 per cent over the quarter and edging past their 2021–22 peak. Darwin’s doing even better, jumping 3.9 per cent in three months and 11.1 per cent over the year thanks to tight supply and big investor demand.

Buyers are flocking to family suburbs like Rowville and Chelsea Heights in Melbourne, while Darwin’s Moulden and Bakewell are leading the charge. Listings are climbing too, up 62.6 per cent in Darwin and 4.2 per cent in Melbourne, showing sellers are getting confident again. Both cities are catching up fast as the property upswing spreads across Australia.

MOST LIVEABLE SUBURB

Sydney's Lane Cove crowned most liveable neighbourhood

Australia's most liveable places have been revealed, with Sydney's north shore area of Lane Cove taking top honours in a national study involving over 27,000 participants. Interestingly, high-density areas scored 5% higher than low-density neighbourhoods, challenging common perceptions about urban living. The research found Australians prioritise green, safe communities with good access to public transport and local amenities, though the national liveability score has dropped to pre-pandemic levels.

COMMERICAL TO RESIDENTIAL

Manhattan's office buildings find new life as apartments

Manhattan is witnessing a dramatic rise in office-to-apartment conversions, with 3.3 million square feet of office space beginning transformation in 2024 – double last year's figure. An additional 4.1 million square feet of conversions were initiated through August, reshaping Midtown neighbourhoods that typically empty after business hours. These projects, accelerated by recent rezoning and tax incentives, address both the city's housing shortage and the growing obsolescence of older office buildings.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Josephine Baker's historic mansion hits the market

A magnificent 12-bedroom estate once home to legendary performer Josephine Baker is up for grabs at €20.84M (AUD$36.77M). The nearly 9,000-square-foot Villa Beau-Chêne sits on 2.5 acres just outside Paris and served as Baker's residence for 20 years from 1927 to 1947. The property has been meticulously restored, preserving heritage features like gold-leaf mouldings and a sweeping oak staircase while adding modern amenities for today's luxury buyer.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Cameron Smart takes over the family business

The 36-year-old and wife Aimee are rebranding the inaugural Ray White Cannington office to Ray White Canning River after 20 years with the company. More here.

Barry Plant hosts leadership conference in Thailand

The week-long event at Banyan Tree Phuket combined professional development with cultural immersion, featuring a candid fireside chat between CEO Lisa Pennell and Spiro Drossos. 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.

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

The right agent makes you money and keeps you laughing through settlement. It’s called full-service. 💰😄

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Wishing you a productive day!

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