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Long before agents were tapping out texts between opens, the humble push-button telephone made its debut on 18 November 1963, giving people their first taste of “instant” dialling. Rotary phones had forced callers to wait as the dial wound its way back, which would have made today’s fast-paced property world impossible.

Imagine trying to confirm a buyer’s interest, chase a contract, or book a photographer while slowly dragging a dial around the circle for each number. When push-button phones finally arrived they felt almost futuristic; it was basically the proptech of their day.

And while we’ve since moved on to mobiles, apps, and cloud everything, the idea behind that first keypad remains familiar to every agent: anything that helps you move faster can make a noticeable difference.

Today’s read time: 7 minutes, 52 seconds

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BUYER ADVOCACY

The next phase of buyer representation is strategic, not transactional

Buyer’s agents with sales smarts are gaining the edge

In a market where stock is scarce and competition is intense, buyer’s agents with a strong background in sales are becoming increasingly valuable. Albert Sassoon, founder of Pacific Property Buyers, argues that buyers today need more than someone to open doors; they need a strategic advisor who can interpret campaign tactics, read between the lines, and act decisively. Albert says that too many buyers lose out simply because they don’t understand the game being played.

His approach has already helped clients secure over $100 million worth of property, much of it off-market or pre-auction, by leveraging both relationships and insight. As buying becomes more complex, the demand for experienced advocates on the buyer’s side is only set to rise.

Sales experience brings campaign fluency

Real estate sales campaigns are carefully orchestrated, but most buyers do not see the full playbook. Albert, a former sales principal now working exclusively with buyers, says that agents with a background in sales are better placed to decode shifts in urgency, interpret guide pricing, and spot when a property is likely to sell early. As more agents move to the buyer side, their understanding of campaign structure is helping clients make stronger, more credible offers.

Off-market deals require relationships, not luck

The number of properties sold before public listing continues to rise. Accessing these opportunities is not about chance - he explains that buyer’s agents with established reputations among selling agents are more likely to be offered early access. Trust and professional credibility play a central role in opening these doors, and those relationships often determine who gets the first phone call when a deal is quietly being arranged.

Helping buyers realign amid rising pressure

Many buyers spend weeks searching, bidding, and missing out, without understanding where the issue lies and Albert says this often stems from misaligned expectations. Early conversations with clients typically involve resetting assumptions about what different budgets can achieve in specific suburbs. Whether it is choosing a different location or adjusting price expectations, helping buyers see the market more clearly is becoming a core part of the buyer’s agent brief..

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we discussed why commercial property has a talent crisis.

TOGETHER WITH MOSAIK

Mosaik expands to Australia, offering agents a platform to stay involved beyond settlement

Mosaik, a US homeownership engagement platform, has entered the Australian market, offering real estate professionals new tools to build longer-term relationships with clients. The platform is designed to help agents stay involved beyond settlement by providing reminders, maintenance cues and insights that support homeowners throughout their ownership cycle.

With rising expectations and longer hold periods, Australian agents are seeking ways to maintain relevance between transactions. Mosaik’s system, already established in the US, enables clearer communication during campaigns and settlement while helping agents remain a trusted source of guidance over time. The company is opening early access to a select group of agents and agencies ahead of a wider rollout in 2026. This early group will be among the first to adopt the platform’s client-focused approach in Australia.

Read more about Mosaik here.

MARKET GROWTH

House-unit price gap hits record high

Our property market has now topped $12 trillion, with the median house value at $1.091 million, far above the $728,000 median for units and a premium that reaches 77.8 per cent in Sydney. Cotality reports the market’s value has doubled over the past decade, with much of the rise occurring in the past five years as South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland expand their share. Economist Kaytlin Ezzy notes that land value continues to drive the stronger performance of houses, even following three rate cuts in 2025. Lower-to-middle priced homes remain the strongest performers.

INTEREST RATES

Mixed signals are delaying rate-cut hopes

Australia’s rate-cut hopes have been nudged further out again, with Ray White Group Chief Economist, Nerida Conisbee, saying the latest data gives the Reserve Bank little reason to move quickly. She notes that unemployment dipping back to 4.3 per cent shows the labour market is still holding its own, which makes early easing harder to justify.

At the same time, retail, business activity, and parts of the housing sector are clearly softening, hinting that the economy is losing pace in uneven patches. The sharpest shift is in construction, where fewer new projects and a shrinking pipeline are helping to take heat out of costs. She says this slowdown is good news for future inflation, but not enough to override the strength in jobs just yet. For now, the signals are mixed, leaving the timing of any rate cut still uncertain.

MASS DISCOUNT

Once-glittering Westfield offloaded for a fraction of its former billion dollar price

A major US shopping centre once linked to the Westfield brand has been sold at auction for only USD $133 million (around AUD $205 million) ,despite previously being valued in the billions. The sale marks a steep fall for the site, which was once positioned as a key retail drawcard in San Francisco. The centre, now operating as San Francisco Centre, has been largely abandoned by retailers since the pandemic reshaped consumer behaviour. Westfield’s former US arm and Brookfield Properties stepped away from the asset in 2023, leaving lenders to take it to auction. The property sold for about 11 per cent of its earlier value.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Renowned photographer lists custom Texas estate after price cut

Renowned photographer Douglas Friedman has reduced the asking price of his custom-built Marfa, Texas estate to US$2.99M from its original US$3.7M listing. The 2,304-square-foot modern retreat sits on 10 acres with mountain views and features sustainable living through solar panels and a private well. Unique amenities include a shipping-container lap pool and a Donald Judd-inspired pavilion, honouring the artist who transformed the small town into a minimalism mecca.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Robin Kalra joins Ray White Macarthur Group.

The experienced agent brings local market expertise to the network of five offices in southwestern Sydney, citing the brand's global reputation as key to his decision. More here

First National expands Sydney footprint with JV partners in St George

Justin Cai and Vivienne Hua will lead the JV Partners office, bringing over a decade of local expertise to strengthen the network's metropolitan presence. More here

WA and QLD celebrate their top performers.

The country’s real estate professionals were in the spotlight this month as both Queensland and Western Australia honoured their standout achievers at the REIQ and REIWA Awards for Excellence. More here

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

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Wishing you a productive day!

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