GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

AREC 2025 is coming in hot, so if your networking muscles are a little rusty, now’s the time to flex. Real estate pros are already in the global top 10 for professional connections (with an average of 29.2 per user), but new data from Tapt shows we’ve still got room to climb the leaderboard. Tapt’s CEO Elon Datt says the best time to mingle isn’t just “sometime soon”, it’s midweek (hello, Wednesday and Thursday), smack in the lunch window (11am–2pm), and right now (yep, May is networking prime time).

“May and August are the peak months for networking activity, likely due to professionals wrapping up mid-year projects or ramping up efforts after summer. Focus your outreach during these busy months to ensure your networking efforts are met with high engagement.”

Today’s read time: 5 minutes, 56 seconds

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MOTIVATION

Want to master the market? You need to master your mind first

Resilience Isn’t a buzzword - it’s a business strategy

When you think about building success in real estate, resilience might not be the first word that comes to mind. But Meiron Lees, speaker, trainer, and award-winning author of D-Stress, argues it should be right at the top of your list. Why? Because how you manage your thoughts may be the single biggest factor in your performance, especially when the market isn’t playing nice.

Meet your mind’s worst enemy: “Thought Attacks”

According to Meiron, we have about 60,000 thoughts a day, and a staggering 90% of them are recycled from the day before. Most of these are negative, what he calls Thought Attacks. These are the unhelpful, often automatic thoughts that trigger stress responses and cloud our judgment.

Here’s the twist: it’s not the situation itself that’s stressing you out, it’s how you think about it. "If you can change the lens, you can change the experience," says Lees.

Tools to turn stress into strength

Transform your Thought Attacks

Instead of reacting to a problem with default negativity, pause and ask: “How else can I interpret this?” Lees suggests finding the hidden opportunity. Stuck in traffic? Use the time to listen to a podcast or call a friend. Reframing even small moments can train your brain to manage bigger stressors more productively.

*Tell a different story

Be mindful of the narratives you’re creating. Are you replaying scenes of blame, frustration, or defeat? What if you told the story differently, highlighting resilience, perspective, or even humour? The goal isn’t denial but emotional recalibration. "When you tell the story positively, stress shrinks," says Lees.

*Practice gratitude (yes, really)

It may sound soft, but it’s potent. Focusing on what’s right in your life, even amid chaos, can ground you instantly.

“It’s impossible to feel stressed and grateful at the same time,” he says. By noticing what’s going well, you rebalance your perspective and build psychological immunity to external pressures.

Stress happens. How you handle it matters more

In a volatile, fast-moving industry like real estate, setbacks and unpredictability are par for the course. But Meiron believes that by learning to control your inner world, you’ll be far better equipped to navigate the outer one.

“The picture in your head about how things should be often creates more stress than the reality.”

Read the full article here.

ICYMI, yesterday we discussed how ‘market check-ups’ build trust and reduce tension.

TOGETHER WITH MATTERPORT

From scan to sold: How Matterport’s latest tools turbocharge property marketing

Samantha McLean catches up with Mark Teo from Matterport to unpack how agents can get more out of the latest feature releases. By pairing Defurnish with Property Intelligence, you can clear out the clutter, automatically tag room details, and turn any tour into a ready-made marketing asset. Add in new tools like the Minimap and Compass, and navigating even the trickiest floorplans becomes easy. Whether you're showing off a one-bedder or a warehouse, it’s now easier to meet different buyer needs, without doubling your workload.

Read more about Matterport’s latest tools here.

DEPT OF HOUSING

NSW trims planning delays to speed up housing

NSW is making moves to get homes built faster. The state just passed the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Bill 2025, which cuts down on paperwork and streamlines how housing projects get approved. It’s especially focused on fast-tracking applications backed by the Housing Delivery Authority because, let’s be honest, no one needs more hoops to jump through.

DEPT OF POWER PLAYS

NY’s Brookfield smells a bargain: US fund targets real estate on the rocks

Brookfield’s out shopping - with US$16 billion in its back pocket. The global real estate giant has snapped up a stash of distressed properties, from thousands of San Francisco apartments to a European logistics company, all at a serious discount. Prices are down, sellers are stressed, and Brookfield’s calling it a buying opportunity. They've already spent a quarter of the fund and want US$2 billion more. With the market wobbling, Brookfield’s moving fast.

DEPT OF AI

Beyond nosy: why neighbours deserve more than a templated invite

Inviting neighbours to your open home isn’t just about being polite, it’s a missed marketing opportunity when done without thought. Generic "Dear Neighbour" flyers often end up ignored, yet personalised invitations can drive real results. With 40% of buyers finding homes through personal referrals and neighbours often knowing people keen to buy in the area, it's worth the extra effort. Better still, they could become your future sellers.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Graham Norton's historic carriage house hits the market

Irish comedian Graham Norton is selling his Manhattan pied-à-terre for $5.59M. The ivy-covered brick residence sits on Sniffen Court, one of New York City's few remaining private mews dating back to the Civil War era. Graham purchased the 2,500-square-foot home from supermodel Claudia Schiffer in 2002. It features soaring 15-foot ceilings and a rooftop deck and is one of just 10 distinct carriage houses in this landmarked community.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Adeel Obaid finds success in Melbourne's west

The Area Specialist director has grown from a struggling newcomer to an award-winning agent with a six-person team focusing on first-home buyers. More here.

Nathan Hunt to lead Harcourts Rata & Co's western expansion

The award-winning Caroline Springs agent brings a decade of experience to the new office as the company extends beyond its northern Melbourne base. 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

Only in real estate do you prep for work with signs, a pot plant, and a spare roll of toilet paper.🧻 🪴

Seen an Agent On Social we should include? Let us know here (email link)

Wishing you a productive day!

Elite Agent is the definitive platform for ambitious agents and industry players. Thought Leaders is the weekly show where top operators reveal how they’re reinventing real estate. AI-Powered Agents is your playbook for deploying AI that sells homes and scales teams.

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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