GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

If you’re looking for a creative hook for your next listing or social post, here’s one for your back pocket: Sydney and Melbourne just ranked among the world’s top 10 most scenic cities after dark. That’s right — noctourism is on the rise, and your after-hours listing shots just got a little more interesting.

With thousands of Instagram hashtags and hundreds of late-night venues, it turns out our cities look pretty sharp under the stars. So whether you're promoting a penthouse with a skyline view or an inner-city pad near the action, don't forget the twilight appeal.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 34 seconds

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OPINION

The Game Changer

What leading a real estate team really takes, according to Dion Besser

If you think leading a real estate team is just about managing KPIs, think again. Dion Besser of Besser and Co. shares what truly separates good leaders from great ones: it’s not just about performance, but psychology, systems, and culture. Drawing inspiration from Dr Jason Fox’s The Game Changer, Dion explores how motivation, shared ownership, and well-documented systems create lasting success, especially after scaling his team from 8 to 24 overnight.

Systems can’t live in your head

When Dion rapidly expanded his team, he realised instinct and memory weren’t enough. Sustainable growth required clear systems. From rent reviews to auction campaigns, he and his team created documented frameworks so that everyone could operate with clarity, and contribute to continuous improvement.

“Best practice needs to be documented, shared, and constantly refined.”

The kicker? Involving the team in system design created ownership and buy-in, reinforcing a culture of shared responsibility.

Culture doesn’t build itself

While performance matters, Dion warns against cultures built solely on output. Incentivising commissions without shared values creates misalignment. That’s why Besser and Co. created a “culture collective” - a rotating group who help shape team morale and lead open conversations around people and performance.

They also use personality assessments in hiring, not to box people in says Dion, but to understand how they give and receive feedback.

Celebrate more than just big wins

Recognition fuels resilience says Dion, and at Besser and Co., celebrations aren’t reserved for million-dollar sales. From a success at VCAT to clearing a task list, every achievement is an opportunity to reinforce progress and build morale.

“We celebrate big and small wins… even just a face-to-face meeting.”

This simple mindset shift, from chasing outcomes to honouring effort and progress, is what Dion calls the real game changer.

Read the full story here

ICYMI, yesterday, Hayley Van de Ven outlined how to become a million dollar agent.

TOGETHER WITH SCALEAPP

How a 24-year-old turned a deposit dilemma into a property-planning platform

At just 24, Nick Melrose took his own struggle with home ownership and turned it into ScaleApp, a gamified, data-rich platform designed to help young Australians map their way into property. After realising his hard-earned savings weren’t nearly enough for a deposit, the former financial modeller built a detailed spreadsheet to run scenarios.

That prototype evolved into a fintech tool now backed by $1.5M in pre-seed funding and REACH, the National Association of Realtors’ global incubator. Launching 14 July, ScaleApp merges personal budgeting and property forecasting in one place, letting users simulate life decisions like joint ownership, refinancing, and capital gains, month by month, across a 50-year timeline.

Read more about ScaleApp here.

PEAK PRICES

Nearly half of Australian suburbs hit record highs as market recovery broadens

Almost 45% of Australian suburbs have hit record high property values, according to Cotality’s July housing chart pack, reflecting a broad-based housing market upswing. Brisbane and regional Queensland are leading, with nearly 80% of suburbs reaching peak values, followed by Perth, Adelaide, and parts of regional WA and SA.

In contrast, Sydney and Melbourne show patchier recoveries, with just 12.9% of Melbourne suburbs at peak, and only one suburb in Hobart hitting a new high. Darwin has emerged as one of the biggest comeback stories, notching its first record high in over a decade, supported by rising investor activity and tight stock levels.

TIKTOK

TikTok’s ageing audience signals shift for retail real estate

Australia’s TikTok audience is growing up, and that shift could have serious implications for retail real estate. With 8.5 million users spending more than 1.5 hours a day on the platform, the demographic is poised to follow the US trend, where older users are rapidly outpacing Gen Z.

In the US, users aged 45+ have grown significantly, while the once-dominant 18–24 bracket is shrinking. If Australia follows suit, landlords and leasing agents may need to reconsider tenant mix, fitout design, and activation strategies to suit a broader, more mature audience. This evolution could influence everything from high street frontage to digital integration in-store.

EU AFFORDABILITY

Priced out: EU minimum wages fail to cover living costs

For property professionals tracking affordability trends, a new study paints a sobering picture across the European Union: in nearly every member state, minimum wage earners are falling short of covering basic living costs, including housing. Belgium is the only EU country where the minimum wage exceeds the cost of living, leaving a modest surplus of €269.62 per month.

Elsewhere, the gap is much wider. In Cyprus, the shortfall is €915.90 per month, making it the worst-performing country on the list. The challenge isn’t confined to minimum wage earners either. In countries like Portugal, Malta, and Slovakia, even average incomes aren’t enough to keep up with rising expenses, with housing a key driver of financial pressure.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Dr Seuss, Sinatra, and a soaking tub: NYC townhouse lists for $20M AUD

Once home to literary royalty and party guests like Frank Sinatra, this Upper East Side townhouse has stories in every corner, and now, a AUD$20.2 million price tag. Formerly owned by Phyllis Cerf Wagner (yes, Random House and Dr. Seuss connection), the five-storey home packs 16 rooms, a garden oasis, and a hydraulic lift for good measure.

Inside: fireplaces, a La Cornue kitchen, a black-and-white-striped lounge, and a dreamy primary suite complete with a morning bar, pass-through wardrobe, and yes, a soaking tub.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Belle Property expands to Brisbane's Parkinson.

Gonnie Nahar brings 12+ years of industry experience and local knowledge to lead the new office, offering both sales and property management services. More here.

Harcourts Foundation supports The Shepherd Centre

Recent grants have funded play furniture, musical instruments and iPads for children with hearing loss across Tasmania, now supporting over 65 children with essential services. 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

Brace yourselves, agents: the spring market is coming. Time to swap open home slippers for battle boots. ⚔️🏰

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

Wishing you a productive day!

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