GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

True or False?

The term "real estate" comes from the word “real,” meaning genuine or authentic and “estate” meaning property.
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer!)

Meanwhile, in today’s edition of The Brief

• Why buying whole apartment blocks is the new investor play

• Sunshine Coast leads as more Aussies move beyond the cities

• Rethink real estate workflows with Samantha McLean’s AI First Formula

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 12 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

INVESTMENT TRENDS

Why investors are buying entire apartment blocks

Well-capitalised buyers are increasingly snapping up entire apartment blocks rather than individual units – and it’s about more than just returns. Ray White Double Bay’s Breanna Skewes explains the trend: "There's a shift toward acquiring blocks in one line, where buyers can maintain full control over the asset rather than owning individual strata units across different buildings."

These buyers see whole blocks as “generational investments,” leveraging management simplicity and long-term growth potential that most agents overlook.

Pricing is also evolving; smaller blocks can achieve premiums over their combined unit values, while larger blocks attract specialist buyers at lower per-unit rates and Ray White Double Bay senior sales executive, Melanie Lahoud, warns that stock is tightening.

“Conditions are only set to get even more competitive."

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The single-asset diversification strategy: How whole blocks deliver multiple income streams without the complexity of scattered holdings

• Why vendors are selling now: The life-stage triggers creating rare opportunities in tightly held pockets

• The premium pricing formula: What makes smaller blocks more valuable than their parts

• The acquisition pattern: Why buyers who secure one block immediately start hunting for another

Understanding this trend could open new conversations with your investor clients – and potentially new listing opportunities.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday, we posed the question: would you list a property in a zero-reserve auction?

TOGETHER WITH REAPIT

Investors are demanding more from PMs in 2026

Investors are raising the bar for property managers in 2026, seeking more than traditional services. A new Reapit report shows 43.1% of landlords now want help identifying new investment opportunities, up from 32.1% last year, while 29.6% are asking for clearer data insights on their properties.

“Landlords are asking agents to take on a more strategic, insights‑based role,” said Simon Berglund, Reapit General Manager for Australia and New Zealand. He noted that cost pressures, regulation, and market uncertainty are driving the shift.

”To show value to a landlord, agents increasingly need to provide clear data,” highlighting a major opportunity for agencies to expand strategic support and portfolio insight services. He also stressed that collaboration between sales and property management teams can make growth opportunities more visible, creating a smoother experience for investors from purchase to sale.

Read more about the Reapit report here.

MIGRATION TRENDS

Brisbane flips as regional migration stays strong

Capital-to-regional moves made up 11.6% of all relocations last quarter – the second-highest share since the pandemic ended. The notable shift: Brisbane has flipped from net inflows to net outflows, joining Sydney and Melbourne as feeders for regional growth. The Sunshine Coast still tops destination lists, but affordability hunters are pushing further out to spots like Fraser Coast and Albury.

AI: Redesign your workflow

How AI can transform real estate, not just speed it up

In The AI Edit, Samantha McLean reveals why AI isn’t just about doing the same tasks faster, it’s about rethinking the whole process. Like electrifying a factory without redesigning it, efficiency alone doesn’t create real impact. Her AI First Formula starts with one question: “What could AI do here?” asked before the traditional approach even begins. Freeing time and cost constraints sparks creativity, enabling endless iteration and smarter results.

HOW IT SOLD

Five bidders chase rare listing to $2.98m

Christopher Chrysanthou and Steve Lembidakis knew homes in this Earlwood street rarely trade – so they positioned 69 Flers Avenue as a now-or-never opportunity. Five registered bidders cast more than 15 bids on auction day, pushing the four-bedroom house to $2.98 million.

Stories like this build your online reputation long after the sold sticker comes down. Want yours told? getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

Tony Randall's widow lists Manhattan condo for $15M

"The Odd Couple" star's Upper West Side home is on the market at $15.1 million. Heather Randall – Broadway executive and Tony's widow – is selling her residence at the Grand Millennium, which is one of the city’s most luxurious residential towers. The 200-square-foot private terrace is a genuine rarity in Manhattan.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Anthony Nardella breaking records on the Mid North Coast

Operating through @realty's Oasis model, he's achieving street records on roughly one in every three or four sales in the Port Macquarie and Wauchope area. More here.

Industry veteran Barry Pound operates buyer's agency beagl in Perth

The 37-year real estate professional launched the business three years ago with his son Matthew and now has six buyer's agents across the city. He's also championing professional standards as part of the REIWA committee for buyer's agents. 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

New agent tip: When a listing is challenging, just smile, nod, and say ‘It has… character. 😬🏡

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

TRUE OR FALSE:

The term "real estate" comes from the word “real,” meaning genuine or authentic.

And the answer is…

False. The term "real estate" was first recorded in London in 1666, the same year the Great Fire destroyed much of the city's property. The "real" doesn't mean genuine or authentic, it comes from the Latin word "realis," meaning existing or actual, and was used in medieval law to distinguish immovable property (land, buildings) from personal property (furniture, clothing, jewellery). "Estate" traces back through Old French to the Latin "status", meaning your state or condition. So when you say "real estate," you're essentially saying property that actually exists and can't be moved.

Wishing you a productive day!

Elite Agent is the definitive platform for ambitious agents and industry players.
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, Iris Rebello 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.

Content in the ‘Together With’ section is sponsored. Interested in promoting your brand to Elite Agent’s audience? Learn more at advertise.eliteagent.com.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.