🤸‍♂️ It Takes a Village: What Real Estate Can Learn from Simone Biles

GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

Today is Be an Angel Day, a reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference. In real estate, where trust and relationships drive everything, being “an angel” might look like going the extra mile for a client, checking in with a past buyer, or lending a hand to a colleague. Deals may come and go, but people always remember how you made them feel.

And speaking of inspiration, we’ll also be sharing highlights from yesterday’s Ready25 conference, where ideas, innovation and a few angel moments of their own were on full display.

Today’s read time: 7 minutes, 03 seconds

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READY25

Simone Biles: what real estate agents can learn from the GOAT

When Simone Biles took the stage at Ready25 in Sydney, she didn’t just deliver a masterclass in resilience, she offered a mirror to every agent grinding through setbacks, sacrifices, and sky-high standards. The world’s most decorated gymnast spoke not of medals, but of mindset. And the crowd, full of high-achievers, felt every word.

Success is never a solo sport

“It really does take a village to be where we are,” Simone said, crediting her family, coaches, and mentors for her rise. That sentiment rings true for agents too, as every ‘just listed’ sign is backed by assistants, marketers, mentors, and support systems at home. The takeaway? Acknowledge your village, and build one if you haven’t yet.

Talent gets you noticed, discipline takes you further

Simone’s career started by accident, a daycare field trip gone right, but her success came from relentless work, not raw talent. She sacrificed a typical teenage life for 30+ hours of weekly training and laser focus. For agents, the message is clear, natural charm opens doors, but consistent effort closes deals.

Control what you can … especially when it’s hard

Simone’s now-famous withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics wasn't a defeat, it was a turning point. Battling the “twisties” and public scrutiny, she chose her mental health over a medal. “That’s the only time I’ve ever felt worth more than gold,” she said. Her lesson for the room? Tune out the noise. Focus on what you can control, your mindset, your routine, your next call.

The biggest surprise? Her joy didn’t come from winning but from rediscovering the fun.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we discussed how legislation has changed how PM’s work.

TOGETHER WITH UNIÓ

Unió’s shape-shifting living system maximises space without adding square metres

As housing supply struggles to keep pace with population growth, Rachel Oakley’s startup unió is rethinking how space works. Instead of static floorplans, the patented rail-based pivot system uses mobile “spatial cassettes” that rotate, extend, and reconfigure rooms in real time.

Inspired by the flexible layout of her family’s coastal cruising yacht, Rachel designed unió to adapt to daily and lifelong changes, from work to sleep to socialising, without wasting space. For developers, the system can deliver the functionality of a four-bedroom home for around $25,000 extra, instead of the $250,000 jump to a larger property, increasing yield without compromising liveability.

In one case study, an Auckland townhouse design gained multiple potential uses for the same room, while a medium-rise plan increased capacity from 82 to 130 units within the same building envelope.

Backed by early-stage funding and part of the REACH program, unió is already in discussions for projects in Australia and New Zealand, aiming to make dynamic, responsive architecture a mainstream reality.

Read more about unió here. 

READY25

A $500K commitment that hits home

At Ready25, outgoing REA Group CEO Owen Wilson dropped a powerful mic moment - announcing a $500,000 pledge to fight homelessness. That's a 25% boost on last year’s figure and a clear signal that real estate’s heart is growing along with its market clout. Speaking to 1,500 industry pros, Owen reminded everyone that their collective voice doesn't just sell homes, it can shape social change. With over 122,000 Australians experiencing homelessness each night, this isn’t just a feel-good gesture, it’s a necessary one.

READY25

Smarter, faster, scalable: the AI tools Seth Watts dares you to try

Seth Watts didn’t bring a PowerPoint to READY25, he brought bots. In a rapid-fire demo, he showed how AI can already handle listing presentations, log maintenance in Mandarin, and make 100 prospecting calls at once. One standout moment? A chatbot named Maya grilled him on marketing like a real vendor. His message was blunt: this tech isn’t perfect yet, but it’s improving fast, and ignoring it could mean falling behind. Seth urged agents to test two AI tools for 30 days, not to reinvent their business overnight, but to win back an hour per listing. From automating reports to scaling conversations, he proved AI isn’t the future, it’s the new baseline.

ADVICE: ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING

Industry faces anti-money laundering overhaul

Australia's property industry is bracing for major regulatory change with anti-money laundering laws extending to real estate professionals from July 2026. The reforms will require agents to register with AUSTRAC, implement formal verification systems, monitor transactions, and report suspicious activity.

Ray White Group's Shaun Doyle advises agencies to start preparing now by appointing compliance officers and establishing proper record-keeping systems that can maintain documentation for the required seven-year period.

NZ RESERVE BANK

OCR cuts don't appear to be over yet

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has trimmed the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 0.25%, with economists warning it probably won’t be the last. Cotality NZ’s Kelvin Davidson says the 4–2 vote in favour of the cut shows a clear “downwards bias,” with another move possible as soon as November.

For housing, the impact will be modest; he said while mortgage rates might ease a touch, many borrowers are expected to pocket the savings or pay down debt rather than splash out. All told, the market is likely to stay as subdued in the back half of 2025 as it’s been all year.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Bachelor stars cash in on luxury renovation

Former Bachelor couple Sam and Snezana Wood have sold their renovated Elsternwick property for close to their $6.6M asking price. The five-bedroom home seamlessly blends period charm, including stained-glass windows and decorative ceilings, with modern luxury features like a home gym complete with sauna. The sale comes two years after Sam sold his fitness empire, 28 by Sam Wood, for an impressive $71 million.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Peter Burgin joins Ray White Collective

The veteran auctioneer with 15,000+ auctions under his belt takes on the role of Chief Auctioneer and Head of Performance after 23 years with a local agency.

Belle Property launches Commercial Noosa office

Ben Radcliff adds this to his portfolio of Belle Property offices, creating a complete property solution spanning residential, holiday rentals, and commercial services.

Harcourts Greater Springfield launches cancer fundraiser

The "10km for $10k" event on September 28 aims to raise $10,000 for the Icon Cancer Foundation, inspired by Director Rudy Grommen's own cancer battle.

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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