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A study in the US by Agent Advice found that homes on streets with regal names – think Queen, Charles, or Saint – sell for an average of $126,000 above the national median. Water-inspired streets aren't far behind: living on an Ocean, Lake, or Creek address adds an average of $64,689 to your property's value.

The psychology makes sense. Street names shape buyer perception before they even see the house. 'Boulevard' and 'Place' sound fancier than 'Drive' or 'Street' – and buyers pay accordingly. On the flip side, streets with 'stigmatised' names (one Austin agent studied roads called Shoot Out, Six Gun, and Ammunition) sold for about $5 less per square foot.

In today’s edition of The Brief

• Why one COO has trades boardrooms for the auction block

• Get ahead of the Payday Super reform

• How a new tax for the ultra-rich could help first home buyers

Today’s read time: 7 minutes, 05 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

LEADERSHIP

Why this COO still calls auctions herself

Most executives see the business from a distance – through reports, meetings, and strategy sessions. But Laura McKay, COO at Highland Property Group, takes a different approach: she still sells properties and calls auctions alongside her leadership responsibilities. The result? Insights that are difficult to replicate from behind a desk.

The view from every angle

When you're experiencing the same pressures as your team in real time, you spot issues before they escalate. Laura works on the floor, advising agents on strategies that are realistic – because she's tested them herself.

"If a listing isn't getting traction or a negotiation is stalling, I've experienced it myself, so I can advise an agent on exactly what might work or not work."

But there's something specific about how this translates into coaching that most managers miss...

What auctioneering teaches about leadership

Laura didn't choose to become an auctioneer – her CEO encouraged her to try it despite no prior experience. After months of training and watching hundreds of auctions, she called her first one: a high-pressure family home.

"Being comfortable in the moment is key. Some auctions move fast, some stall, and some require conversations you don't expect."

Here's how that unpredictability sharpens decision-making in ways that extend far beyond the auction room...

The compound effect of local knowledge

Fifteen years in the Sutherland Shire has given Laura something most managers can't access: pattern recognition that comes from living and working in the same community. She doesn't just sell properties – she sells lifestyle.

The full article reveals how she uses this to coach agents on connecting meaningfully with clients...

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The multi-angle advantage: How staying active in sales reveals issues that don't appear on reports

• Auctioneering as leadership training: The specific skills that transfer directly to management

• Local knowledge as competitive edge: How 15+ years in one market compounds the benefits of multiple roles

• The mentorship approach: How Laura tracks agent progress and models long-term client relationships

Laura works six days a week, sometimes seven. The insight gained from being active in every part of the business? That's what makes the difference.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI last week: In the AI era, producing content is easy; real value comes from human judgment.

INDUSTRY REGULATION

Real estate agencies warned on looming Payday Super shake-up

Real estate agencies across Australia are being urged to prepare for sweeping Payday Super reforms taking effect on 1 July 2026, which will require superannuation contributions to be paid with every pay run and reach employee super accounts within seven business days. Bryan Wilcox, chief executive of REEF, says the changes represent the most dramatic operational shift since super was introduced in 1992, warning of increased cashflow pressure, administrative burden and compliance risks.

TAX LAW

How taxing the ultra-wealthy could help first-home buyers

The McKell Institute has proposed an “Extreme Land Wealth Levy” targeting Australia’s wealthiest landowners, applying to individuals and their spouses with land portfolios worth $20 million or more. The levy would tax land value only, not buildings or improvements, and exclude most family homes, primary production land, and certain build-to-rent projects. According to the institute, the tax would affect just the top 1 per cent of households, raising around $3 billion a year, which could be returned to states to cut stamp duty for first-home buyers.

TECH

One prompt to choose your AI tool

Different AI models have different strengths – Gemini pulls from live search, ChatGPT writes with warmth, Claude is precise, DeepSeek handles numbers. Using the wrong one for the wrong task is why your output sometimes feels flat. Samantha McLean shares a prompt that acts as your personal AI workflow advisor, telling you which model to use and exactly how to set it up.

HOW IT SOLD

Two days and $25k above the median

Instead of setting a price guide, Melinda Butcher gave buyers comparable sales data and let the market determine value. The approach worked fast – her Cannonvale listing sold in two days for $870,000, clearing the suburb's four-bedroom median by $25,000.

A listing lasts weeks. The case study lasts forever. getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

Gal Gadot lists beachfront Malibu pad for $12M

Before listing their Pacific Coast Highway penthouse at US$8.75M (AUD$12.5M), Gal Gadot and husband Jaron Varsano gave the place a moody makeover. Dark wood floors, limewashed ceilings, a sunken living room with dual couches – and yes, a firepit on the oceanfront balcony.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Daniel Dajcic brings The Agency to Kiama and Gerringong

The number one agent in the area is launching the brand's presence on the NSW South Coast with his team after 16 years of local experience. 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

Not just a real estate agent … more of a Swiss Army knife in a blazer. 📷✍️

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

Wishing you a productive day!

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