GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

This year’s global theme for International Women's Day, “Accelerate Action,” calls for real progress on gender equality, urging businesses to move beyond awareness and take meaningful steps to close the gap.

In real estate, numbers drive everything: market trends, commissions, salaries... Yet, when it comes to the gender pay gap, many businesses report it without knowing how to fix it. EvenBetter.ai is changing that.

AI-powered platform uncovers the real causes of pay disparities and delivers data-driven solutions. With Knight Frank already on board, it’s a clear signal - businesses serious about attracting and keeping top talent need action, not just reports.

Today’s reheating time: 6 minutes, 32 seconds

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Closing the pay gap

This IWD Little Real Estate has plenty to celebrate, achieving a negative gender pay gap of -2%! This a rare milestone in the real estate industry, where the average gender pay gap sits at 6.3% according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

According to Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Kerr, this achievement reflects a commitment to gender equality, and a culture that empowers women to advance in their careers. With 70% of its workforce female and 71% of leadership roles held by women, the company has successfully created an environment where women excel.

“We’ve made it a priority here at Little Real Estate to focus on promoting women into leadership roles. Last year our gender pay gap was zero and this year we’ve managed to surpass that.”

Encouraging women to step up
“We know traditionally that men are more inclined to put their hand up for a promotion than women. We know there’s different reasons for that,” Rebecca explained.

“Men are inclined to put their hand up when they think they’re 80% able to do the role, and women put their hand up when they’re confident they can do everything in the position description.” To bridge this confidence gap, the company proactively encourages female employees to apply for leadership roles.

“If we have a role coming up, we make sure that we speak to people who we think might be appropriate for the role just to give them the confidence to apply.”

Flexibility as a business advantage
One of the key factors in Little Real Estate’s success is its genuine commitment to workplace flexibility, ensuring employees can balance their careers with personal responsibilities.

“I think it’s important for leaders to not just pay lip service to workplace flexibility but to actually set an example in this,” Rebecca said. “Nobody sees me in the office before 9.15am because I drop my kids at school first. I work from home when I need to and I encourage my team to choose the style of work that best fits their lives as well.”

This trust-based approach has attracted top female talent, with many skilled women actively seeking opportunities at Little Real Estate.

The value women bring to real estate
Rebecca also highlighted the unique strengths that women bring to the real estate industry. “I do think juggling is definitely something they can bring to the table and, at times, empathy,” she said.

“They’re often, because they’re juggling multiple things at one time, if a landlord or a tenant has a particular problem, they’re often able to empathise and assist with coming up with a solution.”

As International Women’s Day approaches, this business stands as proof that closing the gender gap isn’t just possible - it’s a strategy that benefits both employees and the business.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we reported on why consumer trust is real estate’s biggest asset.

TOGETHER WITH iD4me

iD4me rolls out mobile-optimised platform, giving agents instant data access

iD4me has launched a revamped mobile-friendly platform, enabling real estate agents to access crucial property data and contact details instantly - whether they’re at an open house, auction, or on the move.

Founder Danny Georgakalis emphasises the importance of speed in real estate, saying, “Real estate is about relationships, and the faster you can engage with potential clients, the better.” The update ensures agents can retrieve up-to-date insights in real-time, eliminating the need for manual searches or door-knocking.

Top industry figures, including Avi Khan, Josh Phegan, Sarah Cincotta, Tom Panos, and Adam Joske, back the platform. Avi, a newly appointed brand ambassador, describes iD4me as a game-changer: “The ability to instantly access the most relevant and actionable data anytime, anywhere - ushers in a transformative era for agents.”

Read more about iD4me here.

SMART SNIPPETS

City exodus began long before COVID
Australians have been steadily abandoning capital cities for regional areas since 2007, well before COVID-19 entered the picture. Research from AHURI reveals that it’s not young professionals but primarily older, financially secure people looking for a better lifestyle. The trend is creating significant housing affordability challenges, with rising prices pushing out vulnerable regional residents and creating ripple effects in surrounding communities.

Coalition pledges FIRB reform
The Coalition has announced plans to reform the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and introduce an annual regulatory stocktake to boost investment and productivity. Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said a 6% decline in labour productivity under Labor is "not good enough" and pledged to streamline FIRB approvals for trusted investors while reducing red tape.

NZ property market bounces back
New Zealand's housing market is showing signs of recovery, with property prices rising 0.3% in February marking the strongest monthly increase in over a year. The national median price now sits at $807,164, still 16.9% below 2021-2022 peak levels but 17.1% above pre-COVID figures. Most major centres experienced growth, with experts predicting modest but steady increases throughout 2025, driven by interest rate cuts and the return of full mortgage interest deductibility.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Former supermodel lists Beverly Hills villa for $26M
A luxurious 1930s Italian-style villa owned by former Pirelli calendar model Christina Estrada has hit the market in the prestigious 90210 Flats neighbourhood. The nearly 9,000-square-foot property features seven bedrooms, ten bathrooms, and elegant details including a double-height foyer with hand-painted coffered ceiling. Notably, the listings includes all furnishings after Estrada kept the home following her 2014 divorce from Saudi billionaire Walid Juffali.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Jazz Real Estate expands in Point Cook
The Eview Group agency is moving to a larger office and entering Sanctuary Lakes' luxury market while aiming to add 200-300 homes to their rental portfolio and actively grow his agency team. 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.

SOUNDWAVES

How to stop taking things personally at work

Real estate is a high-pressure industry where feedback is constant, deals fall through, and clients can be unpredictable. But taking every comment or criticism to heart can hold you back. This curated listen breaks down the most common reasons agents take things personally and share eight strategies to toughen up, maintain professionalism, and keep moving forward. 

Dive straight into the listen below or the deeper dive here.

Read the article from Fellow here.

Wishing you a productive day

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.

Stories marked with * are sponsored, including 'Together With' and the weekday 'Movers & Shakers' sections. Interested in promoting your brand to Elite Agent’s audience? Learn more at eliteagent.com/advertise.

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