GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

On this day in 1935, Parker Brothers officially launched Monopoly, a board game built around buying, building and dominating with property.

In real estate, the same game still plays out in real life. Whether you're securing listings, developing a network, or closing deals, it pays to think three-steps ahead, place your properties wisely and capture opportunities when they land.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 09 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free. 🤝

TIKTOK

Social media real estate

How Courtney Benson turned TikTok into 50+ referrals

If you still think TikTok is all dances and Gen Z energy, Courtney Benson is here to change your mind, and maybe your referral pipeline.

Courtney has generated over 47 referrals in just 120 days by doing one thing most agents avoid. Showing up online, real, and unapologetically being herself. “I don’t batch content or use scripts,” she says. “When something happens that fires me up, I pull over and film it right then.” That authenticity has turned her TikTok account into a referral machine, especially from other agents.

From camera-shy to camera-confident

At the start of her journey, Courtney struggled with the idea of being seen on video. But during COVID lockdowns, her husband nudged her to connect, and a spontaneous TikTok dance with her kids led to something bigger.

Her breakthrough moment came when a viral rant about a problematic builder (with no names named). The honesty struck a chord. Buyers, sellers, even other agents, flooded her inbox with support. That’s when she realised that vulnerability wins trust.

Connection, not perfection

Unlike Instagram’s polished aesthetic, TikTok rewarded Courtney for being herself. She doesn’t chase views, she builds relationships. “TikTok will take you messy. People just want to connect,” she explains.

Half of her closed transactions now trace back to TikTok leads. Her phone number lives in her bio, and instead of spam, she gets thank-yous and referrals. “People call me out of nowhere saying they feel like they already know me. TikTok is basically doing my nurturing for me.”

The magic formula is just being real

Her top-performing content usually involves a little controversy or boundary-setting with clients. It’s not for everyone, and that’s the point. “The ones who hate me wouldn’t work with me anyway,” she laughs.

“You don’t need a perfect setup or to be 25 and flawless. Just be yourself. That’s when the magic, and the referrals, start.”

Read the full article here.

ICYMI, yesterday we found out why enjoyment at work drives better business in real estate

TOGETHER WITH REAPIT

One platform to rule them all

Real estate agencies have been struggling with disconnected software systems for too long, but that's about to change. ReapitOne, launching at the Evolve '25 showcase on November 6, will unify sales, property management, and lettings into a single ecosystem. Early adopters have already seen a 69% increase in cross-team referrals, representing nearly $2 billion in potential revenue kept in-house across Australia.

Find out more about ReapitOne here.

RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

RBA holds rates as property market stays resilient despite inflation pressure

The Reserve Bank of Australia has held the cash rate at 3.60%, signalling a cautious stance amid stronger household spending and higher inflation. With annual core inflation now sitting at the top of the RBA’s target range, policymakers are waiting for clearer signs of easing price pressures before making their next move. Economists and real estate experts say that while the pause may delay relief for mortgage holders, rate stability is keeping the property market active.

BUILDING BOOST

Housing approvals surge but miss national targets

Australia's new home building approvals jumped 12% in September, the strongest monthly result since June. Over the year, approvals reached 191,695 homes—the highest annual total in almost three years and 13.7% higher than the previous 12 months. Despite this positive trend, the construction industry remains approximately 48,000 homes short each year of what's required under the government's National Housing Accord.

SAN FRAN SPEED

Homes selling at lightning speed

San Francisco's housing market is heating up, with homes finding buyers in just 21 days, the fastest pace among major US cities and less than half the national average of 51 days. This marks a dramatic turnaround for a market that had been "in an ice age" for two years. Experts attribute the acceleration to the AI industry boom, bringing well-paid tech workers to the city, with western neighbourhoods seeing the quickest sales.

CELEBRITY HOMES

HGTV star lists her renovated Manhattan duplex

HGTV personality Genevieve Gorder has put her Manhattan duplex on the market for US$4.35M after a decade in the historic Chelsea property. The nearly 2,500-square-foot home spans the top two floors of an 1850s townhouse and was featured in her 2014 TV series "Genevieve's Renovation." The designer combined two units into a four-bedroom residence with multiple outdoor spaces and unique elements, including Moroccan doors and a bathtub placed beside the primary bedroom.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Chevonne Rees opens Ray White Palmwoods.

The respected Sunshine Coast hinterland agent has launched her own office with husband Brian after six years servicing the area. More here.

McGrath and Knight Frank open four dual-branded offices.

The new locations in Queensland's Wide Bay-Fraser Coast region will be headed by experienced franchisee Ainsley Driver, offering integrated residential and commercial 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

“I’m sorry for your loss.”

That’s what you can say when another agent gets the listing. Send flowers, maybe a sympathy card and move on. 💐💌

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

Wishing you a productive day!

Elite Agent is the definitive platform for ambitious agents and industry players. Thought Leaders is the weekly show where top operators reveal how they’re reinventing real estate. 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 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.