GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

TRUE OR FALSE?

There is a medieval town in Germany where the houses are literally embedded with millions of tiny diamonds.
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer!)

In today’s edition of The Brief

• PM done differently

• Which city is leading the luxury market?

• ‘Taj Mahal of Whale Beach’ finally sells

Today’s read time: 4 minutes, 50 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Inside a PM team with 14-year tenure

In an industry known for burnout and high turnover, Katie Knight has built a property management team at REMAX Success in Toowoomba with an average tenure of 14 years.

No weekend work, flexible hours, and a four-day work week being phased in. It’s an outlier in a sector where retention is a constant pressure point.

A key part of her approach is handing property managers more autonomy in day-to-day decisions, including in negotiations.

“There’s nothing worse than being in a negotiation and saying, ‘I’ll just go talk to my boss,’” she says.

The idea is to remove delays and empower staff to resolve issues in real time, even if it occasionally means taking a short-term hit to avoid longer disputes.

Her leadership approach was also shaped by advice from former rugby league captain Darren Lockyer: “Don’t worry about what you have to do, worry about who you have to be.”

Katie says that framing has influenced how she structures the business, including support mechanisms designed to reduce pressure rather than simply manage workload. That includes six “inspiration days” a year, mental health first aid training, and external coaching. “If something’s missed, it sits with them,” she says.

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The empowerment principle: Why giving PMs authority to resolve disputes on the spot transforms client relationships and team morale

• The "heartbeat vs architect" partnership: How complementary leadership styles built one of Queensland's most respected PM operations

• The inspiration days framework: What six extra days of wellbeing leave actually looks like in practice

• The moment that captured everything: A family's rental scam nightmare and how Katie's response reveals what great property management really looks like

For agency principals wondering how to stop the revolving door, Katie's approach offers a blueprint worth checking out.

Read the full article

ICYMI, yesterday: When to walk away from a listing.

TOGETHER WITH DOMAIN

Domain previews Platinum Edge and Matterport upgrades

Domain is hosting a 45-minute webinar on May 6 to walk agents through the latest Platinum Edge features – including Matterport Suite integration and redesigned listing layouts aimed at boosting engagement. VP Belinda Sinclair joins product directors Patrick De Young and Scott Furey to cover what's new and how it could sharpen your next campaign.

In this session, you’ll learn:

• What’s new in Platinum Edge

• The added value the Matterport Suite brings to your listings

• How our redesigned listings are driving greater engagement and putting your brand front and centre.

Being held tomorrow 6th May at 1pm AEST via Zoom. Secure your spot by registering for the webinar here.

TOP END

Where luxury is actually growing (and who’s winning)

Perth’s City Beach recorded 18% growth over the past year, which was the strongest luxury suburb result nationally. Queensland’s prestige pockets are building momentum; Sydney is steady at around 5%, and Melbourne remains the slowest-growing major market. Ray White Economist Atom Go Tian says the era of national property cycles is over, with luxury now defined by extreme localisation.

VIC NEWS

Housing policy blamed for mega price hikes

The Victorian government’s expanding suite of housing policy changes has been blamed for significant underperformance in Melbourne’s property market, with new analysis suggesting homeowners have effectively missed out on substantial capital growth in recent years. Research from the Property Investors Council of Australia estimates Melbourne’s relative underperformance compared with other capital cities between 2022 and 2025 has cost the average homeowner about $100,000.

HOW IT SOLD

Nine owners, one deal, $51 million

Tony Abboud spent 12 months coordinating nine property owners through regulatory hurdles and mounting tensions to broker this off-market Mosman development sale. With 20-plus developers competing, transparency and structured settlement timing kept everyone aligned – and a local developer now plans 63 apartments on the Middle Harbour view site.

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

CELEBRITY HOMES

Jen Hawkins sells Whale Beach megamansion for $30M

Locals called it the 'Taj Mahal of Whale Beach' – and it just sold for $30 million. Jen Hawkins and husband Jake Wall's five-year clifftop creation includes a bowling alley, infinity pool, and shell-shaped sunken lounge. The mystery buyer is already building next door.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

James Nelis launches his own buyer's agency

The former semi-professional AFL player is combining his high-performance sporting background with property expertise to work with athletes and professionals. More here.

Robert Tulp joins Ray White A T Realty

The back-to-back REINZ National Auctioneering Champion will become Head of Auctions and Campaign Performance from May 2026. More here.

Highland secures NSW affordable housing licence

The property group can now manage rental homes under the state government program across its six NSW offices, creating an end-to-end service from project marketing to long-term management. 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

As a real estate agent, you start out thinking you’re selling homes… and end up being a therapist, mediator, stylist, negotiator, crisis manager, and part-time detective. 🕵️‍♂️🏡

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

TRUE OR FALSE:

There is a medieval town in Germany where the houses are literally embedded with millions of tiny diamonds.

And the answer is …

TRUE. The town of Nördlingen was built inside a 15-million-year-old meteor crater, and the local stone used in homes contains millions of microscopic diamonds. It sounds like the ultimate listing upgrade, but here’s the reality: the diamonds are incredibly small, scattered through the rock, and can’t be seen or extracted in any practical way. So while it’s technically true the homes “contain diamonds,” they don’t translate into any measurable property value.

Wishing you a productive day!

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