GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

We’re live at Ready25 today! The line-up is impressive, from Cathy Freeman to Simone Biles, Rohit Bhargava, Johann Hari and more. We’ll be covering the big ideas, standout moments and a few behind-the-scenes glimpses throughout the day. Consider it your all-access pass, no lanyard required.

Stay tuned to Elite Agent throughout the day for the best bits in real time.

Today’s read time: 7 minutes, 03 seconds

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

The rulebook has changed

Why clarity is reshaping Property Management

Property managers are no strangers to change, but according to Blair DeFazio, Team Leader at First National Bonnici & Associates, the current regulatory shake-up is unprecedented. With sweeping reforms across Australia, the grey areas are gone, and the need for legal literacy, confidence, and clear communication has never been higher.

“This is without a doubt the most complex time I’ve experienced in my career,” Blair says. And she would know: she’s been in property management since 2009. Today, it’s no longer about judgment calls or cutting corners; it’s about understanding the law inside and out and being ready to explain it to landlords and tenants alike.

A new generation, built for complexity

While many industry veterans left during COVID, citing burnout and overwhelm, Blair sees promise in the new wave of property managers. “They’ve only ever known this complexity - and they’re thriving,” she says. With mandatory dual licensing and constant legislative updates, these younger professionals are proving they’re more than capable.

The next big challenge? Continued legal reform. More changes are coming this spring, and Blair’s team is already preparing, especially when it comes to educating interstate and overseas investors unaware of local compliance rules. “It’s not your property, and it’s not your money,” she says. “If you’re honest, you build trust. And that’s what makes the relationship work.”

Double the rules

Operating in Albury-Wodonga, Blair’s team juggles two sets of legislation daily. With clients owning properties on both sides of the NSW/Victoria border, there’s no room for assumptions; just a few kilometres can change the legal process entirely.

“We’ve had owners in NSW with properties in VIC, and suddenly we’re not using VCAT - we’re in the Magistrates Court,” she explains. That’s why every team member is dual-licensed and cross-trained. Instead of dividing portfolios by state, the agency empowers staff to switch gears seamlessly. It’s rare, but essential.

Blair’s approach to training isn’t just about compliance; it’s about exposure. She takes new staff into courtrooms, walks them through real hearings, and encourages hands-on learning. “If you don’t open the door for your team to learn, how are they supposed to grow?” she asks.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we discussed how to find balance in a digital-first world.

TOGETHER WITH @REALTY

How top agents are tripling leads with smart CRM prospecting

Some of the country’s top agents are using their CRMs to do far more than store contacts, they’re using smart, auto-updating lists to target the right people at the right time. Homeowners near recent sales, new listings or in suburbs where days on market are dropping are top of the list.

According to @realty managing director, JJ Taylor, the difference is in making purposeful calls that add value rather than coming across as a cold sell. “When you pick up the phone, you’re not ‘checking in, you’re delivering VALUE,” he said. The follow-up is just as important, with automated SMS and emails scheduled across the first 10 days to keep the conversation alive.

Agents are also tracking which scripts and messages work best, then tightening their approach every 30 days. JJ says the system works because it blends “speed, relevance and consistency,” giving agents an edge over competitors still dialling from outdated lists.

Read more about @realty CRM automated follow-ups here.

ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE

Call for urgent stamp duty reform

Domain’s Chief of Research and Economics Dr Nicola Powell has labelled stamp duty “one of the most damaging taxes in Australia” and urged reform to be prioritised at the Economic Roundtable. According to Domain’s report, The Growing Burden of Stamp Duty, the tax has risen between 2.7 and 3.4 times faster than incomes since 2000, with the cost on a median Sydney home jumping from 45 per cent to 120 per cent of income. The analysis shows stamp duty discourages mobility, locks people into unsuitable housing, and strips 70 cents of economic activity for every dollar raised.

HOME TRUTHS

The great mismatch: Smaller households, bigger homes

Australia’s homes keep getting bigger, but the people living in them keep getting fewer. New research from Cotality shows that while 61 per cent of households are made up of just one or two people, the bulk of the housing stock is built for families. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 42 per cent of supply, while one-bedroom and studio apartments make up only 6 per cent.

It means lone-person households, (now 27 per cent of the population), often rattle around in space they don’t need, while younger buyers and downsizers struggle to find smaller, well-located options. Four-bedroom houses have seen the strongest capital growth over the past five years, rising 8.7 per cent annually, compared to just 3.7 per cent for one-bedroom homes.

TAX EXODUS

Billionaires swap London penthouses for Italian lakeside palazzos

London’s private equity elite are packing their bags, and their fortunes, for Italy. With the UK scrapping non-dom tax breaks and hiking capital gains tax, more than 10,000 millionaires bolted in 2024, and agents say that’s just the start. Milan was the first stop, but with luxury apartments all but gone, brokers are nudging clients an hour north to Lake Como, where George Clooney might soon be joined by a few buyout bosses.

Savills’ Danilo Orlando says he’s already moved ten UK investors this year, while Sotheby’s Becky Fatemi admits ten of her 37 billionaire clients have flown the coop. The problem? Even Monaco and Switzerland are running out of stock for the ultra-wealthy.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Monika Tu: Wilkinson and FitzSimons’ Cremorne estate is “iconic”

BlackDiamondz founder Monika Tu says the Cremorne estate of Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons is “one of Sydney’s most remarkable homes,” combining heritage charm, sweeping scale and a brush of celebrity history. On the market with a $23 million price guide, Ingleneuk has already drawn strong buyer attention: Monika confirmed the first open inspection generated multiple contracts, with up to nine buyers viewing the property.

“It’s beautiful; a heritage home, large in scale, with amazing views, a pool, a tennis court and so much character,” she said. Monika added the home is “iconic,” recalling how “people in politics and media have been there - they’ve played tennis with Peter, had tea with Lisa. It’s a really famous property.”

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Ray White launches new Hobart office

Brad Stephens leads the residential and property management business, joining forces with RWC Tasmania to create one of the state's largest full-service agencies in just five months. 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

These agents don’t just walk into a showing - they make an entrance, like it’s their Netflix debut. 😎✨

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Wishing you a productive day!

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