GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

It’s International Ninja Day, which feels oddly fitting for real estate agents. After all, who’s better at stealthy moves than an agent quietly lining up buyers before a listing goes live? Today’s the day to celebrate your inner property ninja - the one who knows how to strike at the right moment, negotiate with precision, and disappear into your inbox before anyone realises you’ve just secured another deal. Whether you’re dodging deadlines or slipping between open homes, remember: real estate success is all about timing, agility, and the occasional silent victory.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 39 seconds

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OPINION

Case for Change

Why NSW and Victoria should learn from Queensland auctions

Avi Khan has a message for the southern states: stop trying to predict auction outcomes and start trusting the market. Avi doesn’t believe in the price guide regimes used across New South Wales and Victoria, arguing they’ve created more confusion than clarity, and suggests Queensland’s less prescriptive model is a better path forward.

The price guide trap

In NSW and Victoria, agents are stuck in a cycle of “forecasting the unknowable.” Price guides and pre-set reserves were meant to offer buyers transparency, but Avi argues they now do the opposite, creating mistrust and regulatory headaches. “Instead of fostering clarity,” he says, “price guides and ranges have become the epicentre of mistrust.”

Avi believes those who deliberately mislead should be held accountable. But the broader issue, he says, is systemic with well-intentioned rules that backfire in practice. Recent Victorian proposals to lock in reserve prices a week before auction, for example, risk “freezing the market in time” and stripping sellers of the flexibility to respond to late-stage demand.

Queensland’s invisible hand

Queensland, by contrast, removes price speculation from the equation. There, auctions are less about agent estimates and more about real-time buyer competition. Avi draws on Adam Smith’s “Invisible Hand” to make his point: “In property, the only person who is ever truly ‘right’ on price is the buyer on auction day.”

By letting demand and urgency play out live, Queensland allows markets, not regulators or agents, to determine value. It’s not about secrecy, it’s about letting the open auction process do its job. The result will be less room for accusations of underquoting, more confidence for buyers, and fewer regulatory burdens on agents.

More rules, less trust?

Avi also questions whether regulators have the bandwidth to enforce complex new rules. Under-resourced compliance teams, long investigation delays, and outdated assumptions about buyer behaviour (in an age where everyone can see sold data online) all undermine the current system.

“More laws do not deliver better outcomes when enforcement capacity and technical expertise are the real bottlenecks,” he says. Instead, he proposes we rethink the role of regulation entirely.

“It’s time for NSW and Victoria to stop legislating against symptoms and start embracing a model that eliminates the problem at its root,” Avi says.

Read the full article here.

ICYMI, yesterday we found out how Lisa Pennell built a cohesive business model

TOGETHER WITH REALESTATE.COM.AU

Property searches get an AI makeover

realestate.com.au has unveiled realAssist, an AI-powered companion that helps homeowners better understand their property valuations. The OpenAI-powered tool is available to members who track properties, with one in three Australian homes already being tracked by their owners. The company has also expanded its natural language search feature, allowing users to search with complex queries like "show me homes with a pool and a double garage in Kew."

Find out more about realAssist here.

THAT’S PRICEY

Sydney suburb claims title of nation's priciest address

Australia's most expensive street has been crowned, with Kambala Road in Bellevue Hill commanding a staggering $39.35M median house price. Sydney's eastern suburbs dominate the luxury landscape, claiming six of the top 10 most expensive streets nationwide. The research highlights extreme market polarisation, with Sydney's priciest street costing over 100 times more than its most affordable one at $385,000.

STABLE MARKET

Property market shows signs of life

New Zealand's housing market is showing early signs of recovery with property values increasing for the second consecutive month. Values edged up by 0.2% in October following a 0.1% rise in September, after five straight months of decline. Despite this positive turn, national values remain 17.3% below their peak, with Wellington and Auckland hardest hit. Experts predict modest growth ahead rather than a dramatic boom, with prices potentially rising around 5% in 2026.

PRICES RISING

Housing market rebounds, affordability suffers

German home prices are forecast to rise around 3% annually in coming years, outpacing inflation after experiencing their biggest slump in more than a decade. While prices have already rebounded 3.3% in the first half of this year, they remain 9% below their 2022 peak. Experts warn the gap between price increases and mortgage rates will continue to widen, with 10 out of 12 analysts predicting worsening affordability for first-time buyers.

CELEBRITY HOMES

”My Unorthodox Life” penthouse hits the market again

Reality star Julia Haart has re-listed her Tribeca penthouse for USD $65 million (AUD $100.7M), the same home viewers saw on My Unorthodox Life. The two-level residence spans more than 7,800 square feet with terraces spread across three outdoor levels. Julia added her own style touches, including a den with Gucci chairs, a huge screen and a custom rotating wardrobe system. The penthouse comes with two kitchens, sweeping Hudson River views and a private lift. The building has attracted famous residents, including Lewis Hamilton and Tom Brady.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

EQT acquires majority stake in PropertyMe.

Brian Donn will take over as CEO in January 2026 while the founders transition to Board roles and retain significant minority ownership. More here.

Patrick D'Arrigo opens own office under @realty.

After nearly seven years with the company, he's launching his business in Brisbane's suburb of Warner using the Oasis model while maintaining his personalised service approach. More here.

Ross Whiston and Sallyann Vivian merge neighbouring offices.

The Ray White Gawler East leaders are taking over Ray White Angle Vale as Callan Lister steps away, strengthening their presence in Adelaide's northern growth corridor. More here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

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Wishing you a productive day!

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