GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

Have you heard of the $100 billion city with a mere 9,000 residents? Forest City in Malaysia was built to house 700,000 people. Today, there about 1.3% occupancy across four artificial islands of marble-floored apartments, rooftop pools and hanging gardens. The development was launched in 2016 by Country Garden, China's largest property developer.

The pitch? A futuristic eco-city just 40 kilometres from Singapore, marketed as a "dream paradise for all mankind." But in 2017, China restricted capital outflows, cutting off the wealthy buyers the project was counting on. By 2023, Country Garden had lost US$7.6 billion in six months and was struggling to service $190 billion in debt.

In today’s edition of The Brief

• How a three-person leadership team and structured quarterly planning can transform an agency’s performance

• RBA Governor Michele Bullock has warned a potential rate hike is likely as rising energy prices and Middle East tensions add fresh inflation risks

• Thomas McGlynn departs BresicWhitney as CEO

Today’s read time: 7 minutes, 36 seconds

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LEADERSHIP

Three people can transform your agency

Feeling like everything in your business falls on you? You're not alone – but you don't have to stay there. Michael Nitschke built a leadership team that changed how his agency operates, and he's sharing the exact structure that made it work.

The weekly rhythm that keeps everyone aligned

Michael's leadership team meets for 60–90 minutes each week – separate from regular team meetings. The goal is simple: keep the principal, sales lead, property management lead, and operations lead on the same page.

"I move fast and dream big as a CEO," Michael says. "But strengths can sometimes be weaknesses too."

Here's what he discovered about who should be in the room...

Why you don't want agreement

The instinct is to surround yourself with people who share your vision. Michael argues for the opposite. The leadership team needs "grounded realists" – people whose default is caution and risk-awareness.

The full article explains why this tension is exactly what drives better decisions.

The quarterly magic most agencies miss

While weekly meetings maintain momentum, Michael says the real transformation happens in four half-day off-sites each year. He's developed a specific agenda he follows every quarter – and he's sharing the complete structure.

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The 7-step quarterly agenda: The exact structure Michael uses to review, realign, and set priorities every 90 days

• The "rocks" system: How to set 90-day priorities that keep your team focused when things get busy

• Leadership team composition: Why three people is enough – and who should be in the room

• The end-of-month trap: How to stop reaching end of the month and feeling like you achieved nothing

The full article shows you how to implement this structure.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday: why building a sustainable commercial career is about committing to the process.

TOGETHER WITH CALL ME SUCCESSFUL

From BMX Tracks to a global retail footprint: How Jason Daniel Built LSKD on Community, Grit and 1% Better

What does it take to turn a Grade 11 nickname into a global brand? In this episode of Call Me Successful hosted by Avi Khan, LSKD founder and CEO Jason Daniel shares how “Loose Kid” grew from heat-pressed hats at the motocross track into an international retail business.

Jason talks candidly about the messy middle - getting stuck at $3 million in revenue, questioning his why, and making the bold call to refine the brand in 2018. Out of that period came LSKD’s mission to inspire its community to be 1% better.

Avi and Jason unpack founder versus CEO energy, building A-players through values, and why community isn’t a marketing line - it’s the engine.

Tune in as Avi Khan and Jason Daniel talk grit, growth and building 1% better every day.

RBA

March rate hike now on the table

Economists now see a 25-basis-point March hike to 4.10% as the base case – a sharp shift from just weeks ago when May was the bet. RBA Governor Michele Bullock has signalled every upcoming meeting is "live" for potential increases, with Middle East oil price spikes adding fresh inflation pressure. If you've got buyers waiting for rates to fall, they may be waiting through at least the first half of 2026.

COSTLY MISTAKES

Renovation mistakes costing sellers up to $36K

Cheap laminate marble benchtops in mid-range homes, and poorly executed open-plan layouts are among the upgrades reducing resale values by up to 3.6% – about $36,000 on a $1 million property. New research found a third of buyer complaints relate to high-maintenance finishes. Useful intel if your vendors are planning pre-sale upgrades.

BACK TO BASICS

Off-market sales explained

Off-market sales shape more of the Australian property market than public portals suggest – and they reward agents who invest in relationships over shortcuts. The fundamentals: build a segmented buyer database, cultivate ties with buyer's agents and investors, and learn when a quiet launch beats a full campaign. Your CRM is where it all starts.

HOW IT SOLD

63 inquiries and four offers in seven days

Nedlands four-bedroom homes typically sit on market for 49 days. Mark Anderson from The Agency sold this five-bedroom Dalkeith Road property in seven – combining property concierge staging with a realestate.com.au pre-launch strategy that reached matched buyers before the official launch. From those 63 inquiries came 31 inspection groups and four competitive offers.

Stories like this build your online reputation long after the sold sticker comes down. Want yours told? getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

Jack Robinson lists Margaret River clifftop retreat

Jack Robinson's Gnarabup home overlooks the exact waves that made him a world champion and Olympic medallist – Main Break, The Box and The Bombie are all visible from the wraparound deck. Mid-$3M gets you four bedrooms, a granny flat, and a yoga studio. Wait until you see that cliff-edge view.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Thomas McGlynn departs BresicWhitney as CEO

Will Gosse steps in as Acting CEO after over a decade with the Sydney group, following a record $420 million February. More here.

Barry Plant launches Kickstart 2026

The network unveiled an industry-first vendor app and hosted AFL legend Joel Selwood, though Chris Hill's growth session stole the show as the highest-rated presentation. 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

OK, it all makes sense now. And, the louder you scream, the better you’ll feel. 😱 🙄

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

Wishing you a productive day!

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