GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

Tomorrow, we will pause the business of property. There are no listings, no market updates, no deals to chase. Instead, across the country, we gather in stillness to honour the courage, service, and sacrifice of those who came before us. ANZAC Day is more than a date on the calendar.

It’s a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy were built on the shoulders of those who stood for something greater than themselves. As real estate professionals, we talk often about building futures, creating legacies, and helping people find “home.” But tomorrow reminds us that home is also a hard-won privilege.

Today’s read time: 5 minutes, 24 seconds

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LEADERSHIP

Freedom, courage, and mental fitness: ANZAC lessons for life and leadership

As dawn breaks on ANZAC Day 2025 tomorrow, Harcourts WA CEO Shane Kempton brings us a deeply personal tribute, one that fuses legacy, leadership, and the enduring importance of mental fitness.

At the heart of it is his grandfather, Ernie "Wiggy" Kempton, a World War II veteran who served 1,963 days in the Australian military, including over three years on active duty overseas. But Shane’s story isn’t just about history, it’s a timely reminder of how the past still informs how we show up today.

Mental strength isn’t new, it’s just been rebranded

In a world obsessed with resilience hacks and mindset mantras, Shane reminds us that our forebears already embodied these values, without the hashtags. His Pop faced trauma, grief, and isolation, yet kept going with humour, love, and a striking sense of perspective. “He didn’t have Instagram quotes or neuroscience studies,” Shane writes. “What he had was lived experience.”

A diary entry from the night World War II ended, written in Pop’s handwriting, captures a moment of raw emotion: “Cease fire. 9:30 pm - NEVER FORGET… Oh I’m so happy... A night I’ll never forget. Dear God, thank you on behalf of humanity.” It’s a time capsule of relief and gratitude, and a masterclass in mental fitness.

Legacy lessons for modern agents

So what does all this have to do with real estate? More than you might think. Shane distills his grandfather’s ANZAC spirit into practical takeaways that today’s professionals can apply, whether they’re navigating tough markets, managing teams, or dealing with personal setbacks:

• Perspective is power: The ability to zoom out during stress is a leadership superpower. Gratitude and faith carried Pop through war; they can carry us through business turbulence too.

• Connection fuels endurance: Pop’s strength came from more than duty - it came from love. A note from his wife, hidden in his diary, spoke volumes: “So tender, loving and so fine… Never have I known such true love.” That human connection was his anchor. Modern resilience still rests on the same foundation.

• Mental fitness is about carrying the weight better, not pretending it’s not there: Real strength isn’t about denial - it’s about learning to endure with grace, humour, and hope.

A final salute

As Shane reflects, “Happiness is Freedom, and Freedom is Courage”, words his grandfather once wrote, and which still hold relevance for leaders today. This ANZAC Day, let’s he says do more than remember. Let’s live the legacy: with stronger minds, fuller hearts, and the courage to keep going.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we reported on why a one-size-fits-all training fails real estate agents

DEPT OF TRANSPORT

How transport projects are redrawing the real estate map

Major transport upgrades like Sydney’s WestConnex and Brisbane’s Cross River Rail are reshaping how Australians live, buy and invest. These projects don’t just cut commute times, they boost suburb appeal, shift buyer demand and impact property values. Areas near new infrastructure often see increased interest and above-average growth, especially once projects near completion. But the effects aren’t uniform: some pockets thrive, others stagnate or get overdeveloped.

DEPT OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Commercial property back in favour as investors seek stability

Big investors are leaning into commercial property as a steadier option while the share market wobbles. Property stocks are doing better than the broader market, and with interest rates steady (and possible cuts on the cards for 2025), the hunt for solid returns is on. There's also a growing buzz around childcare centres, mainly thanks to strong government backing and big reforms.

DEPT OF AI

The Mad Libbing Method: How real estate pros can engineer better prompts

We all know the difference between a good listing and a great one. Same goes for prompts. A great prompt isn’t just a question — it’s a carefully structured instruction, designed to produce high-quality content consistently. Whether you're pulling together a market wrap, a suburb profile, or listing feedback for a vendor, the trick is knowing how to ask. Enter: the Mad Libbing technique.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Eastside to Westside: Benny Blanco says goodbye to Chelsea condo

Benny Blanco has just waved goodbye to his Chelsea apartment, parting with it for a tidy US$3.6 million. That’s around US$400,000 under the original asking price, but still a little more than what he shelled out for it about ten years back. The space? A 2,200-square-foot corner loft in the historic Chelsea Mercantile, with three bedrooms, soaring 11-foot ceilings, and a chef’s kitchen. The timing? Not long after he and Selena Gomez got engaged and snapped up a modest little US$35 million mansion in Beverly Hills.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Rebecca Cuderman launches NGU Logan

The 26-year-old sells over 200 properties annually and has ambitious growth plans after opening her own business with her team of eight. More here.

Ada Mastronardo joins the BresicWhitney sales team

Ada Mastronardo, a Sydney-based agent with over 20 years’ experience, will join BresicWhitney, working alongside Andrew Liddell. More here.

Kathy Sweeney introduces innovative BDM role

The REMAX Living broker owner has designed the new position to focus not only on traditional growth metrics but also on exceptional client experience and relationship building. More here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

Being a real estate agent is just back-to-back house hopping… with a side of anxiety about whether you turned off the lights, locked the back door, or left a candle burning from three listings ago. 😬🤔

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Wishing you a productive day

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.

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