GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

Today is AI in Work Day, so we’re just wondering if you’ve ever thought about an AI version of a letterbox drop?

No, we’re not talking about a prompt to write a brochure for you, that strategy is more 2023 than 2025…

The truth is, with a traditional letterbox drop, you spend time and money on a piece of paper that’s lucky to have a 24-hour lifespan. What if that same effort could create a marketing asset that lasts forever at a lower cost?

An online "Just Sold" story is your new digital flyer. It doesn't get thrown away. It stays on the internet, constantly working to build your brand, attract new vendors, and win you listings while you sleep. It's an asset that appreciates in value over time as more people find it on Google. (Find an example of one here.)

The problem? You probably don’t have time to write them.

That's why we built Ailsa. With a single phone call, Ailsa transforms your sales details into a professional, SEO-optimised story. You talk, she writes.

We're opening up a few more spots for our beta program. If you're ready to stop creating disposable marketing and start building a library of digital assets that last a lifetime, you need to be on this list. Find out more and join the waitlist here.

Today’s read time: 5 minutes, 46 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free. 🤝

BUSINESS GROWTH

How to scale a real estate business without burning out 

Scaling a real estate business isn’t just about hiring more people or generating more leads, it’s about leading differently. Michael Nitschke shares the hard-won lessons from nearly burning out while trying to grow his agency. His core insight? Stop trying to fix everything yourself. If you want your business to grow without costing your health or your team’s morale, you need to shift your mindset, simplify your systems, and build a culture of shared ownership.

Ditch the fixer mentality

Michael confesses to falling into the trap of jumping in to solve every issue himself, thinking it was faster, easier, safer. But over time, it bred dependency, blurred responsibility, and drove him into exhaustion. Leaders who act like the ultimate problem-solvers end up being the bottleneck. “I didn’t pause to reflect on how I was being,” he says. “I was focused on what I was doing.”

Systems should support, not smother

To scale effectively, you need systems that simplify, not complicate, your operations. Michael advocates for a central operating framework (like EOS), clear role definitions, and “loopback systems” to ensure feedback and follow-through. When processes are too complex, they choke momentum. Keep it lean, clear, and adaptable.

Make culture a co-creation

Burnout-proof scaling happens when culture is protected and co-created, says Michael, and he urges leaders to connect each team member’s goals with the business mission, building a shared sense of purpose. Vulnerability, psychological safety, and empowering department heads are essential to creating an agency that doesn’t rely solely on the founder’s hustle.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI yesterday, we reviewed how AI can help you with smarter daily planning.

ANALYSIS

First Home Guarantee to cut years off deposit saving

The expanded First Home Guarantee (FHG), starting tomorrow, will dramatically reduce the time first-home buyers need to save. Domain analysis shows Sydney buyers could now purchase in less than three years instead of more than a decade, while `saving times in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide fall to just over two years.

In Perth, couples could buy in 19 months, saving about four and a half years. Domain’s Chief of Research and Economics Dr Nicola Powell called it “a real game-changer” but warned buyers will face bigger mortgages and risks from interest rates and rising prices if supply doesn’t keep pace.

TASSIE NEWS

Renters can now secure furniture to walls

Tasmania is strengthening rental safety laws with new legislation allowing tenants to affix furniture to walls without owner consent when no permanent damage will result. The safety-focused amendments aim to prevent injuries or deaths from toppling furniture, particularly involving children. Property owners must respond to modification requests within 14 days and cannot unreasonably refuse consent for safety modifications, with the Residential Tenancy Commissioner available to mediate disputes.

EU TAX

Europe’s Property tax gap leaves buyers facing a ‘housing lottery’

For real estate agents, Europe’s patchwork of property taxes is reshaping buyer decisions - and deals. In Spain and Belgium, a €300,000 (A$490,000) home can attract €30,000 (A$49,000) or more in transfer taxes, while buyers in Zurich pay nothing. Catalonia and Valencia levy 10 per cent, Belgium up to 12 per cent, though some regions offer relief to first-time buyers. The UK ranges from zero stamp duty for first-home buyers under £300,000 (A$580,000) to 17 per cent on luxury or second homes, and France adds hefty agent fees, of up to 8 per cent, on top of moderate taxes.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Estée Lauder heir's $37.5 million co-op sale

Cosmetics empire scion William Lauder has offloaded his prestigious Fifth Avenue co-op for a whopping US$37.5M in an off-market deal. The ousted Estée Lauder executive netted a US$14M profit from his 2017 purchase, selling to blockchain executive Evan Cheng. The four-bedroom apartment in a historic limestone landmark offers stunning views of Central Park and represents one of Manhattan's most expensive co-op sales in recent months.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Robert Krnjeta joins Harcourts

The accomplished agent brings 14 years experience and over 1,000 sales to the brand after leading his previous Werribee office to become #1 in Victoria and Tasmania. 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

Behind every pristine listing photo is an agent holding laundry, kids’ toys and yesterday’s dishes just out of frame. Occupational hazard. 🧸📸

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

Wishing you a productive day!

Elite Agent is the definitive platform for ambitious agents and industry players. Thought Leaders is the weekly show where top operators reveal how they’re reinventing real estate. AI-Powered Agents is your playbook for deploying AI that sells homes and scales teams.

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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