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On 8 September 1966, the world was introduced to Star Trek, a scrappy little TV show that boldly went where no science fiction had gone before and ended up spawning one of the most powerful franchises in history. Swap out the USS Enterprise for a flashy shopfront, and you could argue real estate franchises aren’t that different.

Both rely on strong captains at the helm, a loyal crew, and a mission to explore new frontiers - whether that’s galaxies or suburbs. Like Star Trek, the most successful agencies don’t just sell homes; they build worlds, expand empires, and create a following that lasts for generations. Engage!

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 23 seconds

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LEADERSHIP & TEAM BUILDING

The principal who chose culture over commission - and won

Why this high-energy agent keeps saying no to million-dollar recruits

While others chase big-name agents with big GCI, Peter Diamantidis is playing a different game - and winning. In just four and a half years, he’s gone from one Ray White office in western Sydney to seven, built a team of more than 100, and sold 358 properties last year alone. His secret? He backs people most principals overlook - and has zero tolerance for ego. “We have a no d***khead policy,” he says. “We’ve had million-dollar writers come in… but from a culture point of view, if they don’t fit, I say no.”

From hairdresser to Chairman’s Elite

Peter’s recruitment strategy breaks every traditional rule. He doesn’t poach top performers. He hires people with no real estate experience, then trains, mentors, and challenges them to become great. One of his top agents? A former hairdresser who used to cut Peter’s hair. Another was cruising for years before joining Peter’s team and writing $17 million.

Why Property Management is his secret weapon

Forget the usual “PM supports sales” spiel; Peter flips it. He’s built a 3,000-strong rent roll in just four years, using it as a springboard to feed 300+ sales back into the business each year. “If you’ve got both a strong PM business and a strong sales business, you own the market,” he says. And unlike most offices, he doesn’t let his PM team feel like second-class citizens. They get the same rewards, recognition, and even overseas trips. “Sales always gets recognised. But PM’s are always left behind,” Peter says. “Not here.”

Still selling, still expanding, still hungry

Peter’s story starts with a hard no- after dropping out in Year 10, his plumbing apprenticeship application was rejected. But a work experience real estate placement turned into an blooming career, including 17 years selling. “I was scared. I was worried. I didn’t know what I was doing,” he recalls of launching his first office at 33. Now with seven locations and 358 personal sales last year, he still lists and sells - by choice. “If I don’t run 100 miles an hour, I feel tired,” he says. “I went on a listing rampage. If I sell 200 properties this year, I’m happy.”.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, last week Michael Choi discussed why hustle doesn’t always translate to wealth.

THOUGHT LEADERS

Do Star Agents Deserve Special Treatment?

The scene: your top agent walks in late to the sales meeting. Again. Everyone notices, no one says a word. The admin is furious, junior agents feel invisible, and the principal is quietly doing the maths on what happens if that star leaves. We’ve all seen it play out — but what happens when we ask the uncomfortable question out loud: do star agents deserve special treatment, even if it ruffles feathers?

That’s exactly what we did, putting Dom Thurbon and Fiona Blayney head-to-head in a debate with a twist: a coin toss decided who argued which side. For 45 minutes, they built sharp, opposing cases before revealing what they really believed — and why the truth might not be as clear-cut as it seems.

OLD LISTINGS

Spring rush hits housing market, but stale stock lingers

Australia’s property market is shaking off the winter lull, with listings jumping 5.2 per cent in August as sellers gear up for spring. Sydney and Melbourne led the charge, with fresh stock surging more than 26 per cent in just a month. But not everything is moving; older homes are piling up, especially in Canberra, where listings over six months old have ballooned 64 per cent. SQM Research boss Louis Christopher says it’s a clear sign some vendors are asking more than buyers will wear. Even so, prices are still climbing, with Sydney house sellers now asking more than $2 million on average after a 9.17 per cent weekly leap. Nationally, the average house price sits at $1.29 million, up nearly 7 per cent from last year.

FIRST HOME BUYER DEMAND

Affordable homes outpacing the broader market

Australia's most affordable properties are experiencing stronger price growth than typical homes, with affordable houses growing at 8.3% annually compared to 8% for the broader market. Sydney leads this trend with affordable houses ($1.13 million) growing nearly a full percentage point faster than typical Sydney homes. This lift coincides with the government's expanded First Home Buyer Guarantee scheme, which eliminates income caps and raises property price thresholds to $1.5 million in Sydney.

FOREIGN BUYERS

Millionaire buyers back in NZ’s property game

New Zealand has flipped its stance on foreign property ownership, giving wealthy overseas investors the green light to buy or build one luxury home worth at least NZ$5 million (A$4.3 million). The move is tied to the country’s Active Investor Plus visa, which has already attracted 301 applications since April, which is a potential NZ$1.8 billion (A$1.54 billion) cash injection. Until now, investors who weren’t in New Zealand for at least six months a year were locked out of the housing market. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the policy aims to keep everyday homes off-limits while luring high-net-worth individuals to pump money into the economy. With fewer than 1% of Kiwi homes hitting the NZ$5m mark, the rule change only applies at the very top end of the market.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Brad Pitt adds to his real estate empire

Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt has just snagged a US$12M Spanish-style mansion in the exclusive Outpost Estates area of Hollywood Hills. The 8,385-square-foot property boasts six bedrooms, panoramic views from downtown LA to the Pacific, and enhanced security features, reportedly a priority after a recent burglary at his Los Feliz home. The actor joins celebrity neighbours Orlando Bloom and Ben Affleck in this prestigious enclave, while continuing to reshape his extensive property portfolio.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Melina Cruickshank exits REA Group

The Chief Product and Audience Officer departs after six years leading the 800-strong consumer product and advertising division. More here

REMAX hosts Platinum Plus Property Management forum

The Brisbane event brought together 29 top property management professionals to network and learn from industry experts including Chelsea Pottenger, Hannah Gill, and Sheila Vijeyarasa. More here

Riccardo Canales joins RWC Western Sydney

The property veteran brings 15 years of corporate agency experience to bolster the firm's asset management division in Parramatta. 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

Truth bomb: Chasing the biggest number sounds good, until the only thing going down is your price.💸📉

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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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