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TRUE OR FALSE?

A flying freehold is when a house in the UK gets so ambitious it decides to “hover” over its neighbour’s property like it’s levitating in a Harry Potter spell.
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer!)

In today’s edition of The Brief

• Lessons from an ANZAC hero

• First Home Buyer caps drive uneven price growth

• The 66W certificate explained

Today’s read time: 4 minutes, 40 seconds

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ANZAC DAY

Seven words from a war diary

Harcourts WA CEO, Shane Kempton's, grandfather served 1,963 days in the Australian military during World War II and on the final day of the war in 1945, Ernie "Wiggy" Kempton wrote something that still resonates today. After years of service, after losing his brother to a sniper, after everything he'd witnessed - his focus wasn't anger or judgment.

"Cease fire. 9:30 pm – NEVER FORGET. Thinking of all the folks at home – THANK GOD."

We talk a lot about resilience today. About mental fitness. But Shane argues it's not new – men and women like his Pop lived it. Not through theory but through experience.

Tucked into his Pop's diary was also a message from Shane's grandmother, written before he deployed. His response? Seven words that capture something essential about courage, freedom, and purpose.

Those seven words form the heart of this reflection: “Happiness is Freedom, and Freedom is Courage.”

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The full diary entries: Raw, unfiltered truth from someone who was actually there – and what they reveal about gratitude

• The hidden message: What Shane's grandmother wrote, and his powerful response

• Perspective over opinion: Why Shane believes this ANZAC Day matters more than ever

• The seven words: A simple phrase that captures everything about resilience and leadership

Read the full article

ICYMI, yesterday, Boom, bust, repeat? The 18-year cycle theory that has economists concerned.

TOGETHER WITH @REALTY

Build your brand without the burden

OASIS powered by @realty allows real estate agents to keep their own brand while cutting operational overheads by up to 84%. Instead of managing multiple costly subscriptions for CRM, compliance, marketing, and support, @realty managing director, JJ Taylor, explains that agents can access a complete back-office system for a fraction of the price.

The model removes lock-in contracts and gives full control over commissions, territory, and how the business is run. Backed by a national network and enterprise-level infrastructure, it also enables boutique agencies to scale efficiently without losing independence. Read more about OASIS (powered by @realty) here.

MARKET

Deposit scheme pushing up prices for cheaper homes

Properties under the first home buyer guarantee price caps have risen 6.7% since October – nearly double the 3.6% growth for homes above thresholds. Cotality's Tim Lawless says the pattern is consistent across 92% of sub-markets, with buyers moving early in anticipation of increased competition. The catch: only 39.5% of suburbs now have medians under the caps, down from 48.6% in September.

BACK TO BASICS

66W: the key document that makes NSW deals unconditional

The difference between a 0.25% penalty and forfeiting a full 10% deposit comes down to a single certificate. In NSW, the 66W waives a buyer's five-day cooling-off period, making the sale binding at exchange. Harcourts NSW's Katrina Dight explains where agents and buyers commonly go wrong – and why not having one early enough can tank your campaign.

HOW IT SOLD

The buyer was already in their database

After multiple agents failed to sell a Truganina home, Jerry Jacob and Jalpa Patel of YPA Tarneit-Truganina went off-market – and closed the deal in a week. The four-bedroom property at 9 Howell Crescent sold for $860,000, $190,000 above the suburb's median, to someone who'd inspected another listing in their portfolio.

A listing lasts weeks. The case study lasts forever. getailsa.com →

CELEBRITY HOMES

A starring role in history: Shirley Temple’s wedding venue hits the market

The Spanish Mission-style adobe in Monterey, California, where Shirley Temple married Charles Black in 1950, is now listed at US$2.45 million (about $3.85 million AUD). And the previous owners? They made plastic palm trees for Jurassic Park.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Suzannah Toop departs TOOP+TOOP after 14 years

The former CEO of the property management division left the Adelaide family business at the end of last year to build what she calls "the next evolution of renting". More here.

Sarah Broad acquires Kelly & Co Property

The former PR specialist has purchased the Brisbane commercial agency from founder Pat Kelly, making it one of few female-owned commercial firms in Australia. More here.

Brenton Linmeiers joins Woodards Manningham

His team from Marshall White Manningham is uniting with the established Woodards office to strengthen their presence in the prestige property market. 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

Seems like we’re all a little clairvoyant around here. 🔮🏠

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

TRUE OR FALSE:

A flying freehold is when a house in the UK gets so ambitious it decides to “hover” over its neighbour’s property like it’s levitating in a Harry Potter spell.

And the answer is …

TRUE. In reality, a flying freehold happens when part of a property extends over or under another person’s land without being directly supported by its own plot - think upper rooms over shared driveways or bathrooms hanging above a neighbour’s kitchen. It’s legally recognised in UK property law, but it can get complicated because responsibility for maintaining the “supporting” structure isn’t always crystal clear. That uncertainty is exactly why some lenders require extra legal protections or insurance before approving finance.

Wishing you a productive day!

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