GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

It’s National Christmas Lights Day, and you know what that means - time to bring out the sparkle. Whether you’re photographing listings or hosting twilight opens, nothing catches a buyer’s eye like a home that twinkles brighter than the competition. From fairy lights on fences to glowing reindeer on the lawn, it’s the perfect reminder that presentation sells, especially when it shines.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 39 seconds

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LEADERSHIP

Building a business that doesn’t break you

Leading without burning out

Michael Nitschke, CEO, speaker, and author, offers a refreshingly honest take on leadership in real estate, revealing that behind the polished exterior lies an emotional toll few discuss. He argues that real leadership is forged in the trenches, through mistakes, self-awareness, and surrounding oneself with a diverse, supportive team. For Michael, the true measure of success isn’t constant output but building sustainable systems, mental resilience, and a business that serves its people as much as its profits.

Learning in the trenches

He says there’s no handbook for running a business, only the hard-earned lessons from experience. Taking over his family business on the brink of collapse, he learned the value of humility, admitting mistakes, and sharing responsibility with a trusted leadership team. His candid reflections include missteps like hiring poor culture fits, overcomplicating processes, and prioritising performance over genuine connection.

The emotional cost of leadership

He highlights the “hidden emotional tax” of leadership: the pressure, self-doubt, and constant learning that come with running a business. Michael stresses that even seasoned leaders continue to make mistakes and that success doesn’t erase the strain. Honesty, he says, is essential: with oneself and the team, to distribute the mental load and maintain perspective.

Rethinking productivity and self-worth

This year, Michael has been challenging the belief that busyness equals value. He’s learning to detach his identity from work outcomes and embrace balance. His focus now lies in creating strong systems, fostering wellbeing, and empowering others - because, as he puts it, “there’s no prize in doing it all alone.”

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, last week we looked at the first 100 day journey for a new property partner.

TOGETHER WITH REA GROUP

REA Group acquires real-time lifestyle data platform Neighbourlytics

REA Group has acquired Neighbourlytics, an Australian data analytics platform that provides real-time lifestyle and mobility insights such as foot traffic, visitor trends, lifestyle personas, top destinations and accessibility. Founded in 2017, the platform shows how people actually live in neighbourhoods beyond demographic statistics.

PropTrack Executive General Manager Kris Matthews said the acquisition will bolster community data for consumers and help property seekers understand more about the property and the community around it. He said Australians buy into a community and a lifestyle, and that Neighbourlytics is a natural fit, with integration opportunities for realestate.com.au and realcommercial.com.au.

Neighbourlytics founder and CEO, Jessica Christiansen-Franks, said the platform reveals what it is like to live in a local area, what the local identity is, and what people love about their neighbourhoods. ”I look forward to sharing our valuable neighbourhood insights with a broader audience through REA’s leading property brands.”

Read more about Neighbourlytics here.

THOUGHT LEADERS

From 13 to 50+ Staff: Tom Harrison's Blueprint for Scaling an Independent Agency

It was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses were shuttering, uncertainty was at an all-time high, and Tom Harrison was standing at a literal and figurative fork in the road.

His business coach gave him one piece of explicit advice: “Do not sign that paperwork.”

Fast forward to today, and that decision has paid off exponentially. Tom now runs a 50-person operation across two offices, revenue has quadrupled since 2021, and Harrison Agents was recently named Large Residential Agency of the Year at the REIT Awards.

In this episode of Thought Leaders, Tom sits down with Samantha McLean to unpack the mindset behind ignoring expert advice, the reality of scaling from 13 to 50 staff, and why he believes staying independent was a better personal choice than joining a franchise.

THE WATERFRONT ADVANTAGE

Waterfront home prices climb to record premiums

New research from McGrath shows that living by the water now costs 86 per cent more than buying an inland equivalent, with the gap widening steadily over the past eight years. Sydney leads the trend, with absolute waterfront homes attracting a 122 per cent premium, followed by strong results in Brisbane, Melbourne and the Gold Coast. Properties with private beach access show some of the highest uplifts, reaching a 71 per cent premium. Queensland now records the largest share of East Coast waterfront sales, while NSW follows closely. With stock remaining scarce, these premiums are expected to hold into 2026.

COMMERCIAL

Commercial property outlook strengthens for 2026

Knight Frank’s latest outlook shows industrial and retail remain the most resilient commercial sectors heading into 2026, while office markets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide are beginning to stabilise. Tighter supply is expected to push rents higher, particularly for prime office space. The firm says investors may need to widen their search as competition increases in previously favoured precincts. Dominant shopping centres are also expected to draw stronger demand over the coming year.

SAUDI ARABIA PROPERTY MARKET

Kingdom opens doors to foreign property investors

Saudi Arabia will allow foreigners to buy real estate starting January 2026, marking a significant shift in the Kingdom's property market. The new law enables international individuals and companies to purchase homes and land in approved zones, with no annual property tax or capital gains tax. Part of the Vision 2030 economic plan, the initiative includes opportunities in mega-projects like NEOM and introduces digital fractional ownership for remote investment.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Joe Jonas' former home gets a price cut

A traditional 1923 residence previously owned by singer Joe Jonas is back on the market at US$3.99M, down from September's US$4.5M asking price. The ivy-covered Sunset Square property spans 3,733 square feet with four bedrooms and features a pool, private backyard, and a separate one-bedroom guest house. Current owner Martha Gulati, a prominent cardiologist, purchased it from Jonas for US$4M in 2022.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Harcourts Mandurah takes on 36-hour treadmill challenge.

The team of 30 staff will work in shifts to keep two treadmills moving non-stop this Thursday and Friday to raise funds for Movember men's health initiatives. 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

Real estate is easy, they said. Just dive in, they said. Still waiting for someone to show me how to swim fast. 🏊‍♀️💼

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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