GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

Originally born out of the COVID-19 crisis, Thank You Day is all about celebrating the everyday heroes who show up, lend a hand, and keep things running. In real estate, those heroes look like your receptionist who doubles as a tech troubleshooter, the PM who handles 2am plumbing dramas without blinking, and the clients who bring biscuits to open homes.

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OPINION

Why agents need cultural fluency, not just sales skills, to serve the modern market

“It’s not just property, it’s legacy”: how Henry Wong earns trust across cultures

REMAX’s Henry Wong says his job title extends beyond real estate agent; he’s a “connector”, cultural interpreter, and trusted advisor to a growing wave of Asian buyers reshaping Australia’s property landscape. With more than half of his buyers of Asian heritage, his approach is deeply personal, highly strategic, and built on one essential ingredient: trust.

Real estate as a legacy strategy

Forget finance clauses and mortgage approvals. Henry says most of his deals are cash, often part of multigenerational wealth strategies involving families with 10 or more properties.

“It’s not about returns. It’s about preserving legacy,” he explains. Grandparents or parents overseas fund the purchases, but it’s the local, Australian-born children or grandchildren who sign the contracts.

For these buyers, property is a vehicle for long-term security in a politically stable, multicultural society. “In some countries, you can’t speak out without fear. Here, you can,” he says.

That sense of safety, and freedom, is part of what makes Australia so appealing.

Cultural fluency is non-negotiable

Henry’s edge isn’t just his experience, it’s his fluency in Mandarin, and more importantly, in culture. He doesn’t just talk to the person with the best English. He connects with the real decision-makers, often across generations in one family.

“The biggest buyers often don’t speak English fluently because they don’t need to. They’re not working; they’re investing. So if you don’t have someone on your team who speaks their language, you’re already behind.”

And yes, cultural beliefs like feng shui can influence decisions, but so do practical factors including top school zones, quality grocers, vibrant communities. His clients are buying for the long term. They’re not just after property, they’re investing in a future.

Trust and transparency

Henry runs his business like a concierge service - hence why he refers to himself as a “connector”. Need help with inheritance structuring? Funeral planning? He’s got you. Sellers are also drawn to his 24/7 transparent portal, which logs every call, SMS, and follow-up“ no smoke and mirrors.”

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, we discussed the hidden cost draining your PM business.

TOGETHER WITH PROPIC

Propic unveils multilingual voice AI for real estate listings

Propic, part of View Media Group, has launched two major updates to its AI platform, Claire: a conversational voice interface and multilingual intelligence. Buyers can now speak naturally to Claire from any property listing and receive real-time information in 58 languages, including Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, and Indonesian. The AI translates responses back to English for agent clarity.

Propic, founder Jeffrey Gray said that over the last year alone, Claire has supported more than $13 billion in property sales, and the new features meet growing demand for voice and language accessibility in property searches, particularly in Australia’s multicultural market.

“We predicted 2025 would be the year voice went mainstream,” said Mr Gray. “With consumers used to interacting with assistants like Alexa and Siri, it was time they could simply talk to a property 24/7. And in a multicultural market like Australia, expecting everyone to communicate in English just isn’t good enough anymore. We’ve built Claire to speak every buyer’s language – literally.”

Read more about Propic’s AI platform, Claire, here.

DEPT OF LAND SUPPLY

Land prices soar as supply hits 20-year low

Australia's residential land market is facing a critical supply crunch, with median prices surging to $369,530 in late 2024, up 8% from the previous year. Meanwhile, lot sales have plummeted to their lowest level since 2000, with just 42,590 lots sold throughout 2024. The Government plans to invest in "enabling infrastructure" to address the shortage, but experts warn the imbalance is already pushing buyers toward established properties instead of new builds.

DEPT OF CONSTRUCTION

Builders prop up a slowing economy

Australia narrowly avoided recession in the March 2025 quarter, thanks largely to a 2.2% spike in construction activity. Residential renovations led the way, offsetting a broader GDP slowdown to just 0.2%. But industry leaders warn the momentum won’t last without targeted reforms. Master Builders say red tape, skills shortages, and planning bottlenecks must be addressed fast. “Builders are doing the heavy lifting,” says CEO Denita Wawn. “Now it’s time for policy settings to do the same.”

DEPT OF NZ NEWS

New Zealand’s property market shows mixed results

New Zealand's housing market continues its sluggish recovery with national property values dipping 0.1 per cent in May to a median of $818,132. Regional markets are showing greater resilience than major cities, with Queenstown rising 1.2 per cent while Auckland fell 0.3 per cent. Values remain 16.3 per cent below their January 2022 peak, with experts suggesting the current "balanced" market may actually be healthier, providing opportunities for various buyer groups without runaway price increases.

CELEBRITY HOMES

John Goodman's historic New Orleans mansion hits the market

The beloved actor's 175-year-old Garden District estate is now available for US$4.75M. The 5,000-square-foot Italianate-Greek Revival home features 14-foot ceilings, ornate details, and a cobalt-blue chef's kitchen. Previously owned by Nine Inch Nails founder Trent Reznor, the property includes a saltwater pool and sits on a double corner lot in one of the city's most prestigious neighbourhoods. Goodman is downsizing but plans to maintain a smaller residence in the Big Easy.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Jenny Magill launches Magill Country Real Estate

The Port Macquarie rural property specialist has created her own boutique brand with OASIS powered by @realty after selling over $95 million of real estate in her career. More here.

Ray White Northern Beaches acquires Palm Beach office

David Walker and Charles Caravousanos have expanded their footprint to four offices in just nine months, now covering from Palm Beach to Manly. More here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

Hacker: "Pay up or I’m leaking your camera roll."
Agent: "Joke’s on you. It’s 637 videos of walkthroughs and one blurry selfie with a client’s dog."

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Wishing you a productive day!

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