GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

Forget everything you’ve heard about white walls being the “safe” choice for resale. Zillow’s paint colour analysis, surveying 4,200 buyers, found that homes with charcoal grey living rooms can sell for around US$2,593 more than those with plain white walls.

Participants were shown interiors painted in 10 different colours and asked how much they’d pay, how much they liked the space, and if they’d buy. White didn’t top the charts in any room. Charcoal grey, often written off as “dated” by designers, came out on top for living rooms for the second study in a row.

In today’s edition of The Brief

• What hands-on rural real estate really means

• The case for cooling-off periods

• Investor borrowing rises sharply

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 46 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

RURAL REAL ESTATE

Why this agent drives 2,000km every week

Kate Jefferies doesn't outsource her listing photography. She doesn't stick to sealed roads either. The Ray White Rural WA sales consultant based in Albany has built something distinctive in the Great Southern region – a hands-on approach where every kilometre driven and every image captured tells a deeper story.

The farming background advantage

Growing up on a farm shaped how Kate approaches vendors selling generational properties. She's learned to navigate the emotional weight that comes with families letting go of land that's been in their hands for decades.

"Many of the properties carry generations of family history, and I'm very conscious of representing it properly," Kate says.

But here's what most agents miss – that same background lets her spot opportunities others overlook entirely.

Photography as personal brand

Kate realised early that how a property is captured can completely change buyer perception. So she picked up the camera herself. What started as necessity has evolved into a recognisable style – what she calls a "brand within a brand."

"My images are a little less 'produced' and have an honest realness," she says.

The full article reveals how this self-taught approach actually outperforms polished commercial imagery (and some examples of her work).

The lengths she'll go

Pre-dawn starts. Golden-hour captures. Four-wheel driving down sandy beach tracks in the dark. Kate's commitment to getting the perfect shot reflects a philosophy that blends patience, creativity, and deep respect for the land she represents.

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The 2,000km workflow: How Kate integrates photography seamlessly into her weekly routine without burning out

• Drone strategy for rural: Why aerial footage changes everything for regional buyers who can't easily visit

• The vendor reaction test: The moment that makes those long, unpredictable days worthwhile

• Authenticity over polish: Why being self-taught created her biggest competitive advantage

Kate's story proves that in rural real estate, the willingness to go further – literally – creates a different kind of connection with both land and client.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday: Why energy efficiency is the fourth pillar of property investment.

TOGETHER WITH REALESTATE.COM.AU

iGUIDE launches in Australia to bring 3D home tours to buyers

iGUIDE, the advanced 3D property visualisation platform, has officially launched in Australia, giving buyers the ability to virtually explore homes with accurate floor plans, site plans, and detailed property data.

“iGUIDE delivers an experience that gives buyers greater confidence earlier in their property journey through accurate floor plans, site plans and immersive walkthroughs, ultimately helping drive more serious buyer leads for agents and quality attendance at open for inspections,” said Sam Nokes, Director of Sales, Australia.

Photographer Daniel Nik described the platform as a “game-changer” for property marketing, adding that it allows buyers to truly experience a home online and takes listings “to the next level.” REA Group has integrated iGUIDE into realestate.com.au, enabling seamless navigation with intelligent room shortcuts so buyers can jump straight to the spaces they care about most.

Read more about iGUIDE here.

RENTAL MARKET

Investor borrowing jumps 64% amid tight rental market

Investors now hold their highest share of housing lending since 2017, according to the latest PropTrack report. New loans have jumped 64% since early 2023, and 93% of investor sales in late 2025 turned a profit – the highest level in a decade. REA Senior Economist Angus Moore expects tight rental conditions to keep activity strong this year.

BACK TO BASICS

Why cooling-off periods help agents build trust

Cooling-off rules vary across states – five business days in NSW and Queensland, three in Victoria, two in South Australia, and only if included in the contract in WA and Tasmania. LJ Hooker's Mathew Tiller says understanding these rules isn't just about compliance, they're a way to build trust with buyers, manage vendor expectations, and even shape negotiations.

HOW IT SOLD

Main road house sets Hillsdale street record

A busy thoroughfare location didn't deter Andrew Anastassiou and Daniel Lo from attracting eight registered bidders to this double-brick home. By drawing buyers from neighbouring suburbs and repositioning the property's narrative, the 25-day campaign generated enough interest to bring the auction forward – ultimately selling under the hammer for $2.31 million.

This story started with a 10-minute phone call. Imagine boosting this on socials to your farm area. getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

Katharine Hepburn's Manhattan home takes fourth price cut

Four Academy Awards and 60-plus years at the same Turtle Bay address. Katharine Hepburn's townhouse is now asking AUD$9.8M after its fourth price cut – down from AUD$11.4M when it first listed. And yes, her original mirrored vanity is still in place.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

McGrath and Knight Frank launch joint projects division

The dual-branded McGrath Knight Frank Projects will operate across the east coast with a $3b pipeline and aims to sell 2,000 apartments in 2026. Owen Moore leads South East Queensland, Brennan Latimer heads Melbourne, and Henry Burke runs Sydney. More here.

Belize Property joins Harcourts network

The Jacobs Well agency behind the area's four highest sales is rebranding as Harcourts Belize Group and expanding to Ormeau. More here.

Simone Chin builds leading Brighton business

The former professional ballet dancer launched Atria Real Estate nearly five years ago and now operates across Melbourne's prestigious Bayside suburbs. 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

Being married to a real estate agent means your partner works everywhere - even in PJs on the couch. Love them, but don’t ask for attention until the “unread messages” count hits zero. 🛋️📱

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

Wishing you a productive day!

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