🌏 What South Asian buyers are bringing to Brisbane’s housing market

GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

TRUE OR FALSE?

Real estate agents in Spain often work with uniquely unconventional properties, including homes where the “roofline” is formed by natural rock overhangs, with builders integrating the existing landscape as structural cover instead of constructing traditional roofs.
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer!)

In today’s edition of The Brief

• Migration-driven cultural shifts reshaping Brisbane property

• Rates bite: RBA signals cooling market

• Listings rise to highest level since 2019

Today’s read time: 5 minutes, 20 seconds

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MIGRATION AND MARKETS

Trust, language and migration: how South Asian buyers are changing Brisbane property transactions

India is now one of Australia’s largest source of migrants according to Department of Home Affairs data and for Ray White Brisbane agent, Sukhraj Singh Nijjar, that shift is already visible in how property decisions are being made on the ground, particularly in high-pressure auction environments where language, trust and cultural familiarity are increasingly shaping outcomes.

“It’s not just language,” he said. “It’s understanding where people are coming from, culturally and emotionally, because being able to speak Hindi or Punjabi means I can explain things clearly. But more importantly it means I can make people feel like they are not isolated in the process or like they are missing something in translation, and that changes the entire experience for them.”

He says that difference becomes most obvious when working with buyers navigating Australia’s property system for the first time, often while also adjusting to migration itself and making decisions that extend far beyond the individual purchaser.

“I’ve really been able to benefit from that because I can communicate with them in their native language, and what I find is that it immediately puts people at ease in what is otherwise a very overwhelming process for a lot of them, especially when they are dealing with auctions, contracts, and all the formalities of buying property in a new country,” he said.

For many clients, he says, property decisions are rarely made in isolation, but instead sit within a broader family structure that influences everything from what is purchased to how long it is held.

“You are dealing with a whole family system and all the expectations that come with that,” he said. “It’s not just a commercial decision, because people are often thinking about whether their parents are going to come and stay with them, or whether extended family is going to visit or live with them at some point, so you have to understand that dynamic if you are going to genuinely help them make the right decision.”

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The family system approach: How multi-generational decision-making reshapes the entire buying process

• Trust beyond translation: Why cultural familiarity reduces uncertainty in high-stakes transactions

• The six-month strategy: How Sukhraj turned persistence into opportunity

• The complacency fear: His philosophy on building a decades-long career, not just a few good years

Read the full article

ICYMI last week: Why difficult markets build careers

TOGETHER WITH EBM RENTCOVER

The hidden cost of insurance gaps: why landlord cover matters for agents too

When a landlord’s insurance policy doesn’t respond as expected, the responsibility may technically sit with the owner, but the operational and emotional fallout is often absorbed by property managers. What begins as a claims issue can quickly escalate into strained relationships, additional workload, and reputational pressure that can linger well beyond the incident itself.

Frustrated landlords facing uncovered damage or loss rarely direct their concerns to insurers; instead, property managers find themselves fielding difficult conversations, revisiting prior guidance, and explaining policy limitations, even when that guidance was clear and appropriate at the time. Over time, these situations can erode trust and place unnecessary strain on long-term client relationships.

Read more about EBM RentCover here.

INTEREST RATES

RBA flags early signs of housing slowdown

RBA Governor Michele Bullock says housing conditions have eased in recent months as higher interest rates take effect. The full impact of recent rises is still 1-2 years away, and underlying inflation isn't expected to hit target until mid-2027.

MARKET

Listings hit five-year high as buyers gain ground

Auction clearance rates have slipped to 54.7% – the weakest May result in six years – as capital city stock reaches levels not seen since 2019. Sydney is carrying its biggest supply in 15 years, withdrawal rates are up to 16.5%, and Domain's Dr Nicola Powell calls it "a clear inflection point."

HOW IT SOLD

Five buyers braved a cyclone for one apartment

Antony Doolin pre-loaded his Palmyra listing with council rates, strata fees, floor plans, and a 3D walkthrough – so buyers arrived ready to decide, not research. When Tropical Cyclone Narelle threatened Perth, he adjusted timing rather than postponing. All five attendees made it through, offers landed within 24 hours, and the $685,000 sale wrapped in eight days.

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

CELEBRITY HOMES

Fashion royalty hits the beach: Michael Kors lists Fire Island escape

Michael Kors has put his private Fire Island compound on the market for US$6.25 million after owning it for 25 years. The oceanfront retreat spans two residences and was redesigned with inspiration from global luxury escapes including Big Sur, Amangiri and Parrot Cay.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Ray White City South enters a new era of ownership

Beryl Fan joins Mario and Jessica Carbone to expand their Sydney inner-city footprint across two offices. More here.

Highland secures landmark Double Bay HQ

Highland Double Bay Malouf will relocate its Eastern Suburbs headquarters to Ruby House in Double Bay in late 2026. More here.

Grant Turner joins RWC CSR leadership team

Grant Turner, with nearly two decades in commercial real estate and proptech, has joined Ray White Commercial CSR's expanded executive team. 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

When vendors won’t leave for open inspections, it’s less “open home” and more “live-in tour guide experience.” 😳 🚪

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

TRUE OR FALSE:

Real estate agents in Spain often work with uniquely unconventional properties, including homes where the “roofline” is formed by natural rock overhangs, with builders integrating the existing landscape as structural cover instead of constructing traditional roofs.

And the answer is …

True. In the historic town of Setenil de las Bodegas, an extraordinary living environment is formed beneath vast natural rock formations that appear to suspend the town itself. Here, homes are seamlessly integrated into the gorge, with immense stone overhangs creating a natural canopy above the built environment. Some residences are carved directly into the rock face, while others are positioned beneath colossal slabs of stone that provide natural insulation, shade, and shelter year-round. The result is a one-of-a-kind architectural landscape where geology and habitation merge.

Wishing you a productive day!

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