GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

Welcome to the highlights from day two at AREC, where the coffee’s stronger, the shoes are slightly less comfortable, and the hallway networking has officially hit a competitive level. We’re running on inspiration, adrenaline, and a couple of protein bars. If you didn’t make it to the sunny Gold Coast don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with all the takeaways that matter.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 15 seconds

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AREC 2025

The BILLION dollar agent who ditched the script and beat everyone

How Clayton Orrigo built NYC’s #1 team without cold calls, suits, or self-promotion

What happens when the most successful real estate agent in New York City admits he's never given a public speech before? You get Clayton Orrigo, an unexpected powerhouse who built a USD$1B-a-year business by ditching traditional playbooks in favour of radical authenticity.

Speaking at AREC, Clayton, founder of the Hudson Advisory Team, delivered a candid, quietly electric talk that upended assumptions about what success in real estate looks like.

Ditch the facade, lean into the real

Ten years ago, Clayton wore suits daily, mimicking what he thought a professional should look like. The game changed when he stopped acting and started showing up as himself, down to his hoodie-clad property tours and showing up to listings on an e-bike.

"The second I stopped pretending and leaned into who I actually am, things turned on," he told the crowd. Instead of projecting confidence through polish, he built trust by being approachable, even laughably relatable (his team once made an action figure of him complete with anxiety meds and a commission calculator).

Hyper-accessibility

Rather than cold calling, Clayton made himself “annoyingly accessible.” His direct number is everywhere, from Google to his email signature, and he actually answers. His secret weapon? Showing up, early and often. This philosophy extended to his decision to specialise.

He picked one building, 25 Hudson Street, wrote to all 89 owners, bought a unit, joined the board, and ultimately sold 12 apartments there. As he puts it: “Specialisation creates predictability, and predictability creates power.”

Community beats commission chasing

In the pandemic, Clayton founded the Bridgehampton Cycling Club. He barely knew how to ride, but the move wasn’t about bikes. It was about building community. That club has since generated over USD$100 million in deals done with members. His approach? Find your tribe, then serve them. “Once you find them, lead them.”

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday: what the former US Vice President’s grit can teach real estate agents

AREC DAY 2 WRAP

No excuses, no balance, just win: famed coach Tim Grover doesn’t care if you’re tired

Tim Grover, the performance coach behind Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, has a message for anyone chasing success in business or sport: stop looking for balance and start getting results. In his headline presentation at AREC, Tim unpacks why rejection should fuel you, not shake you, and why most people are too soft to win.

Mauricio Umansky is the Playboy Mansion agent who beat the odds and built a US$300m empire

Mauricio Umansky isn’t just another luxury agent, he’s the guy who sold the Playboy Mansion and built a real estate empire from scratch. Born with a terminal illness, he turned survival into strategy, bringing relentless obsession to everything he does. At AREC, he told Aussie agents to stop aiming for average and start training like it’s a sport. His tips? Know every listing, listen more than you talk, and “never settle for last year’s numbers.”

Tony O’Doherty on obsession, burnout and the 30 buyers most agents ignore

McGrath’s Tony O’Doherty didn’t just work hard, he was obsessed, pushing himself to unsustainable extremes to build one of Australia’s top real estate businesses. Speaking at AREC, the Brisbane agent admitted the cost of that early grind, but also shared the breakthrough it led to: a 30-to-1 formula that turns every open home into a future listings pipeline. Instead of focusing solely on vendors, Tony treats buyers as long-term assets.

From 60% to all in: Edward Pack’s wake-up call

When Edward Pack confessed he wasn’t proud to call himself a real estate agent, the silence in the AREC conference room said it all. Struggling with professional shame and personal doubt, Edward discovered that his problem wasn’t talent, it was commitment. A career coach helped him realise he’d been operating at just 60% capacity. By eliminating backup plans, deepening his knowledge, and staying emotionally consistent, Edward went from underperformer to leader of one of New Zealand’s top real estate brands.

2035 starts now: why data, diversity and density will redefine real estate

Australia’s property future isn’t a mystery, it’s unfolding in the data today. Tobias Johnstone of REA Group predicted a radically different market by 2035, shaped by increased migration (especially from India), rapid urban densification, and rising climate risk. With population growth accelerating and inherited wealth transforming buyer behaviour, agents must rethink geography and opportunity.

Bots are coming for agents … but charisma isn’t codeable

At AREC, Ryan Serhant’s CTO, Ryan Coyne, warned that tech companies are using agents as AI guinea pigs, while quietly designing tools to replace them. But his message wasn’t doom and gloom. Instead, he showcased how real estate professionals can flip the script by combining personality profiling with custom AI chatbots. The result? Hyper-personalised client interactions that no robot can replicate.

From tariffs to turnaround: Why the market’s about to move

At AREC, analyst Anthony Bell unveiled a bold forecast: while America turns inward with tariffs, Australia could become a surprise beneficiary. As Chinese goods are redirected and the Aussie dollar weakens, Anthony predicts a "perfect storm" for property, a mix of falling costs, rising affordability, and renewed buyer demand. Interest rates are easing, and agents who act now, by automating operations and securing listings, will be best positioned for the rebound. Bell’s message? The next boom won’t come from Canberra, but from the global chessboard.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Nick Kyrgios lists his “Skyhome” in Sydney after high-profile split

Fresh off a breakup and a second-round tennis loss, Nick Kyrgios is now serving up something different - his Sydney penthouse. The three-bed, two-bath “skyhome” in Kensington is on the market for $1.8 million. Featuring a rooftop terrace, Blue Mountains views, and access to a sushi bar and beer garden, it’s giving luxury meets lifestyle.

AGENTS ON SOCIAL

When your hot buyer suddenly cools off because their cousin’s dog groomer told them the market’s crashing: "Ah yes, the classic 'unqualified market whisperer' strikes again. Should we also get their take on interest rates and interior styling while we’re at it?" 🤦🏻‍♀️ 😮‍💨

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

Wishing you a productive day!

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