GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

September 19 is Tradesmen Day, a chance to celebrate the skilled people who keep our homes and communities in top shape. For real estate agents, it’s a great opportunity to recognise the tradies who often work quietly in the background, be it the plumber fixing a leak before inspection day, the painter refreshing a front door, or the carpenter repairing a fence. These small touches can make a big difference to a property’s appeal and, ultimately, to a successful sale.

Today’s read time: 5 minutes, 41 seconds

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MINDSET AND LEADERSHIP

Why joy fuels leadership success

Happiness first

In the high-stakes world of real estate, success often gets top billing: more listings, bigger commissions, industry accolades. But what if we’ve got it backwards? According to Harvard professor and happiness expert Arthur C. Brooks, chasing success before happiness may be sabotaging both.

Drawing from his book The Happiness Files and decades of research, Arthur makes a compelling case for flipping the script. He says prioritising happiness isn’t just good for your mental health, it’s a business advantage.

Cut the meeting fat

If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting wondering why it couldn’t have been an email, you’re not alone. Arthur argues that unproductive meetings are energy vampires. For agents, that wasted time could be better spent prospecting or closing deals.

His advice? Cancel redundant meetings, shorten the rest, and try “micro-meetings” which are 10-minute check-ins that keep things sharp and actionable. Even better, introduce meeting-free days to help your team hit flow state and crush their goals. “If possible, bosses should create a policy of guaranteeing whole days without meetings.”

Savour the small wins

Thinking about stepping into a leadership role? Arthur offers a refreshing take: it’s not for everyone. While leadership can be fulfilling, it also comes with stress, pressure, and, often, loneliness. Many new leaders actually experience a drop in happiness. That doesn’t mean don’t do it.

It means go in eyes open, if you’re resilient, boundary-savvy, and excited by the chance to shape culture and strategy, leadership could be your next great move. But if you’re craving balance or struggling with burnout, more responsibility might not be the answer. “Happiness is not the by-product of success - it is the engine.”

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we discussed how to create loyalty through healthy competition.

SUSTAINABILITY AND PROPERTY

Climate risk not yet cooling hot property markets

Despite government warnings that climate change could wipe $611 billion from property values by 2050, Australians aren't letting that affect their buying decisions. Ray White Group's analysis shows 58% of high-risk suburbs recorded positive price growth over the past year, averaging 5.8%, which is in line with national trends. Premium lifestyle locations in Adelaide Hills achieved growth rates up to 12.5%, though rising insurance premiums in vulnerable areas may eventually shift buyer sentiment.

RURAL NEWS

New DA tool to drive growth in rural property and development

The NSW Government has launched myFarmPlanner, an online platform set to make development approvals faster and cheaper for rural landholders, with clear implications for the real estate industry. Traditionally, DA applications for on-farm infrastructure could take up to 12 months, stalling projects and dampening property potential. Now, with applications possible in as little as 15 minutes, the tool provides investors, agents and developers with a quicker pathway to land use changes, expansion projects and higher-value rural assets.

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the system would reduce reliance on consultants, saving around $2,000 per application, while boosting productivity across the state’s $20 billion agriculture sector. Farmers say it will help them understand whether their land can accommodate future growth, giving greater certainty to buyers and lenders.

TAKEOVER

Big money bets on affordable homes in the US

Brookfield, a Canadian investment giant, is circling a massive deal to buy Yes! Communities, one of America’s biggest owners of manufactured homes, for more than US$10 billion. These homes aren’t your typical builds, they’re factory-made and then shipped to nearly 300 communities across the US. Think of them as the affordable housing backbone for thousands of families. If the deal goes through, it would be one of the largest real estate takeovers since 2022. With rents tipped to rise and housing shortages biting, Brookfield clearly sees value in this sector.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Actor Jason Schwartzman selling Tudor cottage at a loss

Hollywood actor Jason Schwartzman is selling his charming Tudor-style cottage in Toluca Lake for US$1.749M, slightly less than the US$1.75M he paid just last October. The 2,323-square-foot property features four bedrooms split between the main house and a guest house above the garage, blending century-old character with modern amenities like quartz countertops and a refurbished vintage stove. Jason, known for his work in Wes Anderson films and his Coppola family connections, recently voiced The Spot in Sony's Spider-Verse trilogy.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Harcourts RPG launches in Melbourne's inner north

Maurice Romano's property group has partnered with Harcourts Australia, establishing a new office in Carlton to serve Brunswick, Fitzroy and surrounding areas. More here.

Success doesn’t rest on weekends! 
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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

We’re like Wi-Fi signals. You might not always see us, but trust me… we’re everywhere, and yes, we’ve already spotted the deal. 📶👀

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Wishing you a productive day!

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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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