GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

September 5 is the International Day of Charity, and while real estate is often about sales, listings, and negotiations, it’s also an industry built on people and community. Think about it: every open home is really about welcoming someone in, offering a smile, and sharing stories.

Agents know better than most that generosity builds trust, whether that’s with your time, your advice, or even the occasional box of doughnuts at an inspection. On this day, why not give back beyond property deals? Maybe volunteer at a local shelter, support a housing charity, or donate to a cause that helps families find safe homes. After all, homes are about more than walls and roofs - they’re about stability, security, and belonging. And what better way to celebrate than by helping someone else get one step closer to theirs?

Speaking of celebrating, this weekend also brings Father’s Day! It’s a chance to show appreciation for the dads, granddads, and father figures who provide that same sense of stability and belonging in our personal lives. Just as strong foundations matter in property, they matter in families too, and this Sunday is all about recognising those who’ve been the steady base for so many of us.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 40 seconds

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OPINION: FINANCE

When smart investing beats big commissions

How the receptionist made more money than the $1M agent last year

In a striking contrast of hustle versus leverage, Area Specialist founder, Michael Choi, showcases a hypothetical study which pits a high-earning real estate agent against a receptionist with a smart investment strategy - and the results challenge traditional ideas of success.

While top agent Ben Dover worked 60-hour weeks to generate $1 million in GCI and walked away with just $232k after expenses, receptionist Cleo Ver worked fewer hours and walked away with more, thanks to a single Bitcoin investment. This story isn’t about crypto hype; it’s a wake-up call on financial literacy, leverage, and what working smarter really looks like in real estate.

Leverage beats labour (when used wisely)

Cleo didn’t out-earn Ben by grinding harder, she used her property equity to borrow $300k and invest in Bitcoin in July 2024. A year later, she sold her BTC at a significant gain, walking away with $205k net after interest, tax, and loan repayments on top of her receptionist salary. All in, she worked 20 hours less per week than Ben and ended up with more money in her pocket. The kicker? She had time for a personal life while Ben was burning out in pursuit of market share.

The Spinach Tax: What you don’t know will cost you

Michael reflects on their own years of overworking as a sales agent, clocking 10-15 hour days, obsessed with being #1. But in hindsight, they see what they missed: a financial strategy. They call it the "Spinach Tax" - the cost of not knowing how to make money work for you. For many in the industry, it's not a lack of income that holds them back; it's poor financial decisions, and no time to learn about leverage or investing.

A smarter path to financial freedom

This isn’t a bash on ambition or hard work, it’s a call to real estate professionals to think bigger says Michael. Leverage, investing, and time freedom aren’t just for the few - they’re tools anyone can learn. Whether it's understanding how to use equity, how capital gains tax works, or simply having a strategy beyond your next listing, the message is clear: your financial freedom isn't tied to your GCI, it’s tied to your decisions.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday Mark McLeod explained why high-volume agents are “geographically-focused”.

INVESTOR MARKET

Investor exits add pressure to tight rental market

Australia’s rental market is feeling the impact of more investors leaving, according to new analysis from the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA). Australian Taxation Office figures show more than 7,000 investors exited in 2022–23, marking the first significant decline in decades outside the GFC and COVID periods. PIPA’s survey found 14.1 per cent of investors sold a property in the past year, with many owning their properties for less than 10 years. Rising costs, land taxes and uncertainty around possible tax changes were among the reasons cited for selling.

HOUSING HUSTLE

$200m carrot for NSW councils that speed up housing approvals

Councils that get development applications moving faster will now get a slice of a $200 million infrastructure fund, under the Minns government’s new Faster Assessments Incentive program. The scheme rewards councils that cut delays or keep approvals ticking over quickly, with extra cash for local projects.

New data shows average approval times have dropped 24 per cent in the past year, down to just 83 days. Nearly 70 per cent of councils are now meeting the government’s expectations, up from less than half when the Housing Accord began. Planning Minister Paul Scully says it’s proof the mix of “carrot and stick” is working.

CANADA: RETIREMENT FINANCE

Condo retirement dreams crumbling

Canada's once-booming condo market is losing its appeal as a retirement strategy. A recent survey found 30% of Canadians now believe condos are no longer a good investment, with 57% saying they wouldn't buy one at all. Toronto's market shows the strain with a 69% sales drop, while shrinking unit sizes, from 947 to just 640 square feet since the 1990s, are turning away downsizing seniors who still want space to host family.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Block TV home returns with SAME $2m price tag 10 years on

A South Yarra townhouse transformed on The Block: Triple Threat is back on the market after nearly a decade, with a $1.9m-$2.09m price guide. The three-bedroom residence, which sold for $2m in 2015 (a dramatic $665,000 above reserve), still features its signature triple-height entry, vertical garden, and statement staircase that once earned a perfect 10 from judge Neale Whitaker. The luxury property has been generating $1400 weekly as a prestige rental.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Belle Property and Hockingstuart celebrates top performers at National Awards

Ella Geaney of Belle Property Townsville took home the prestigious CEO Award, with winners recognised across sales, property management and commercial categories. More here.

Ray White Gladstone merges with LOCATIONS estate agents

The union creates the region's largest real estate team with nearly 60 professionals, combining Ray White's 40-year legacy with LOCATIONS' innovation under Alicia Williams. 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.

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Wishing you a productive day!

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