GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

That everyday word mortgage isn’t just boring legalese – it literally comes from Law French roots meaning “dead” (mort) + “pledge” (gage). In other words: you’re helping people sign a death-pledge.

But don’t panic… It’s actually accurate in a good way. The financial term for paying it off is amortisation, which literally means 'to kill it off.' So your mortgage documents are, in other words, a plan for your home loan's slow death. Let’s hope they don’t make it any slower come February, when the RBA meets for the first time this year.

In today’s edition of The Brief:

• Owner/occupiers are making big moves in the commercial market

• How real estate has defied the odds for the last 40 years

• Why “values will outlast content”

Today’s read time: 7 minutes, 17 seconds

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COMMERCIAL

Navigating the multi-million dollar rise of the owner-occupier

The ‘erratic’ new frontier of commercial real estate

In an industry long defined by cold spreadsheets and calculated yields, 25-year-old Jackson Rameau is witnessing a seismic shift: the rise of the "emotional" commercial buyer. While traditional investors wait for the perfect ROI, a new wave of owner-occupiers, who are driven by the desperate need to secure their business’s future, is moving with an "erratic" urgency that is shattering price records and settlement timelines.

Jackson, Director & Head of Sales at RWC Pacific Group on the Gold Coast, explains that client rapport and straight-talk execution are the new currency in a landscape where speed now beats sentiment.

Why the owner-occupier always wins

While industry veterans often claim commercial real estate is driven solely by logic, Jackson has observed a significant shift toward emotional urgency. "The commercial market is always said to be logical and calculated," he says.

"However, I would say an emotional owner-occupier wanting to purchase something to use themselves will always pay much, much more than a calculated investor that might want to buy something based on a return."

Speed and strategy in a shifting asset landscape

The speed of these transactions is accelerating alongside this emotional shift, with commercial deals moving with a velocity that often leaves residential sales behind. Jackson explains that for a large industrial facility, the simplicity of the asset allows for aggressive timelines. "With commercial, if it’s a large industrial facility, it’s four concrete walls and a slab," he says.

"We sometimes find quicker settlements - I had one recently with a 14-day settlement for a $14,000,000 asset." This appetite for speed is most visible in the large-format retail and industrial sectors, which Jackson identifies as the "highest" in demand.

The "no-nonsense" manifesto

Jackson has built RWC Pacific Group around a philosophy of industrial authenticity that stands in stark contrast to the traditional corporate aesthetic. By focusing on "dirty factories and scrap yards" and avoiding the flashy trappings of the "young gun" stereotype, he has earned the respect of high-net-worth individuals and institutions alike.

His strategy is built on the reality that commercial property owners often control vast portfolios, meaning a single "110% effort" job can secure a client for life, providing far more stability than the high-turnover residential market.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday we discussed how McGrath turned a quiet January into an action powerhouse with Super Saturday.

HOUSING DATA TRENDS

Property growth defies rate fears as data reveals four decades of resilience

Australia’s housing market has repeatedly delivered strong price growth during periods that traditionally signal caution, including high interest rates and global shocks, according to new analysis from Cotality. A 40-year review shows the strongest annual gains occurred in 1988 (31.2%) and 2021 (24.5%), reinforcing that housing outcomes are shaped by far more than monetary policy alone. Cotality Research Director Tim Lawless said fiscal stimulus, migration, credit conditions and broader economic shifts have consistently influenced results.

OPINION

Why values will outlast content in 2026

Elite Agent founder Samantha McLean found her old high school teacher through an AI search – and one line from their reunion has stuck with her. "I always believed values would outlast content," he said. With AI now generating market updates and listing descriptions at scale, her reflection on what will actually set you apart in 2026 is worth a few minutes.

HOW IT SOLD

The tenanted home that sold in 7 days

Sue Rowles faced two constraints – an 11-month lease and overseas vendors – when listing a Canning Vale home. She used virtual staging to respect tenant privacy, coordinated maintenance remotely, and ran an open offers campaign. The first inspection drew 44 groups, three offers followed, and the property achieved $920,000.

Stories like this build your online reputation long after the sold sticker comes down. Want yours told? getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

Sonny Bono's Palm Springs estate lists for $11M

Half of the legendary Sonny & Cher duo lived here from 1986 until 1998 - including his years as Palm Springs mayor. The 9,000-square-foot estate blends Mid-Century Modern with Italian influences, with a tennis court, pool, and parking for a dozen-plus cars. The desert landscaping with olive trees and date palms doesn't disappoint.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Industry leaders unite to launch Harcourts Werribee.

Three respected real estate professionals have united to launch Harcourts Werribee, a dynamic new real estate brand poised to redefine service standards across Melbourne’s Western Suburbs. Rick O’Halloran, Reece Beckley and Petar Krnjeta will lead this vibrant new office. More here.

Former soccer star Jordan Elsey has a new game plan in real estate.

The 31-year-old, who played for Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory throughout his professional career in the A-League, has joined the Ray White Campbelltown 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

There’s no bond quite like a six-month group chat with buyers. You start as an agent and end as part therapist, part cheer squad. 📱🤝

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

Wishing you a productive day!

Elite Agent is the definitive platform for ambitious agents and industry players. Thought Leaders is the weekly show where top operators reveal how they’re reinventing real estate. AI-Powered Agents is your playbook for deploying AI that sells homes and scales teams.

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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