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On 9 December 1983, the Hawke Government made one of the most significant economic moves in Australian history with the decision to float the Australian dollar. From that day, the currency’s value was set by the market rather than by government control, opening the door to greater international trade, investment and financial flexibility.

For real estate, the shift reshaped the landscape; it made Australia more attractive to global investors, laid the groundwork for future foreign property ownership reforms, and helped create the open, globally connected housing market we know today. The float also changed the way the industry thought about value.

As the economy modernised, property became a key measure of national confidence and exchange rates started to influence everything from overseas buyer demand to construction costs and interest rate cycles. Four decades later, the effects are still being felt, a reminder that freeing the dollar helped unlock Australia’s potential as a world-class property market.

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 18 seconds

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LEADERSHIP

When data isn’t enough

Why real estate leaders must learn to balance data with intuition

In an industry obsessed with metrics, dashboards, and KPIs, Harcourts South Australia CEO, Heather Edwards, believes her best leadership decisions didn’t come from spreadsheets, they came from her gut.

After two decades in real estate and a year at the helm of Harcourts SA, she’s learned that while data informs, it doesn’t decide. “Sometimes, your gut knows what your graphs cannot tell you,” she says—and in real estate, acting fast often beats waiting for a perfect readout.

Data’s limitations and leadership’s reality

We all know the “data trap”: endless analysis, stalled decisions, and missed windows of opportunity. “Waiting for perfect information is often the most dangerous decision of all,” she warns.

That’s not a rejection of data. It’s a call for balance. Great leadership means knowing when to move despite uncertainty. Because in this game, complete certainty rarely shows up.

Intuition isn’t guesswork

So what is gut instinct, really? It’s not guesswork or magic, it’s pattern recognition built from experience. Years in real estate give leaders a sixth sense: the unspoken tension in a meeting, the subtle cues in a property walkthrough, the energy shift in a team.

This kind of intuitive judgment, formed by subconscious processing of real, albeit unmeasurable, data, isn’t flaky. It’s fast, deeply informed, and often spot-on.

Save your brain for the big bets

A key mistake leaders make is applying the same decision-making rigour to every choice.

Heather’s solution is to triage.

• Big bets: Analyse thoroughly.

• Reversible decisions: Decide fast, adjust later.

• Low-stakes, irreversible calls: Trust your gut and move on.

It’s about preserving brainpower for what truly matters and encouraging teams to do the same.

The key

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the courage to act when others stall. As she puts it, “Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.”

Read the full article here.

ICYMI, yesterday, we asked whether AI will say you're the expert or ignore you completely

TOGETHER WITH AMLHUB

DIY compliance could cost real estate agencies dearly

As AUSTRAC brings real estate agencies under Anti-Money Laundering laws next year, some are suggesting a DIY approach to compliance is possible. But experts warn this path is rarely straightforward. “Even with 10 years in AML, I wouldn’t do it myself,” says Richard Manthel, CEO at AMLHUB, highlighting the time and complexity involved.

New Zealand’s rollout showed that compliance isn’t just about documents — it’s an ongoing operational task. Kathrine Andersen from AMLHUB also notes that many agencies were overwhelmed without expert support, despite having access to templates and guidance provided by the regulator.

Find out more about the risks of doing it yourself here.

ON HOLD

RBA turns hawkish as inflation heats up

Australia's central bank is expected to hold interest rates at its December meeting, but with a shift toward a more hawkish stance. Recent data shows inflation climbing to 3.8% in October, prompting all four major banks to predict rates will remain on hold. Money markets are now pricing a 60% chance of a rate hike by June 2026, though expert opinions remain divided on whether Australia has already reached the bottom of its easing cycle.

RENTAL DATA

Rental vacancy metrics under scrutiny

Australia's unusual reliance on private companies to measure rental vacancy rates has been challenged in a landmark study. Research from AHURI found vacancy rates can vary by as much as 1.8% between providers, significantly altering market perceptions. Unlike most countries that use government data, Australia's commercialised approach means critical housing insights remain inaccessible to many stakeholders, including advocacy groups and consumers who can't afford to purchase this information.

FRENCH REBOUND

Property market shows signs of recovery

France's housing market is finally rebounding, with prices increasing by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to last year. Property transactions have also risen, reaching 906,000 for the 12-month period ending in June. However, the recovery appears uneven – while urban areas lead the rebound, rural house prices actually fell by 3.4% in 2024, settling at an average of €195,000.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Diane Keaton's Pinterest-inspired dream home hits market

The late Hollywood icon's meticulously renovated Sullivan Canyon property is now available for US$26.9M. Keaton spent eight years transforming this 1920s brick residence into what the listing calls a "rare architectural masterpiece," documenting her journey in her 2017 book "The House That Pinterest Built." The five-bedroom home features thousands of hand-selected vintage Chicago bricks, a distinctive black-and-white aesthetic, and even a circular room with walls inscribed with poetry.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Harcourts Pinnacle supports Salvation Army Toy Drive.

The team has participated for the third consecutive year, purchasing gifts for children and families who might otherwise go without during the festive season. More here.

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AGENTS ON SOCIAL

When the client ghosts you, and you’re just standing there, gazing out the window like a heartbroken rom-com lead. 💔☕

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Wishing you a productive day!

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