GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

Navy blue isn't just a colour choice, it's apparently a $1,500 investment strategy for your listing.

Zillow's behavioural scientists surveyed 4,200 potential buyers and discovered that navy blue bedrooms scored an impressive 9/10 in appeal, potentially adding $1,500 USD to the final sale price.

Deep blue evokes feelings of tranquillity and restfulness, precisely the emotional response buyers want from a bedroom sanctuary. While staging conversations typically revolve around decluttering and furniture placement, sometimes the most impactful change comes from a few tins of paint and a Saturday afternoon.

The difference between "just another bedroom" and "relaxing retreat worth paying more for" might literally be as simple as the right shade of blue on the walls. Not a bad ROI for understanding colour psychology.

In today’s edition of The Brief

• Local recognition, not social numbers, is what wins instructions

• Housing confidence builds

• Practical uses of Gemini 3 for real estate agents

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 55 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

MOMENTUM

Two factors that actually drive your listing pipeline

Too much advice leads to indecision. Agents are bombarded with opinions on what to focus on, and that dilutes effort. Luke Evans argues that narrowing attention to just two fundamentals is more effective than trying to do everything at once – and what he reveals might change how you spend your time.

Read the full article

Why your follower count is misleading

The first factor is reach – but not the kind you're thinking. It's not about social media followers. Many real estate accounts attract a high proportion of other agents, which does nothing for your local pipeline.

"Being visible within your own community is far more valuable than being visible within the industry," Luke writes.

But here's what most agents miss about where real reach actually happens...

The familiar face advantage

The second factor converts that reach into revenue – and it's simpler than you'd expect. Luke explains why being recognised rather than reintroduced creates a completely different dynamic. When conversations start with context, referrals feel natural, and opportunities flow without being forced.

The full article reveals exactly who these relationships should include beyond traditional referral sources.

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The real definition of reach: Why café owners and bottle shop staff matter more than your Instagram following

• The visibility system: How to organise your reach so it doesn't fade after initial introductions

• The extended network: Which professionals beyond conveyancers and brokers you should be connecting with

• The pipeline effect: How your local presence today shapes your listings three months from now

If the start of 2026 has felt slower than expected, Luke's approach offers a reset strategy that directly impacts future results.

Read the full article

ICYMI, yesterday, we found out why McGrath West Group’s partnership model is a long-term bet on structure, not scale

FEELING POSITIVE

Housing confidence strong but varies by state

Australia's housing market is heading into 2026 with confidence, as 87% of real estate professionals expect dwelling values to increase. National home values already rose 8.6% in 2025, adding approximately $71,400 to median prices. Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia show the strongest outlook, while Victoria lags behind other states.

Despite the optimism, affordability constraints and interest rate uncertainty are creating increasingly regional differences in market performance.

TECH

Gemini 3 is revolutionising real estate workflows

Elite Agent founder Samantha McLean tested Google's Gemini 3 with her last AI Accelerator participants and discovered its impressive capabilities. "Google isn't just giving us a better chatbot; they are handing us a junior employee that lives inside your Workspace and actually thinks," she explains.

Sam’s breakdown of five practical applications – from analysing property documents to generating inspection reports – demonstrates how agents can use this AI advancement to transform time-consuming tasks into minutes-long processes. Her practical examples are worth a few minutes for forward-thinking agents.

HOW IT SOLD

12 offers in four weeks on the Gold Coast

Ben Williams combined professional media with a 36,000-strong social following to attract local, interstate, and overseas buyers. The Robina home sold for $2.49m – more than $1m above the suburb median. Read the full story

Your competitors know media coverage gets clients. Are you ready to get yours? getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

Uma Thurman's former Manhattan duplex hits the market

A luxury Manhattan duplex once owned by "Kill Bill" star Uma Thurman is up for grabs at $8.95M. The actress purchased and combined two separate units between 2006 and 2016, creating a spacious five-bedroom residence with ten-foot ceilings and a rare terrace. The property comes with coveted access to exclusive Gramercy Park, a feature that particularly attracted the current owners.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Linda Baker becomes REEF's first female President.

The Ray White Norwood leader makes history in the organisation's 60-year timeline while bringing extensive industry experience to the role. More here.

Rachel Hannah to lead property management at Ray White.

The new Licensee and Head of Property Management brings over 20 years of experience to the Cottesloe | Mosman Park office. More here.

Jellis Craig adds four top agents after record year.

The premium agency welcomes Cheyne Fox, Craig Harrison, Ashlee McKee and Shawn White following their highest-ever monthly sales volume of $1.83 billion in October 2025. 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

Unfortunately, I wasn’t born with a trust fund, dance skills, or a backup plan, so here I am. Selling homes like my life depends on it. Because... it kinda does. 🏡💼

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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