GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT

On May 7, 1851, gold was officially discovered in New South Wales, sparking Australia’s first major gold rush. It shaped towns, built whole industries and drew in thousands willing to take a chance on something new.

It’s a reminder that most great businesses, including real estate agencies, start with a leap of faith. A risk to go out on your own. A risk to build a rent roll from scratch. A risk to back your own name instead of someone else’s. And while not every gamble pays off overnight, history tends to favour the brave.

Today’s read time: 4 minutes, 59 seconds

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OPINION

If the business feels heavy, it’s telling you something

Why your rent roll’s most dangerous drain isn’t financial, it’s emotional.

In real estate, business owners are conditioned to track metrics obsessively, income per property, arrears, vacancy rates, BDM conversions.

But Tarsi Taylor, founder of The Tarsi Way and an expert in rent roll valuations and strategy, argues there's one KPI we’re dangerously overlooking: burnout.

The silent drain on leadership

And she’s not just talking about staff fatigue. The burnout of the business owner is silently draining the entire rent roll. Over the past two years, Tarsi has seen it time and again: agency leaders managing hundreds of properties feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and paralysed by the question of how to scale without imploding.

Outwardly, the numbers may appear healthy. But scratch the surface and you’ll often find systemic leaks, misaligned structures, fee discounting, staff turnover, and chronic avoidance of tough decisions.

The profitability cost of burnout

According to Tarsi, burnout has a direct and measurable impact on profitability. Leaders avoid raising fees even when they know they’re undercharging. They hang on to clients who demoralise the team because offboarding feels like a hassle.

Their businesses become reactive, not proactive, leading to the loss of high-performing staff. When leaders are running on empty, they lose control of systems, defaulting into firefighting mode instead of strategic leadership.

Energetic leadership as a business strategy

For those who feel stuck, the first step forward is recognising that profitability is energetic. Tarsi encourages agency owners to begin by identifying the areas where their energy is leaking. Often, it’s not the tasks themselves but the emotional labour of discounting, over-delivering, or doing everything themselves.

She says most owners have never calculated their profit per property, but once they do, it clarifies things, and managing properties evolves into managing a business that serves the owner, not just the clients.

Read more about Tarsi’s strategies for avoiding burnout.

ICYMI, yesterday we found out how PM-only agencies are quietly winning.

TOGETHER WITH AUSSIE FOR AGENTS

Aussie’s new platform offers agents free listings and fresh leads

Mortgage giant Aussie has launched Aussie for Agents, a zero-cost listing platform giving agents access to millions of buyers and sellers. With unlimited listings (including off-market), no VPA costs, and direct exposure through Aussie’s trusted brand, it’s a smart new way to grow your reach without spending a cent. Agents can also unlock new revenue streams through optional referral partnerships.

Find out more about Aussie for Agents

DEPT OF AUCTIONS

AUSTROS finalists get set for auctioneering spotlight

The 2025 Australasian Auctioneering Championships is expanding to include novice auctioneers for the first time. The event, scheduled for May 13-15 in Adelaide, will bring together top auction talent from across Australia and New Zealand. Thirteen up-and-coming auctioneers will compete alongside seasoned professionals, showcasing the future of the industry before the event concludes with the National Awards for Excellence.

DEPT OF INVESTORS

Investors flood property market, except in Victoria

Property investors have surged back into the market at levels not seen in nearly a decade, driven by extremely tight rental conditions nationwide. Investor loans now represent a substantial portion of new lending, approaching record highs in some smaller states. Victoria is the notable exception, with significantly lower investor participation despite Melbourne offering more affordable rental prices than other capital cities.

DEPT OF AI

Turn suburb stats into standout reports with AI and Gamma

Still sending clunky PDFs or plain-text market updates? There’s a better way. Samantha McLean shows you how to team up ChatGPT with Gamma to build suburb snapshots that look sharp, feel polished, and take minutes, not hours. It’s like having a designer in your pocket (without the back-and-forth). Whether you're pitching to landlords or staying top-of-mind with locals, this is how to stand out without the stress.

CELEBRITY HOMES

Obama's former summer getaway hits the market

The Martha's Vineyard estate where the Obamas vacationed for three summers is now available for $39M. The 30-acre Blue Heron Farm features a 7,000-square-foot main house, guesthouse, tennis court, basketball court, and equestrian facilities. Currently owned by the family of renowned architect Norman Foster, who purchased it for US$22.4M in 2011, the property includes a private beach and boathouse with dock.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Lee Woodward to lead Barry Plant training.

The respected real estate educator will deliver tailored leadership training for Victoria's largest real estate network, bringing 30+ years of industry experience. 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

Do a happy dance, your reel just got you a new client. Apparently, your market updates and mediocre dance moves are working.😜 🩰

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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