GOOD MORNING FROM ELITE AGENT 👋

Forget the share house of your twenties – co-living has gone corporate. More than 18.6 million people globally now live in professionally managed co-living spaces, with 42% concentrated in major cities. These aren't grotty share houses with passive-aggressive notes about dishes – they're purpose-built complexes with co-working lounges, housekeeping, and 24/7 security.

The economics are compelling: residents save 18–32% compared to conventional rentals, while operators maintain occupancy rates of 85–90%. In Bengaluru alone, providers are planning to double capacity over the next two years as Gen Z and millennials abandon traditional rentals for the all-inclusive model. With vacancy rates under 3% and waiting lists growing, this is one property segment where demand is outpacing supply – and institutional investors have taken notice.

In today’s edition of The Brief

• AI makes content creation fast, but the real skill for agents is knowing what’s strategically valuable and editing it wisely

• Queensland’s REIQ will rejoin the national federation REIA on 1 July, 2026

• Why VPA helps agents boost property exposure, generate competition, and achieve better sale outcomes

Today’s read time: 6 minutes, 31 seconds

New to The Brief? Join us for free 🤝

AI EXPLAINED

AI solved one problem and created another

Everyone's focused on what AI can produce. But Samantha McLean argues we're looking at the wrong thing entirely – the real shift isn't about output, it's about what happens after.

The blank page trap

AI is brilliant at getting you from zero to something. Listing descriptions, market updates, prospecting emails – what used to take a day now takes minutes. But here's what most agents miss: when execution gets cheap, it becomes easier to skip the thinking altogether.

Samantha suggests trying an experiment with ChatGPT that reveals exactly why this matters. The results? Most will sound reasonable. Very few will be strategically useful.

Why the editing problem gets bigger

Here's something surprising from the data: the vast majority of people edit AI-generated copy to make it sound more human, even when the content is technically correct.

"The words are right, but they're not right," Samantha says.

Any agent who's written a vendor letter, thought "that'll do," then deleted the whole thing knows exactly what she means. The full article unpacks why this quality control job isn't going away – and why it's actually getting harder.

The skill that's now worth a premium

The smartest professionals aren't panicking. They're shifting from producing things to deciding which things matter. That's a different skill entirely. And honestly? It's a harder one.

What you'll learn in the full article:

• The amplification effect: How AI multiplies whatever strategy you already have – for better or worse

• The editor mindset: Why every agent now needs to think like an editor, not just a content creator

• The four judgment calls: The specific decisions that only come from experience and can't be outsourced

• The real question: The one thing principals should be asking themselves instead of "Do I need to learn AI?"

Samantha’s argument reframes the entire AI conversation. It's not about learning the tools – it's about whether you're the person who can hold the bar high when something isn't good enough.

Read the full story here.

ICYMI, yesterday: what are the personal habits hindering your professional output.

TOGETHER WITH BIZCOVER

How real estate agents can build trust through insurance

Trust is the cornerstone of real estate, and agents guide clients through some of their biggest financial decisions. Beyond expertise, clients want reassurance that their interests are protected, and Business Insurance, Professional Indemnity, and Cyber Liability provide this by preparing agents for the unexpected, from legal claims to data breaches or operational disruptions.

Platforms like BizCover make it fast and simple to compare policies from leading providers, ensuring agents can back their service with the right protections. By combining robust insurance with clear communication and consistent service, agents strengthen client confidence, drive referrals, and safeguard their long-term reputation.

Read more about BizCover here.

INDUSTRY

REIQ rejoins REIA after 11-year separation

After more than a decade apart, Queensland's peak real estate body will return to the national federation from 1 July 2026. The timing coincides with federal issues increasingly shaping how agents operate – CGT reform and new AML/CTF laws among them. With every state and territory back at the table, REIA is now a fully federated voice in Canberra.

BACK TO BASICS

How to pitch VPA without losing the listing

Vendor Paid Advertising isn't a campaign add-on anymore, it's become a strategic necessity, and how you explain it matters. The strongest agents don't ask for VPA; they position it as standard practice and anchor the conversation in outcomes, not costs. This covers handling the "isn't that what commission covers?" objection and using portal data to make the case.

HOW IT SOLD

Two-year-old open home led to four-day sale

Fadi Hajjar of Class Realty recognised the caller's name – they'd attended his open home two years prior but bought elsewhere. When the family needed to sell under financial pressure (settlement looming, $17,000 monthly bridging costs), pre-prepared marketing materials meant he could move instantly, delivering an unconditional $1.55m result in four days.

Agents across Australia and New Zealand are turning sales into stories. getailsa.com

CELEBRITY HOMES

$1.5 billion Trump Tower proposed for Gold Coast

At 91 storeys, the proposed Surfers Paradise development would become Australia's tallest building – and the Trump Organization's first project in the country. Altus Property Group's David Young signed the deal at Mar-a-Lago last month, with apartments starting at $5 million. Though a rival 101-storey project nearby could take the crown first.

MOVERS + SHAKERS

Kate Littlejohn appointed Co-CEO of Harcourts Tasmania

The long-serving operations leader steps into the co-CEO role alongside Tony Morrison, ushering in a new growth chapter. 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

One for the Gen X’s: The deal is about to fall apart, but Wilson Phillips reminds you to ‘Hold on’. 💼🎶

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, Iris Rebello 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.

Content in the ‘Together With’ section is sponsored. Interested in promoting your brand to Elite Agent’s audience? Learn more at advertise.eliteagent.com.