News Room

If you have any news for the Real Estate industry - whether you are a professional or a supplier to the industry, please email us: newsroom@eliteagent.com
  • Commercial Real Estatethree new agents at Knight Frank

    Three new agents appointed to Knight Frank’s Brisbane office leasing team

    KNIGHT Frank’s Brisbane office leasing team is expanding in a vote of confidence in the strength of the city’s commercial market in both the CBD and fringe. Three agents have joined the team, including: Matt O’ Brien - Senior Leasing Executive (formerly at Elders Commercial)Sebastian Fahey - Leasing Executive (formerly Knight Frank on the Gold…

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  • Real Estate NewsRaine & Horne North Lakes

    Husband and wife team take the reins at Raine & Horne North Lakes

    Experienced sales agents Tony and Nadine Wilkie are the new principals of Raine & Horne North Lakes, following an approach from former owner Gina Wells. Ms Wells, who commenced with Raine & Horne in 2002, will continue to lead the successful Burpengary and Morayfield offices. Mr Wilkie, who started in real estate in 2009 after…

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  • Real Estate News

    $320,000+ donated in support of sick kids

    First National Real Estate's ongoing support of Ride for Sick Kids has seen the member-driven cooperative network now donate in excess of $320,000 as part of its community sponsorship programme, with the support of First National Foundation. The network has supported the excellent work done by Ronald McDonald House Charities for more than six years, and this year's…

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  • Real Estate NewsPerry Brosnan joins LJ Hooker Mermaid Beach

    Longstanding beachside specialist joins LJ Hooker

    Longstanding beachside property specialist Perry Brosnan has made the move to LJ Hooker as part of its relaunched Mermaid Beach agency. With almost two decades in the industry, Mr Brosnan has sold more than 600 properties in the sought-after strip between Mermaid Beach and Miami. His prestige experience spans more than 70 sales along Miami’s…

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  • Real Estate NewsAward-winning team joins Eview Group

    REIWA award-winning Peter Clements and his team join Eview Group

    Hot on the heels of winning REIWA small residential agency of the year and personally taking out the title of residential salesperson of the year, Peter Clements and his team have joined the Eview Group. Thrilled with the recent accolades, Mr Clements said he was honoured to be recognised with awards that illustrated his team…

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  • Real Estate News

    NSW: Short-term rentals and changes to regulations

    The short-term accommodation market, including renting property through platforms like Airbnb and Stayz, has proved lucrative for many property owners in NSW. Sydney ranks as one of Airbnb’s top 10 cities for most properties on the platform and NSW accounts for about half of the $31.3 billion the short-term industry was estimated to be worth nation-wide in 2016. Changes to…

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  • Real Estate News

    New agency combining innovation and customer experience

    In a short period of time, Edward Smyth and has made a big name for himself in real estate on the Gold Coast. So much so that he and his business partner Karen Stewart have recently launched their own agency, Stewart & Smyth. Karen and Edward met when Karen sold Edward a house. The pair clicked instantly and decided they…

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  • Real Estate News

    Ray White Apartment Collective puts dozens under the hammer

    More than 40 properties across Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia will go under the hammer between 14-18 October for Ray White’s second Apartment Collective. The initiative is designed to create competition across certain capital cities in Australia with one of the leaders of the Collective, Ray White Network Performance Executive Benjamin Burling, calling the event “a point of difference”. “The…

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  • Real Estate News

    Australia’s six-star family estate for sale

    Australia’s unrivalled six-star luxury riverfront property is on the market in Perth. The resort-style oasis at 89 Watkins Road, Dalkeith is famed for its impeccable lush grounds complete with orchards, tennis court and picture perfect ​25m swimming pool. The 6406sqm estate is spread over six titles on a quiet cul-de-sac, overlooking the Swan River in Perth’s prominent waterside suburb of Dalkeith. The…

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  • Real Estate NewsElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    Proposed land tax changes would “devastate” SA market: REISA

    The Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA) has made a submission to the State Government expressing deep concerns about proposed changes to the land tax regime, which it believes would cripple the SA market. The submission is a culmination of results of REISA’s Land Tax Member Survey and reaction by its members, who represent a broad range of property…

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  • Real Estate News

    REIWA launches plan to boost WA’s economy

    The Real Estate Institute of Western Australia has launched a six-point plan to attract buyers and investors back to the market following a dramatic decline in sales activity. The plan includes changes to stamp duty, reintroducing first home owner grants, and revoking the foreign owner duty surcharge. REIWA President Damian Collins said sales activity fell from 89,000 in 2005 to…

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  • Real Estate News

    Whitehorse names real estate agent as best business

    PhilipWebb Real Estate has won two accolades at the Whitehorse Excellence in Business Awards 2019. Hosted by Whitehorse Business Group, the awards recognise business leaders and innovators and their contributions to the local economy. Presented with the Large Business Award (51-100 employees), PhilipWebb also received top honours taking home the Overall Business Award. "Being honoured…

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  • Real Estate News

    Jellis Craig rolls out new sales platform

    Data-driven presentation platform SalesPreso has signed a deal with leading Victorian real estate agency group Jellis Craig that will see the sales technology rolled out across its network of 350-plus agents. SalesPreso co-founder Joel Thomson said the platform was a strong fit for the real estate industry, with REA Group, Domain, Vicinity Centres and now Jellis Craig, all implementing it.…

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  • Real Estate News

    Hammer time for auctioneers’ annual showdown

    Australia and New Zealand’s best auctioneers have been decided and are now set to compete at the annual Australasian Auctioneering Championships (AAC) later this month. State and territory Real Estate Institutes and the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand all completed their auctioneering competitions with their two best auctioneers qualifying for the competition at Melbourne’s Federation Square. REIA President Adrian…

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  • Real Estate News

    New campaign demands ‘Solar for All’ Australians

    A coalition of more than 20 community groups has launched a ‘Solar for All’ campaign, calling on state governments to end ‘solar lock-out’ and give all Australians access to safe and affordable energy. According to the groups, more than one third of Australians are locked out of access to clean energy because they rent, live in apartments, have unsuitable rooftops, or…

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  • Real Estate News

    Sales agent commissions tied to vendor ratings

    A Brisbane-based business has established the nation’s first carrot-and-stick agency model – and it gives clients direct influence on how much agents can earn. Under the model introduced by UrbanX, vendors can rate their sales agents, with the size of agent’s commissions on the line, if their service and results prove to be regularly sub-par. Head of UrbanX, Dan Argent,…

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  • Real Estate News

    Banks slash fixed rates, pricing in Melbourne Cup cut

    Tuesday 8 October, 2019: Three of the Big Four Banks have dropped rates on their fixed home loans in the past week, with NAB the latest major bank to cut its rates by up to 0.40 per cent today. In total, 17 lenders - including CBA and ANZ - have cut rates on fixed home loans…

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  • Real Estate News

    RE/MAX 2Aspire to serve Pukekohe community

    RE/MAX 2Aspire owners Peter and Maureen Strong have expanded their real estate business with the addition of an office in Pukekohe. The husband and wife real estate team opened RE/MAX 2Aspire in Waiuku in 2017, and now just two years later have opened their second office. “Ours is a real estate team with customers at its heart, giving great service…

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  • Real Estate News

    New LJ Hooker office opens in the Southern Highlands

    LJ Hooker has expanded its network in the Southern Highlands, with the opening of LJ Hooker Bowral. Experienced real estate specialist Sophie Desprez will head up the new office, which offers a full suite of real estate services across residential and rural properties including sales and property management. With 18 years’ experience in the real estate industry, including five in…

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  • Real Estate News

    REA Group announces joint venture with 99.co in Singapore and Indonesia

    REA Group has entered into a binding agreement to establish a joint venture (JV) with Singapore- headquartered digital property marketplace 99.co. The combined company will provide the most compelling property marketplaces in Singapore and Indonesia, while delivering the digital platforms to property professionals to help them grow their businesses. Core to the JV company will be harnessing the know-how and…

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  • Real Estate News

    Coffs Coast locals open new Century 21 office

    New office locations don’t come much better than Moonee Beach which lies in the centre of Coffs Harbour’s northern beaches, on the north coast of New South Wales. New Principals Darcien Kean and Michael Hall are both long-time locals and excited to have celebrated the official opening of their C21 office. Mr Kean has over 10 years’ experience in the…

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  • Real Estate NewsElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    New business geared towards first home buyers launches Sydney office

    A game-changing real estate agency is opening Australia's first office geared specifically toward first-home buyers and investors. Sydney real-estate identity, Marites Novis is opening Qfirst Property Investment Group's first office in Blacktown after identifying a gap in the market. "I've found that in my many years of experience in the real estate industry, most first-home buyers and…

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  • Real Estate NewsElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    Matterport announces AI capabilities that will turn smartphones into 3D capture devices

    Spatial data company, Matterport, has announced its latest breakthrough, Matterport 3D Capture for Smartphones, which will turn consumer smartphones into 3D capture devices. The capability, which was demonstrated for the first time recently at an invite-only event at San Francisco’s most exclusive property – Residence 950 – will support iPhone and Android devices. The first iPhone version is expected to be available…

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  • Real Estate NewsElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    Land tax makes a move to digital

    Land tax is going digital in NSW, giving property owners the ability to manage their land tax online. NSW Fair Trading announced the move this week, which will allow property owners to opt-in to receive their future Notice of Assessment via email, as well as lodge a return, request an exemption or make any changes to property details. The system…

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  • Real Estate NewsElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty welcomes industry veteran

    Veteran Brisbane real estate professional Glenn Gracie has joined forces with Queensland Sotheby’s International Realty. With 32 years in the industry under his belt, Mr Gracie has long been a familiar face in the desirable lifestyle suburb of New Farm, launching his own real estate business and spending all of his career and family life in the riverside pocket. Queensland…

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  • Real Estate NewsElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    CoreLogic expands valuation service to rural areas

    Appraisals of rural properties are set to become easier for lenders, brokers and government bodies following the launch of the latest iteration of valuation software, ValConnect. CoreLogic developed the Rural Desktop software in response to growing demand for a lightweight alternative to standard rural valuations, which require full inspections, lengthy turnaround times and complicated reports. CoreLogic Head of Product Tim…

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  • Real Estate NewsElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    Confidence steady for NSW property industry

    The latest ANZ/Property Council Survey has shown NSW property industry confidence decreased slightly overall mainly due to concerns over worsening macroeconomic conditions and a reduction in forward work expectations. NSW property industry confidence has decreased 10 index points from 126 to 116 over the quarter and has fallen four index points over the 12 months…

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  • TECH + SOCIAL

    Guesty partners with Lugless for friction-free holiday baggage handling

    Guesty, the property management platform that simplifies the complex operational needs accompanying short-term rental management, today announced it has raised $35M in Series C funding, led by Viola Growth with participation from Vertex Ventures, Journey Ventures, Kingfisher Investment Advisors, La Maison Compagnie d'Investissement and existing investors, TLV Partners and Magma Ventures. The round more than doubles the company's…

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  • Real Estate News

    Which cities worldwide are at greatest bubble risk?

    A global study of real estate bubbles has revealed a bubble risk or a significant overvaluation of housing markets in half of all evaluated cities. Bubble risk appears greatest in Munich, followed by Toronto, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, according to the UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2019, a yearly study by UBS Global Wealth Management’s Chief Investment Office. Frankfurt,…

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  • Real Estate News

    Laing+Simmons opens first Newcastle office

    Laing+Simmons opened its first office in Newcastle this week, with the team formerly known as Nest Realty Group embarking on its next phase of growth under a new boutique brand. Local real estate veteran Michael Barber will lead the team at Laing+Simmons Newcastle Central with growth – and recruitment – on the agenda. He’s joined by Angela Barber, a highly-experienced…

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  • Real Estate News

    RE/MAX opens office in Stones Corner Brisbane

    Award-winning Brisbane real estate sales executive David Cotterill has launched his own business while remaining with the global RE/MAX brand. Mr Cotterill is considered one of Australia’s leading experts in property strategy and delivery, and RE/MAX Experience Property is in a prime corner location at 411 Logan Road, Stones Corner. “I have happily been a conjunctional agent with RE/MAX Australia…

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  • Real Estate News

    Triple threat as brothers join Ray White Werribee

    Continuing in the tradition of being proudly family owned and run, Ray White Group has recently welcomed three brothers on board in Werribee. The Krnjeta brothers – Robert (Partner/Auctioneer), Petar (Agent/Auctioneer) and Alex (Sales Associate) – said it was the company’s family values that attracted them to the business. “One of my key reasons for making the move to Ray White…

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  • Real Estate News

    Finalists announced for 2019 REA Excellence Awards

    REA Group has announced the finalists for this year’s Annual REA Excellence Awards (AREAs), to be held in Melbourne on Thursday 14 November 2019. The AREAs honour the most innovative, community-minded and highest-achieving individuals and businesses in the property industry (residential, commercial, project developers) and media industry. There will be 21 awards in total presented…

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  • Elite AgentElite Agent The News Source for Real Estate Professionals

    The Agency strengthens position after raising $4.5m capital

    The Agency is predicting a strong financial future ahead after raising $4.5 million as part of a share entitlement offer. Announced in July, the offer saw each eligible shareholder entitled to apply for a further four shares based on every seven shares held. They were also provided with one free attaching listed option for every two shares subscribed for and…

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  • Real Estate News

    Harcourts International strengthens leadership with new CEO appointment

    Global real estate franchise group, Harcourts International, today announced the appointment of Steve Caradoc-Davies as Chief Executive Officer to lead the 132-year-old company into the next era. Mr Caradoc-Davies will take over leadership of the 900-office network and approximately 10,000 team members in nine countries, from Mike Green, who takes on a new focus within the business. Both…

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