Welcome to Issue 1 of 'Real Estate Agent News' Jan 2026 Happy New Year and welcome back. We hope you had a relaxing break and are rested and ready for a FANTASTIC 2026! I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something. So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” ― Neil Gaiman Inside this issue; 1. Tips for Success for New Real Estate Agents in 2026? 2. Brian Tracy's 12- Step Method to setting and achieving your goals! 3. 11 Signs It May Be Time to Reduce the Toxin Load in Your Body 4. How to Stay Motivated in 2026 5. How to choose a commission advance company 6. Property values gain pace heading into spring, driven by record-low listings 1. Tips for Success for New Real Estate Agents in 2026 Nine smart strategies to help new real estate agents build momentum and succeed in a changing market. Focus on Digital Marketing With more buyers starting their property journey online, digital marketing is no longer optional—it’s essential. New agents must understand how to position listings and themselves where buyers are searching. Search engine optimisation (SEO) plays a key role in visibility. Tools such as Google Analytics and BrightEdge can help identify high-traffic, low-competition keywords. These should be woven naturally into listing descriptions, blog posts, titles, images, videos, and metadata. Launching a blog that shares market updates, suburb insights, and buyer tips builds credibility over time. When buyers are ready to act, they remember the agents who consistently provided value during their research phase. Hone Your Social Media Profiles Before engaging an agent, many clients will check social media to see who they’re dealing with. Your profiles should feel professional, approachable, and consistent. Separate personal and business accounts to avoid mixed messaging, and keep personal profiles private if needed. Use a high-quality professional photo, ideally in business attire, and maintain the same branding across platforms. Post regularly with helpful updates—new listings, market insights, and buyer or seller advice. Engage with comments and messages to begin building relationships. Agents affiliated with established brands such as Better Homes and Gardens can also leverage wider social media networks to accelerate early growth. Learn Professional Imagery Many buyers now shortlist properties before ever stepping inside them. Strong imagery makes the difference between a scroll-past and a serious enquiry. Learning basic photography and video skills allows new agents to create compelling visuals for listings and virtual tours. Live walkthroughs on platforms like Facebook Live can attract immediate interest, while drone photography helps showcase larger properties or unique locations. Well-tagged, high-quality images also improve search visibility, increasing the likelihood that buyers will book an in-person inspection. Develop a Personal Brand Successful agents don’t try to appeal to everyone—they define who they serve best. A clear personal brand helps you stand out in a crowded market. Decide on your target audience, whether that’s first-home buyers, downsizers, investors, or prestige clients. Develop a distinctive voice and create content that answers the specific questions your audience is asking. Research demand using tools like Google Trends, Facebook groups, and Q&A platforms such as Quora. By consistently delivering useful insights, you position yourself as a trusted authority in your niche. Focus on Your Sphere of Influence Many new agents secure their first listings through people they already know. Your sphere of influence includes friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, and acquaintances. Make your new career visible. Share announcements on social media, send emails, make phone calls, and mail business cards. Let people know you’re available to help and encourage referrals when someone they know is buying or selling. Create a Business Plan Top-performing agents treat real estate as a business from day one. A clear business plan sets direction and keeps you accountable. Define realistic goals for 2026, then outline the steps required to reach them. Budget for marketing, technology, education, and operating expenses. Because commissions often take months to materialise, ensure you have sufficient savings or a temporary side income to cover early costs. Prepare to Hustle Flexible hours and uncapped income are major benefits of real estate—but they’re earned, not immediate. New agents should expect to work evenings and weekends while building their client base. Being available when buyers and sellers are ready to move is critical in the early stages. Reliability and responsiveness quickly build trust and long-term referrals. Engage a Mentor Learning from experienced professionals shortens the learning curve significantly. A mentor—often a broker or senior agent—can provide guidance on negotiations, systems, and client management. Stay informed by reading industry publications, joining professional associations, and networking with successful agents. The more you learn, the faster your confidence and competence grow. Forge Forward Fearlessly Uncertainty remains part of the landscape, and clients look to agents for reassurance. Understand current protocols for inspections and client interactions, and be prepared with practical solutions. Having sanitiser, masks, and cleaning supplies on hand demonstrates professionalism and care. Calm, confident agents who handle situations smoothly make clients feel safe and supported—leading to better decisions and faster action. As 2026 unfolds, new real estate agents have genuine opportunities to connect with clients in meaningful ways. By adapting to modern expectations and applying these strategies consistently, new agents can build strong brands, lasting relationships, and rewarding careers. Return to top 2. Brian Tracy's 12- Step Method to setting and achieving your goals! Since goal setting and self discipline is the theme of this month for me, I thought I would share this video I came across called, "Brian Tracy's 12- Step Method to setting and achieving your goals". BRIAN TRACY"S 12-STEP METHOD TO SETTING AND ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS! Step 1: Decide EXACTLY what you want in ALL areas of your life! Here are some tips before we begin: The important key in is to have clarity. This is a practice of idealization: idealizing your perfect life. Do NOT have self limiting beliefs (i.e. fear) because it holds you back and is NOT based on reality. *** What is your 5 year fantasy? Project forward, what do you want your life to look like in 5 years? You may also practice the "Quick List Method"-write down your top 3 goals in 30 seconds. This is very accurate whether you had 30 minutes or 3 hours. Let's get started! Let us commence the dreaming phase! :D 1st area: INCOME Ask yourself, "If my lie was perfect, what would my INCOME be?" - Career? - Position? - Earnings? - Business? What is your FIRST step to making this happen? 2nd area: FAMILY Ask yourself, "If my life was perfect, what would my family look like?" - Relationships? - Children? - Lifestyle? - Vacations? What is your FIRST step to making this happen? 3rd area: HEALTH Ask yourself, "If my life was perfect, how would my health be?" - Weight? - Exercise ability - Energy Level - Immunity What is your FIRST step to making this happen? 4th area: NET WORTH Ask yourself, "If my life was perfect, what would my net worth be?" - Wealth? - Retirement? - Super? - Life Insurance Policy? What is your FIRST step to making this happen? *** The hardest part of success is taking the first step! - You can do it! Step 2: Write it ALL down!!! - Make it a reality! And remember to make sure you are setting SMART goals! Step 3: Set deadlines and sub-deadlines. Step 4: Identify your obstacles. - Ask yourself, "Why haven't I already accomplished this goal?" #1 reason are your excuses. EW! DESTROY your excuses! -- Or as I call them, monsters. Destroy the little ( yes, little) monsters that are mentally holding you back from accomplishing your goal(s)! Theory of Constraints: there is always one limiting factor or constraint that sets the speed at which you achieve your goal. What is yours? The 80/20 Rule Applies… - 80%of the reasons that are holding you back are inside you. - 20% of the reasons are outside yourself Some reasons may be lack of knowledge and/or skill but that you CAN learn! Step 5: Identify the knowledge, information and skills you will need to have and know in order to achieve your goal(s) ( to be in the TOP 10% of your field- if that is what you wish). #1 Weakest skill- sets the high of your success but improving your weakest skill would help you make the MOST money. What is your weakest skill? What is the #1 skill that would make you the most successful? What are you best at? What areas can you improve in? HOW can you improve your weakest skill? Step 6: Identify people who will help you achieve your goal. - You can never make it to the top all on your own. - Make a list of every person in your life that you will have to with or work around to achieve your goal(s). - Identify customers. - > Ask yourself, "What is in it for them?" - The most successful people are those who build and maintain the largest networks of other people whom they can help and who can help them in return. - Be a "go giver" rather than a "go getter". - The more people you know and know you in a positive way, the more successful you will be. Step 7: Make a list of EVERYTHING you will HAVE to do to achieve your goal(s). - Combine the obstacles that you will have to overcome, the knowledge and skills you will have to develop and the people whose cooperation you will require. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step" "You can build the biggest wall in the world one brick at a time." Have a "I can do that!" attitude. "Anything can be accomplished if you break it down into small enough steps" Step 8: Organize your list by sequence - What do you have to do before you can do something else? What's the order? - Next organic your list by PRIORITY >> What is more important and what is less important? *** Remember the 80/20 Rule: 80% of the reasons holding you back are inside you. Get your priorities straight. Sit down and write them out. Step 9: Make a PLAN! >> A CALL TO ACTION *Be a planner! - Plan each day, each week, and month in advance. - Plan each month at the beginning of the month. - Plan each week the weekend before. - Plan each day the night before. Step 10: Select the most important task for each day. Ask yourself, "If I could do ONE thing all long, which one activity would contribute the most value to my work and to my goals?" Step 11: Develop the habit of self discipline! - Make a to-do list - Set priorities - Do the most important thing first! - Once you have decided on your most important goals task, resolve to concentrate single mindedly on that one task until it is 100% complete! - Once you have developed the habit of completing your tasks, you will earn 2,3 and even 5x as much as other people are earning! *** Confidence grows when more and bigger tasks are completed Step 12: Practice visualization of your goals - Create clear vivid exciting emotional pictures of your goals as if they were already a reality - A mental picture combined with an emotion has an enormous impact on your subconscious and on your superconscious mind. Go to open houses that look like your dream home. Touch the walls, take in the scenery, truly feel how it would feel to live in this house. Would you feel successful, wealthy, proud, happy? Test drive your dream car. Hold that designer purse you have always wanted. Try on clothes that you wish to one day purchase. This concludes "Brian Tracy's 12-Step Method to setting and achieving your goals". I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful. Return to top 3. 11 Signs It May Be Time to Reduce the Toxin Load in Your Body After a busy Christmas and New Year, it’s common to feel a little off. Low energy, stubborn weight, poor sleep—many people write these symptoms off as getting older or simply being “run down.” But in some cases, they may be signs that your body is struggling to process and eliminate toxins efficiently. A toxin is any substance that places stress on the body and interferes with normal function. When the body’s detoxification systems become overloaded, small but persistent symptoms can begin to show up. Below are some common signs that it may be time to support your body’s natural detox pathways. ### 1. Stubborn weight that won’t budge If you’re exercising regularly and watching your calories but still can’t shift excess weight, toxins may be playing a role. Many environmental toxins are fat-soluble, meaning they are stored in body fat. When toxin levels are high, the body may resist releasing fat as a protective mechanism. ### 2. Ongoing fatigue Feeling exhausted despite getting enough sleep can be a sign your body is under internal stress. A heavy toxin load places additional strain on your systems, which can leave you feeling drained and low on energy throughout the day. ### 3. Trouble sleeping When the body is stressed, hormone balance can be affected—particularly cortisol, the stress hormone. If cortisol levels remain elevated at night, it can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to ongoing fatigue and disrupted recovery. ### 4. Brain fog or fuzzy thinking Certain food additives and chemicals are known to affect mental clarity. Feeling spaced out, forgetful, or unfocused may be linked to what you’re consuming or exposed to on a daily basis, particularly highly processed foods. ### 5. Frequent headaches Regular headaches with no clear cause can sometimes be linked to dietary or environmental triggers. Artificial additives, preservatives, and heavy metals are common culprits associated with head pain and tension. ### 6. Mood swings Hormonal balance plays a major role in emotional stability. Some synthetic compounds found in plastics and industrial products can interfere with hormones, potentially contributing to irritability, anxiety, or mood changes. ### 7. Strong body odour or bad breath When the liver and digestive system are under strain, waste products may not be eliminated efficiently. This can show up as unpleasant body odour, bad breath, or digestive discomfort. ### 8. Constipation Regular elimination is essential for removing waste from the body. Infrequent bowel movements can allow toxins to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream, increasing the body’s overall toxic burden. ### 9. Muscle aches and joint discomfort Unexplained aches, stiffness, or muscle tension may be linked to inflammation or toxin exposure. These symptoms can appear immediately or build up gradually over time. ### 10. Skin problems When internal detox pathways are overloaded, the skin may act as a secondary route of elimination. This can result in breakouts, rashes, or other skin irritations. ### 11. Sensitivity to smells Heightened sensitivity to perfumes, chemicals, or cleaning products can be a sign that your body is struggling to process certain substances. This sensitivity is often accompanied by headaches or nausea. ### Supporting Your Body Naturally If several of these signs sound familiar, it may be worth reducing your exposure to everyday toxins and supporting your body’s natural detox systems. Simple steps can make a meaningful difference, such as: * Eating whole, minimally processed foods * Choosing organic produce where possible * Drinking plenty of water * Exercising regularly * Reducing exposure to chemicals and plastics A gentle, sensible approach is always best. Supporting your body consistently over time can help restore balance, energy, and overall wellbeing. Return to top 4. How to Stay Motivated in 2026 Staying motivated is one of the most important ingredients in achieving any goal. While some tasks come naturally and feel effortless, others can be tedious or uncomfortable. Yet we still push through them because we understand how each task contributes to a bigger picture. So how do some people manage to stay motivated more often than not? Below are a few practical strategies you can use to keep your momentum strong throughout the year. ### 1. Find the Right Reasons Every task—no matter how small or unpleasant—has a reason behind it. Sometimes that reason is obvious. Other times, it takes a moment of reflection to uncover it. When you’re stuck doing something you dislike and motivation feels nonexistent, pause and look for your reasons. They may not jump out immediately, but once you identify them, your drive usually returns. Good reasons might include: * A tangible reward, such as income or future opportunity * Personal growth, learning a new skill, or improving yourself * The satisfaction that comes from completing something difficult * Progress toward a larger goal, remembering that even the biggest achievements are built on small, often unglamorous steps Every completed task moves you forward, even if it doesn’t feel that way in the moment. ### 2. Make It Enjoyable Motivation is closely tied to mindset. The same task can feel draining to one person and energising to another—often because of how they approach it. Take exercise as an example. For some, a daily workout feels like a chore. For others, it’s the highlight of their day. The difference lies in how the activity is framed and experienced. Almost any task can become more enjoyable if you look for ways to make it engaging. Try asking yourself: * How can I enjoy this more? * What small changes would make this task easier or more interesting? * How can I turn this into a positive part of my day? Not everything will suddenly become fun, and that’s okay. But most tasks have far more potential for enjoyment than we give them credit for. Learning to look for that potential is a powerful habit. ### 3. Try a Different Approach When something feels off, it’s often a sign that your approach—not the goal itself—needs adjusting. You may be doing everything “right” but still feeling unmotivated. In many cases, small tweaks to how you work can dramatically change how you feel about the task and open new possibilities. There’s almost always more than one way to reach a goal. If one approach isn’t working for you, try another. Changing direction doesn’t mean giving up—it means staying focused on the outcome rather than being stuck on a single method. True focus is about commitment to the goal, not stubborn attachment to one path. ### 4. Recognise Your Progress Big goals can feel overwhelming if you only measure success at the finish line. That’s why breaking tasks into smaller steps and milestones is so important. Tracking progress is useful, but recognising progress is what fuels motivation. Tracking is simply noting where you are. Recognition is stepping back and appreciating how far you’ve come. For example, before reading a book, glance through the table of contents and note how many chapters and pages it has. This gives meaning to your progress as you move forward. Without that context, page numbers don’t feel as rewarding. We naturally want results immediately, but meaningful achievements take time. Waiting until everything is finished to feel satisfied can drain your motivation long before you reach the end. Acknowledging small wins along the way keeps your energy up and makes long-term goals achievable. Staying motivated isn’t about constant enthusiasm—it’s about perspective, adaptability, and progress. By finding your reasons, making tasks more enjoyable, staying flexible, and recognising every step forward, you give yourself the best chance to stay motivated and achieve what you set out to do in 2026. Return to top 5. Get Your Commission in Cleared Funds Within 4 Hours—Guaranteed! Running a business can be unpredictable. One moment, sales are booming; the next, cash flow problems bring everything to a halt. But why? The biggest killer of small businesses isn’t a lack of sales—it’s a lack of cash flow. Too many real estate agents struggle while waiting for commissions to be paid, even when their business is thriving. At PaidOnExchange, we saw the problem and created the solution: Advance Commission – fast commission funding with zero red tape. With Advance Commission, you can turn unpaid invoices into cash within 4 hours—no banks, no long approvals, just instant access to your money when you need it. Why Choose Advance Commission? ✔ Fast: Get funds in your account within 4 hours. ✔ Affordable: Rates as low as $1.25 per $1,000 per day—no hidden fees. ✔ Tax Deductible: Our fees can be claimed as a business expense. ✔ No Contracts: Use it when you need it—no long-term commitments. Say goodbye to cash flow stress and focus on what matters—closing deals and growing your business. Get Started Today! PaidOnExchange – the positive change that’s making real estate even more rewarding! Call us today on 1300 667 286 to get started or complete our online commission advance application. Return to top 6. Why Some Australian Property Prices Could Double by 2030 — and Others Won’t Australia’s property market is heading toward a decade of increasing divergence. While some locations may experience extraordinary growth and potentially double in value by 2030, many others are likely to deliver far more modest results — and some may even go backwards in real terms. This growing gap won’t be random. It will be driven by a combination of economic forces, demographic trends, supply constraints, and — most importantly — location quality. Understanding this divide is critical for homeowners and investors alike. ### A Tale of Two Property Markets Recent modelling shows that if the strong price growth seen over the past five years were to continue, many Australian suburbs could experience gains of 60–80% or more by the end of the decade. In some premium, high-demand locations, values could even double. However, this is **not a prediction** — it’s a scenario based on historical trends continuing. The reality is that growth will not be evenly distributed. Australia is unlikely to have one single “property market.” Instead, it will have **many micro-markets**, each performing very differently. ### Why Some Locations Will Surge Ahead Several powerful structural forces are working in favour of well-located property: #### 1. Chronic Housing Undersupply Australia is not building enough homes to keep pace with demand. Planning delays, construction costs, labour shortages, and infrastructure bottlenecks have all contributed to a structural shortage of housing — particularly in desirable inner- and middle-ring suburbs. When demand consistently outstrips supply, prices rise. #### 2. Strong Population Growth Migration has returned at record levels, adding sustained pressure to housing demand. Most new residents settle in major capital cities and established lifestyle locations — areas where housing supply is hardest to increase. This concentrates demand in already-tight markets. #### 3. Lifestyle and Amenity Premiums Buyers increasingly prioritise proximity to employment hubs, transport, schools, cafes, healthcare, and lifestyle amenities. Suburbs offering convenience, walkability, and strong local infrastructure tend to outperform over time. These are also the areas where land is scarce and replacement supply is limited. #### 4. Capital Flow to “Safe” Assets In uncertain economic environments, money tends to flow toward high-quality, lower-risk assets. In property, that means established homes in proven locations rather than speculative fringe developments or oversupplied markets. ### Why Other Areas Will Struggle While some locations will benefit from these forces, others will not. #### 1. Affordability Ceilings There is a natural limit to how much buyers can pay. In areas where wages are stagnant or employment is weak, prices cannot keep rising indefinitely. When affordability is stretched, growth slows — or stops. #### 2. Oversupply Risk Markets with large volumes of new apartments, house-and-land packages, or investor-focused stock often suffer from weak capital growth. When supply can be easily increased, scarcity disappears. Without scarcity, prices stagnate. #### 3. Economic and Employment Fragility Locations dependent on a single industry or vulnerable to economic downturns are less resilient. If local employment weakens, demand falls — and prices follow. #### 4. Policy and Interest Rate Pressures Higher interest rates, tighter lending rules, and government interventions disproportionately impact lower-quality and marginal locations. Premium areas tend to hold value better during downturns and recover faster afterward. ### Why Location Will Matter More Than Ever The key takeaway is this: **the risk is no longer being out of the market — it’s being in the wrong market.** Broad national averages mask what’s really happening on the ground. Two properties in the same city, bought at the same time, can deliver vastly different outcomes depending on: * Suburb quality * Land scarcity * Local demographics * Infrastructure investment * Long-term desirability In the next decade, this gap is expected to widen significantly. ### What This Means for Investors and Homeowners Those who own property in high-quality, supply-constrained locations are likely to benefit from long-term tailwinds. Even if growth is uneven year-to-year, the long-term trajectory remains strong. On the other hand, buyers who chase affordability alone — without considering fundamentals — may find themselves holding assets that underperform inflation, let alone double in value. Successful property decisions will require: * A long-term mindset * A focus on quality over quantity * An understanding of local market dynamics rather than national headlines ### Final Thought Not all Australian properties will double by 2030 — far from it. But some will. The difference won’t come down to luck or timing. It will come down to **where you buy, what you buy, and why you buy it**. In the decade ahead, property success won’t be about riding the market — it will be about choosing the right part of it. Return to top