In This Edition…

💸 President Trump has been inaugurated - what effect will that have on the RBA?

⚖️ AML legislation has been approved, so what next? (Network & Industry)

📅 Bookmark Your 2025 First National Events Calendar

💻 How you can convert more leads to listings in 2025 (Agency Practice)

🏡 NSW Rental Laws – Water Efficiency Measures Start 23 March (Agency Practice)

📝 All Sale Contracts Require Clearance Certificates From 1 Jan (Agency Practice)

👨🏻‍💻 Work the Neighbourhood Smarter Using AI with Your Next OFI (AI & Technology)

💙 Network Dashboard (Network & Industry)

The Trends Shaping 2025’s Market

From small spaces to sustainability, big tech and ‘barkitecture’ - these are the real estate trends shaping 2025.

The Trump Effect - If Donald Trump imposes high taxes on Chinese goods when he enters the Oval Office it could push up prices globally, fuelling inflation in Australia. This could delay any reduction to the official cash rate and potentially dampen Australian house prices. On the other side of the coin, if the Australian economy starts to struggle and unemployment rises the Reserve Bank may need to cut rates sooner than anticipated.
Granny Flats - Driven by families looking to support ageing grandparents, children staying at home until much later in life, and first homebuyers wanting a tenant to help pay off mortgage debt, expect demand for granny flats to keep growing this year. In SA, searches for houses with Granny Flats jumped 114% in 2024 when the government allowed them to be rented to anybody instead of just family members!
Rents - Rental growth is likely to remain subdued as overseas migration returns to more normal levels and the average household size continues to trend higher towards pre-COVID levels. Currently, the median rent consumes a third of household income.
Boomers - The youngest of the Baby Boom generation get access to their superannuation this year, which will prompt many to make new life choices. From sea and tree changes, Boomers will be taking generous budgets to comparatively affordable towns.
‘Barkitecture’ - Thoughtful inclusions for homeowners but sure to boost rental appeal and tenant retention. When remodeling, people are opting for:
- Floorboards with rugs instead of carpets
- Ledges for cats to laze in sunny windows
- Creative storage spaces – like nooks under staircases for kennels
- Wash stations in laundries (or handheld shower heads in bathrooms)
Energy Efficiency - Demand for energy efficient homes featuring solar panels, water tanks, smart thermostats, and sustainable building materials is no longer optional but expected. Battery storage is uber appealing, now that power companies are threatening to charge homeowners for the power they export.
Interest Rates - Rates are expected to remain relatively high throughout early 2025, with only modest cuts anticipated throughout the year. This will continue to impact borrowing capacities and overall buyer sentiment.
Moderate Growth in Regional Areas - The property market is projected to see consistent growth, particularly in regional and outer suburban areas. These regions are becoming increasingly attractive due to lifestyle changes and affordability, with investors focusing on high-growth corridors around regional centres and metropolitan outskirts.
Rising Listings - The number of property listings is expected to continue increasing as homeowners respond to high mortgage pressures. This could create a more balanced supply-demand dynamic but may also exert downward pressure on prices in some areas.

Hurry, Get Your Awards Figures In

It’s State Awards season so let’s get you and your team registered for the most exciting night of nights! This year, you’ll see brand new award categories, changes to names of awards, revised qualifying criteria, and a new format at awards events. We’re excited and looking forward to seeing you.

Get your nominations lodged for:

Rising Star
Pillar Award
New Property Manager of the Year
New Sales Agent of the Year
Best Marketing Campaign
Digital Award
Community Spirit Award
Reputation Management Award

Explore the criteria and register your nominees here.

WA Awards – Friday 21st February, Crown Perth - REGISTER NOW

SA/NT Awards – Friday 28 February, National Wine Centre – REGISTER NOW

QLD Awards – Saturday 8 March, The Star Brisbane - REGISTER NOW

NSW Awards – Saturday 22 March, Doltone House @Jones Bay Wharf - REGISTER NOW

VIC/TAS Awards – Saturday 29 March, National Gallery of Victoria - REGISTER NOW

Anti Money Laundering Bill Receives Royal Assent

On 12 December 2024 the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism (AML/CTF) Financing Amendment Act 2024 received royal assent. This means all real estate agencies, buyers’ agents and developers will become ‘reporting entities’ from 1 July 2026. AUSTRAC has developed a web page to help you understand your obligations, which are:

To enrol and register with AUSTRAC
Develop and maintain an AML/CTF program tailored to your business
Conduct initial and ongoing customer due diligence
Report certain transactions and suspicious activities
Make and keep records

Submissions concerning the first exposure draft are open until 14 February. Have your say here

Members can anticipate being contacted by industry providers attempting to sell their services, now that the Act has been finalised. Your network recommends that you wait for further advice about your next steps before acting.

2025 National Calendar

Bookmark our 2025 National Calendar right now, so you don’t miss a single First National event this year.

It covers general training, awards, leadership events and conferences. Click the image!

Opposition Announces Housing Policies

Even though the federal election has not yet been called, The Coalition campaign appears to have begun. While we’re familiar with Labor’s initiatives, here are the policy statements the Coalition has made so far:

Pledges first home buyers and separated women will be allowed to access $50K from their superannuation
States it will reduce immigration by 25 per cent for two years and set stricter caps on foreign students ‘to relieve stress on city rental markets’
Indicates the above policy will free up over 100,000 homes over five years
$5 billion pledged to support infrastructure – water, power, sewerage and access roads for new housing
Indicates the above policy will unlock up to 500,000 homes

Great Year for FN Commercial

We're proud to share with you the growth and achievements of First National Commercial since late 2023. With seven new offices joining our network, we’ve expanded our reach and strengthened our reputation in commercial real estate. Please join us in congratulating our newest members:

Chinchilla, QLD – First National Commercial Surat Basin Chincilla
Morwell, VIC - First National Commercial Central KW
Drouin, VIC - First National Commercial Candappa
Healesville, VIC - First National Commercial Mark Gunther
Dandenong, VIC - First National Commercial Hall & Partners
Kiama, NSW - First National Commercial Coast & Country

Our national network now spans Darwin to Busselton and Castle Hill to Kalgoorlie, with offices across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. No matter where you are in Australia, First National Commercial combines local knowledge with national strength.

However, it’s not just about growth - it’s about delivering exceptional service. FN Commercial has:

Introduced new products and services to better support our clients
Enhanced our resources, ensuring compliance and knowledge excellence
Delivered industry-leading training to keep our agents upskilled and professionally developed
Strengthened relationships with trusted suppliers to deliver even greater value