1. Network & Industry

In This Edition… 

🤖 FREE Cyber Wardens training coming your way – don’t miss out 

💻 The Google rankings gap that’s bigger than we thought

✨ The good news about network growth

👉🏻 12,251 people supported in their escape from domestic violence

🥇 Finder awards - are you using the marketing collateral? 

📩 Queensland CPD requirements webinar - know your obligations

🔎 Inconsistency of AI search results in the spotlight

📅 Don't miss our upcoming marketing webinars

📈 What happens when AI is used in property marketing without human oversight

🔦 Members in the media spotlight

First National Welcomes Five New Member Offices in the First Two Months of 2026

👓 1.3 minute read

The network enters 2026 with a clear, measurable growth plan and we're already tracking at positive.

First National has entered 2026 with clear momentum, recording its first positive growth quarter in eight years. Five new Member Offices have joined the network in the opening months of the year, placing Quarter 1 firmly on track to achieve its +2 net target. 

During 2026, our goal is to buck the trend of shrinking real estate brands and to deliver a net grow target of +20 offices for the year.

This early result matters. 

The network’s objective for 2026 is disciplined and deliberate – reduce average annual resignations from 24 to 10 and recruit 30 new offices to deliver a net gain of +20 for the year. Quarterly targets build progressively from +2 in Q1 to +8 in Q4, creating a structured pathway to sustainable expansion.

With five new offices for the first quarter, the network is already tracking positively. This will mark the first positive-growth quarter in a significant period - tangible evidence that the regrowth strategy is gaining traction.

Importantly, three businesses that may have exited the group have been retained through active engagement and improved retention management. Protecting the base is as critical as expanding it.

Recruitment activity remains steady and targeted. In January, we welcomed FN Aziz Hoque Property in Glenfield, NSW, joining from Century 21, along with a new office in Carlingford, NSW. Bunbury, WA is scheduled to commence by the end of March.

Victoria strengthens further with the addition of two new offices in Tarneit and St Albans, reinforcing our presence in high-growth metropolitan corridors and deepening the brand’s footprint in a competitive market.

The forward pipeline is encouraging, with nine active prospects, four applications in progress and one already approved this year. The Growth team’s Strategic Growth Map will sharpen both recruitment and retention focus as we pursue a stronger, more resilient national network.

Momentum is building. The strategy is clear. The first positive quarter in eight years signals that disciplined execution delivers results.

78 First National Agents Recognised in REA Excellence Awards

Seventy-eight First National residential sales agents have been recognised in the REA Excellence Awards new data-driven category, which identifies the top-performing agent in suburbs across Australia.

The category relies on verified sales data rather than nomination or submission. It assesses measurable performance within defined suburb boundaries. In a market where credibility matters, objective benchmarking carries weight.

The recognition spans New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. It reflects the depth of capability across the network and reinforces First National’s position in competitive local markets.

For agents, suburb leadership is not accidental. It demands disciplined prospecting, consistent listing presentation, skilled negotiation and accurate pricing advice. It also requires sustained follow-up with buyers and sellers long after campaigns conclude.

For members, the result provides a practical advantage. Suburb-level leadership strengthens listing conversations. It supports appraisal evidence. It gives vendors confidence that their property sits with a proven performer in that postcode.

Data transparency continues to shape the way consumers choose representation. Buyers and sellers can see transaction history, time on market and pricing outcomes. The agents who rise to the top are those who convert activity into settled results.

Seventy-eight winners is not a coincidence. It signals a network that competes effectively at ground level. It demonstrates that disciplined local strategy, combined with national brand strength, produces measurable outcomes.

Members are encouraged to promote their suburb recognition across listing presentations, digital channels and community touch points. This is also a brilliant opportunity to showcase results that will surface in AI search. Download our template blog post, add your name, add it to your website, and share across your social channels. Have you updated your appraisal kit? Does your website profile reflect your suburb standing? Are your vendors aware of the benchmark you represent?

Performance earns trust. Recognition reinforces it.

FREE Cyber Wardens Training Soon Available to Every First National Office

👓 2.2 minute read

Cybercrime rarely begins with sophisticated hacking. It usually starts with a small human mistake.

That is why First National has partnered with the Australian Government’s Cyber Wardens programme, supported by Telstra and Commonwealth Bank, to deliver free, practical cyber resilience training to every member of our network.

Throughout March, First National offices across Australia will be invited to attend one of five live webinars facilitated by nominated delivery partner Aslan Professional Services, designed specifically to help salespeople, property managers, administrators and principals recognise scams, protect sensitive information, and build safer daily habits in the workplace. All participants receive an official Cyber Wardens certificate.

Around 95% of cyber-attacks begin with human error. These sessions focus on the small, everyday behaviours that stop scams, protect client information and prevent the stress and reputational damage that follows a breach.

Each participant receives an official Cyber Wardens certificate on completion.

Why every role in your office should attend

• Property managers regularly handle personal information, identification and trust account communications that cyber criminals target

• Salespeople can receive deposit details, contract emails and urgent payment instructions that are commonly impersonated

• Administrators are often the first to open emails, attachments and links that carry hidden threats

• Principals carry the responsibility for data protection, privacy compliance and reputation management

Five sessions. One hour. Free. Essential.

Register your team for one of the March webinars and make cyber resilience part of your office culture. See Chapter 2 - Learning & Development for dates and registration links.

We Checked The Rankings. The Gap is Bigger Than We Thought!

👓 0.7 minute read

Five years ago, First National began working on improving the positioning of offices in Google search with a series of member visits across Western Australia. The objective was simple. Lift visibility where it matters most – in Google’s Map Pack. 

Why? Because the top three local real estate agencies of any suburb win the lion’s share of customer clicks - and therefore business opportunities.

Today, First National has reached a pivotal point in that journey. The data is in, the comparisons have been made, and one part of the network is drawing particular attention. 

Chapter 3 – Media and Marketing shows you what we uncovered, how it stacks up against competitors, and what it means for offices that want to win more visibility where it counts most.

Southern Highlands Growth Opportunity - Moss Vale

👓 1 minute read

An exceptional opportunity is now available to secure First National Moss Vale in the tightly held Southern Highlands of NSW. Positioned on a prominent main street with strong foot traffic and exposure, the office trades from a fully fitted premises with favourable lease terms already in place.

Moss Vale sits within one of NSW’s most desirable regional corridors, attracting tree-changers, lifestyle buyers and investors seeking proximity to both Sydney and Canberra. Population growth and sustained buyer demand continue to underpin long-term opportunity in the district.

The business is anchored by a stable, well-managed rent roll delivering consistent income. There is clear scope to expand residential sales, leverage the First National brand, and deepen market share across the Highlands.

Importantly, the retiring principal and long-standing property manager have committed to supporting an orderly transition. That continuity protects client relationships and preserves local goodwill.

For an existing First National office seeking strategic expansion, this represents a low-risk add on in a complementary market - that could be in Sydney metro or nearby regional locations (as other brands have proven). For an experienced operator, it offers an established platform with immediate cashflow and upside.

Opportunities in Moss Vale rarely come to market. The question is simple – who will secure the Highlands foothold next?

Contact John Jeffcoat on 0418 221 999 or email sales@fnmv.com.au

AUSTRAC Releases AML Starter Packs

👓 0.9 minute read

AUSTRAC has released its AML/CTF Starter Packs for real estate agencies going it alone. 

The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) has reviewed these packs and describes them as ‘overly cumbersome’ - saying they will be ‘very tough for a small agency to implement unaided.’

Unfortunately, the REIA has expressed concern that agencies may not have sufficient regulatory protection when faced with a customer who will not complete Customer Due Diligence (CDD). This could cause problems if there is a deposit held in trust and the REIA believes a joint, industry-led solution may be needed - centred on a clause in standard contracts of sale to provide protection for reporting entities. 

REIA will provide feedback to AUSTRAC for its scheduled 1 March amendments; however, there can be no substantive changes as agencies have already started crafting their risk assessments and policies.