What A Great Night!
Last week I had the pleasure of joining a fantastic group of industry peers on the panel at the REIQ Careers Evening here in Brisbane — a night designed to connect recent graduates and new entrants to the profession with experienced operators across the industry. The energy in the room was genuinely refreshing. Seeing the next generation of real estate professionals asking sharp, thoughtful questions gave me a lot of confidence about where this industry is heading. It was a privilege to be part of it. Alongside some brilliant fellow panellists, we covered a lot of ground across the evening including the current state of the market and the outlook for the remainder of the year, AI and tech in real estate, legislation, property management and what to look for in an employer. Here’s a brief overview of the general themes and thoughts on these topics; Key themes from the evening;
Current state of the market and the year ahead?
The fundamentals remain strong — population growth, undersupply, infrastructure investment and the Olympic tailwind are all real. The rate environment has thrown a curveball with the RBA hiking again in early 2026, however still confident in the market. It does feel like we are entering an adjustment period where buyer confidence is pulling back and both sellers and buyers are waiting to see how geo-political issues play out and the effects it will have here.
AI in real estate — opportunity or threat?
AI won’t replace humans. AI is very much an opportunity for those willing to embrace it. It is seen as a tool to assist with administrative tasks and workflows. But judgment, relationships and negotiation remain deeply human skills — and that's where the value of a great agent lives.
Legislation and the changing regulatory landscape
Whether you’re in sales or property management, today's real estate environment requires you to know legislation in everyday conversations and those that can provide real professional advice stand out from the crowd.
What to look for in an employer
Environment, culture and learning were the key themes here. Finding the right workplace can make or break your career in real estate, especially in those early start up days. To the students and new graduates in the room — it was genuinely great to meet you. The advice I kept coming back to: find someone great to learn from, commit to knowing your market, and focus on learning and being useful before being ambitious. This industry rewards the long game. And to the industry peers who came along to support the next generation — thank you. Events like this matter more than we sometimes give them credit for. If any of the topics we discussed sparked a question about your own property situation — whether you're thinking about selling, investing, or just want to understand where the market is at — I'd love to have a chat. Matt