The wild $115k Easter Egg story!

After four amazing weeks adventuring across Europe — from eating cheese in Paris to sun-drenched days in Greece — I’m back, recharged and ready for a huge second half of the year!

As much as I adore travel and the time away with my family, I truly love what I do. Real estate doesn’t fit in a neat little 9-5 box, and I wouldn’t want it to. It’s a 7-day-a-week kind of business, and I’m grateful to have built a business that allows me to pursue incredible opportunities and still create space for life and balance.

Sourced in Sydney, and purchased from Budapest

Before I took off, I’d uncovered a fantastic off-market opportunity for clients looking to upsize in Leichhardt. Their brief was clear: Freestanding, 3 bedrooms and double car parking (no easy feat in the Inner West!). Properties with that kind of convenience tend to attract a hefty premium, especially when they hit the open market.

Knowing where to look for opportunities 

This particular home had last sold in 2020, meaning I could access recent floorplans and images to assess how well it aligned with my clients’ needs — and on paper, it looked like a perfect match. I also knew that in today’s market, around 20% of stock last traded in 2020–2021, so it was worth chasing up.

After a knock on the door came up empty, I dropped a note (and some Easter eggs — it was that time of year!) in the letterbox, but heard nothing. Not unusual. Determined not to give up, I contacted the last selling agent. Turns out the owners had just moved out and were open to selling… but later in the year.

Meanwhile, timing was everything for my clients. They’d just sold two apartments to enable their upgrade and needed to align settlements to avoid a costly and stressful interim move. They also wanted the certainty of buying in the same market they’d sold in — before prices rose further.

At the time, this house was just one option on our radar — we were casting a wide net across pre-market, off-market, and on-market listings. But with my trip fast approaching, I brought in fellow Buyer’s Agent Rhiannan Jenkins to ensure the brief had the ongoing attention it deserved and a strong negotiator on the ground. 

We finally got a foot in the door 

Four weeks after identifying the property, we secured a private inspection. The clients loved it. But as with any true off-market deal, there were complexities: the vendor wasn’t actively selling, hadn’t engaged a solicitor, hadn’t paid for marketing, and didn’t have a listing agent formally on board. They had a figure in mind — but it was above what we believed the home was worth.

We set to work on detailed due diligence: a building & pest inspection, researching past and recent improvements, assessing potential planning changes (including the new rezoning impacts), and more. All the while, price negotiations were quietly progressing — from my first phone call to the agent, right up to the back-and-forth with the vendor.

We played the long game

Unlike quick exchanges, this negotiation spanned two weeks. Not because of a price chasm — but because every dollar matters. And our clients were patient, strategic, and trusted the process. It’s not always easy, especially when you can afford to just “pay more.” But playing the long game paid off.

We also used the extra time to keep searching — just in case another perfect property emerged. But in the end, 8 weeks after I’d first spotted it, we had an accepted offer and contracts exchanged.

The best part? The bank valuation came in at $115,000 ABOVE the price we paid.

That's rare — and a true testament to the value of off-market buying, patient negotiating, and having the right team in your corner.

For me, this deal started in Sydney and wrapped up while I was in Budapest. A seamless team effort between Rhiannan, our wonderful clients, and myself.

While I wouldn’t say no to another Santorini sunset right now (it was 35°C daily), I’m genuinely excited for what’s ahead. Buyer momentum is picking up, helped by recent rate cuts and the post-election clarity — and it’s already shaping up to be a fast-paced lead into Spring.

If you’re considering buying this year — off-market, pre-market or on — now’s the time to start the conversation. Let’s make your next move a smart one.