Samantha McLean
Samantha McLean is the co-founder and Managing Editor of Elite Agent, Australia's leading independent platform for real estate professionals. Over 17 years, she and co-founder Mark Edwards have built Elite Agent from a print magazine into a digital media and technology company serving agents and property managers across Australia and New Zealand. Sam delivers AI training and keynotes to major real estate networks across the country, and has built multiple AI-powered products for the industry. She is a three-time Business Magazine Editor of the Year (Mumbrella Publish Awards) and holds a Bachelor of Business from UTS.
The horses weren’t real. The lesson is
AI in a listing isn't the problem. Where you put it is – and getting that wrong ends up in the headlines or in court.
Process is the proof, not the price
In Week 4 of the AI Sprint, Samantha McLean breaks down AI-first circle sales: repurposing one sale everywhere,…
The fastest car has the best brakes
Phill Nosworthy told AREC 2026 that the insights agents need most won't come from inside real estate –…
You’re Not in the Property Business
Harvard professor Alison Wood Brooks told AREC 2026 that agents are in the human relationship business – and…
The opposite of play isn’t work – it’s fear
Ben Crowe has worked with Ash Barty, Dylan Alcott, the Boston Celtics and Richmond Tigers. His message to…
Not prospecting is the selfish choice
Tim Smith has sold $7 billion in real estate across 27 years with Coldwell Banker. His message to…
Your business moves at the speed of trust
OC co-founders Nathan Casserly and Alex Ouwens shared six lessons from a decade of scaling their Adelaide agency…
Boris Becker on why the first round is always harder than the final
The six-time Grand Slam champion told AREC 2026 that mental strength, surrounding yourself with the right people, and…
Josh Flagg’s listing strategy starts before he even sees the house
The Million Dollar Listing star told AREC 2026 he wins vendors by knowing more about their property than…
How AI-Powered DISC Profiling Can Win You More Listings
In Week 2 of the AI Sprint, Samantha McLean breaks down how to profile your vendors before the…
The Budget change that could reshape how your agency is structured
The negative gearing headlines are one story. But buried in the same budget papers is a package of…
Build the tools. Then make the call
The 2026 budget just handed you a reason to use AI and a reason to pick up the…
What Just Landed: The Budget Night Negative Gearing Breakdown
The Treasurer is calling it the most significant tax reform in more than a quarter of a century.…
The grind (and the grace) of long-term prospecting
Crown Perth was standing room only on Thursday as REIWA Connect 2026 drew more than 1,000 delegates, a…
What Your Investor Clients Are Googling Right Now
The negative gearing and CGT changes explained – what’s actually happening, what’s not, and what to say when…
Would a salaried agent give a more honest appraisal?
What if the way agents are paid is shaping the industry's biggest problems — from trust and burnout…
Beyond the ban: Eight leaders on fixing real estate’s trust problem
Eight industry leaders go on the record to challenge the "false read" of GCI metrics, call for an…
Readers respond: The mirror talks back
We held up the mirror. The industry talked back. From underquoting in NSW to over-quoting in Queensland and…
The mirror has many faces
Josh Tesolin's 10-year ban made headlines. The industry outrage is justified. But the harder question is what built…
How to find your next hire in the age of AI
How real estate agencies can adapt hiring practices for the AI era by testing real thinking, adaptability, and…
Is there enough of you online?
Why We Obsess Over URLs, Standfirsts, and what we call the "Portal Test"
The week AI helped sell one home and nearly blew up another
From a Florida homeowner selling with ChatGPT to a US$50M deal nearly derailed by AI advice, learn why…
The ultimate guide: 35 practical ChatGPT tips for real estate professionals
35 actionable AI strategies for real estate agents: write sharper listings, plan smarter, and win clients without working…
When execution is cheap, judgment is worth the premium
In an era where AI eliminates the "blank page," human judgment becomes the industry’s scarcest resource. Success now…
Edge Case: Will The Real Estate Office Still Exist in Five Years?
"If the office exists just to distribute information, it should die. But if it exists to host trust,…
Tony Morrison: Why Your Best Listing Presentation Happens in Your Office, Not Their Kitchen
"If you're in your environment, you're in control." – Tony Morrison
Why Candice Whinnett Dedicates One Day a Week to AI
"You don't have to be a tech head to get started. You have to be curious, you have…
Richard Manthel: Why July 2026 Is the Finish Line, Not the Start Line for AML Compliance
"One of the things about AML is that it's not what you know – it's what you don't…
Tom Panos: Your 90-Day Playbook for a Fast Start to 2026
Tom Panos reveals to Samantha McLean why the January window is critical, what's really behind the underquoting debate,…
Inside Ben White’s Optimistic Framework for AI-Enabled Property Management
Why the CEO believes property managers who understand their value creation have "nothing to fear" from artificial intelligence.
Raising Professional Standards: Will Higher Barriers Protect Consumers or Choke the Talent Pipeline?
John Foong and Jacob Caine go head-to-head on one of the industry's most uncomfortable questions.
What Does AI Say About You?
When AI answers questions about your property market, will it cite you – or your competitors?
From the Titanic to the “Breaking Bad” House: The Art of the Comeback
"If we were just listing it as a four-bedroom home, it was a nice $350,000 house... The intrinsic…
Tom Harrison: From “Don’t Sign That Paperwork” to Agency of the Year
In 2020, Tom Harrison’s business coach told him he was 'mad' to take sole ownership of a real…
Is Company Culture Overrated? (Do Results Matter More Than ‘Vibes’?)
“What have you got if you don't have results? A whole lot of people sitting around in beanbags…