When Monika Tu was invited to join the inaugural season of the hit Amazon Prime TV show Luxe Listings Sydney she initially said no.
The founder and director of Black Diamondz worried the real estate reality show could focus on creating drama between the agents, rather than showing the ‘real life’ hard work that goes into selling luxury property in the harbour city.
Speaking as Prime Video launched the official Season 3 trailer for the show, Monika said she soon changed her mind when she watched the first season.
“The producer invited me to go on season one, because I was on the original pilot show, but I said no,” she explains.
“I watch a lot of reality shows to relax, such as Housewives and Crazy Rich Asians, but I didn’t want to be on a gossip show or one with fighting each other.
“But this show, Luxe Listings Sydney, was phenomenal. We have a lot of fun.
“There is a level of drama but we work together and we are very friendly with each other.
“It’s not like other reality shows. It actually presents the Sydney luxury market to the world.
“The show covers different angles. Not all real estate agents are just competitive and aggressive, we have heart as well.
“It is a true vision of Australian real estate.”
The other stars of Luxe Listings Sydney include TRG Founder Gavin Rubinstein, Laing+Simmons Double Bay Principal D’Leanne Lewis and Cohen Handler Founder Simon Cohen.
Season 3 will premiere on September 30, when three episodes in the six-episode series will drop, followed by one episode each week.
A key story arc will see Gavin and Simon vie for the chance to find Australian singing superstar Delta Goodrem a property.
Monika says the season promises to be the best yet, with an array of superb luxury properties, and the deals to match, on show.
In the trailer, you see Simon hinting at a $6 million deal for one of Monika’s high-end properties, but she quickly counters that with $100 million.
“I personally think Season 3 is better than Season 2,” Monika says.
“There are better quality properties. The quality of the properties is amazing.”
Monika says she didn’t have any expectations when she joined Season 2 of the show, but the response has been more than positive, including helping secure more listings.
“After Season 2, the response I got personally was unbelievable, not only in Australia but from around the world,” she explains.
“But the most important thing is the buyers. We have had inquiries from London, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and the US.
“I had one buyer in Melbourne, whose daughter was working on Wall Street, and the daughter watched the show in New York and said to her mother, ‘You have to contact Monika’ because she wants to buy a $30 million-plus property in Sydney.”
As well as helping generate more business, being on Luxe Listings has increased Monika’s star power, but she insists she’s still the same person she has always been.
Importantly, her dedication to all of her clients remains her top priority.
“I don’t see myself as a celebrity,” Monika says.
“On the show we are relaxed and we have a lot of fun, but we are serious business people.
“One thing we never forget is what we are here for and what this show makes you. I’m a better real estate agent.
“That’s our bread and butter, and that’s how we service people. Now we have to continue to service people even better.
“That’s my vision, that’s my values and I will never change.”
Luxe Listings Sydney Season 3 premieres exclusively on Prime Video from September 30.
If you’d like to catch up on Season 1, you’ll find our episode recaps here.
For Season 2 fun, check out our D’Luxe Nuts episode recaps here.
