Bankstown southwest Sydney’s real estate rising stars: The best agents under the age of 30
These young and ambitious agents under 30 are already making their mark in southwest Sydney’s competitive real estate market. Find out what sets them apart.
Property
Don't miss out on the headlines from Property. Followed categories will be added to My News.
These young and ambitious agents under 30 years of age are already making their mark in southwest Sydney’s competitive real estate market.
Having already banked up millions in sales, these young guns are continuing to make a name for themselves.
Meet the rising stars from Bankstown in Sydney’s southwest.
Joshua Nassif, Ray White Bankstown
How did you get into real estate?
My aunty was an agent at the time and I was always so fascinated by her work. I also grew up in the construction industry, which gave me a lot of knowledge on building homes.
What was your most memorable sale?
55 Fenwick St, Bankstown was on the market with two other agents who were in an open agency agreement for more than three months.
I door knocked Fenwick St and one of the neighbours asked me about this particular house.
I called the owner of 55 Fenwick, told him I have a buyer, joined the open agency agreement and sold it after one day to a buyer who lived 10 doors down because these other agents failed to do a simple task of door knocking the street.
I was 19 or 20 years old at the time and it was the highest recorded sale for a “home” in Bankstown.
Tips for other young real estate agents?
Work hard. Every single day. This business works like compound interest.
What do you love about real estate?
Every day is different, there are always new things to learn and new obstacles to conquer.
But the satisfaction of helping buyers and sellers make their dreams come true by securing or selling a property is the most satisfying thing
Andreas Kartsioulis, Ray White Bankstown
How did you get into real estate?
I got into real estate by way of introduction from a family friend. I was ready to join the navy but decided to give real estate a crack beforehand, the rest is history
What was your most memorable sale?
My most memorable sale was 59 Manahan Street, Condell Park. It was a private treaty sale and a deceased estate, in the owner’s family for close to 100 years.
The owner’s expectation was 1.8m and the final sale price was $2.35m.
This was achieved through a private negotiation involving four parties across three days.
My owner was under pressure and needed me to do a good job as she was in charge of picking the agent to represent the family home.
Tips for other young real estate agents?
Don’t expect immediate results and follow up is key.
Always stay in touch with your database, make sure you stay in touch more frequently, at a minimum once a week if you are trying to work with a particular seller.
Enjoy the ride, focus on the journey not the destination and do what you need to do today, and go home knowing you didn’t cut any corners. The results will come if you work hard.
What do you love about real estate?
I love the flexibility and I love the feeling of helping people achieve their property goals.
Larissa Schembri, LJ Hooker Bankstown
How did you get into real estate?
I started out in construction management. My passion for real estate started after I bought my first property at 20 from the builder I was working for while doing my university degree. After buying my first property I enjoyed attending auctions and open homes and after five years in the construction industry, I wanted a change and finally got into real estate.
What was your most memorable sale?
My most memorable sale was a property in Punchbowl. It was on the market with the number one agent at the time for more than three months. I competed with another four agents for the listing and won it by demonstrating how dedicated I was by taking people through properties after working hours and on Sundays. The owner saw my commitment and decided to list the property with me. Nine hours after listing, I took a buyer through at 6pm on a Friday and sold the property for a record price – exceeding the owners’ expectations.
Tips for other young agents?
I believe as young agents we are always looking at what others are doing, my advice would be to go with what works for you and not what works for everyone else, find your strength and work with that. For me that was connecting with builders as I have a background in construction.
What do you love about real estate?
There are a few things I love about real estate but my number one would be closing a deal and getting my vendor more than what they expected, that gives me a massive rush.
Sarah Sevdalis, LJHooker Padstow
How did you get into real estate?
I first started in 2017. My parents had a long journey looking for their forever home, and they dragged me to every open house they could find, after years of looking they finally found a place, and I realised I couldn’t really see myself doing anything else.
What was your most memorable sale?
One of my most memorable sales would be my first. It was my first week at LJ Hooker Padstow and Covid had just hit, so it was all face masks, gloves, and one-on-one viewings. We had our first appointments on the Saturday, a few groups came through, but people were scared to make a commitment. I ended up reaching out to other buyers in our database and booked in my first ever private inspection for the sales team. After half an hour at the property, they made an offer, and it was sold.
Tips for other young real estate agents?
Being honest is my number one tip. People can see through the fluff these days, this industry is about creating and maintaining relationships, so you will gain genuine relationships if you are always honest.
What do you love about real estate?
I love that no day in real estate is the same, each day brings new challenges, you are always learning, and you need to be able to adapt. The game is always changing and I’m so thankful that I am supported by our clients and our team.
James Trivor, LJHooker Padstow
How did you get into real estate?
I generally love property and getting the chance to be out there speaking to people face-to-face and learning about their stories. Previously, I was a police officer, but was seeking an opportunity to showcase my critical thinking, problem solving, and negotiation skills in a different industry all together. One day I just decided to go for it, so, I personally contacted every real estate business in my area until I got a meeting with my now director Lush Pillay, and he offered me a position.
What was your most memorable sale?
My most memorable sale would have to be my biggest one to date. It was a small original home, and the first time it was on the market since the owners built it back in the day.
The feeling of achieving a record price for those beautiful people meant the world. It was featured in newspaper articles, and I was just so over the moon for my owners at the time and am blessed to get to live those moments in my everyday life.
Tips for other young real estate agents?
Two rules that I live by are ‘make rejection your best friend’ and ‘prospect like your life depends on it’. Have those two rules as your mottos, and at the same time find a mentor who you resonate with, whether it be someone on social media, someone in your office or another real estate agent who you personally look up to. Talk to them, meet up with them, watch their videos, study their purpose, goals and how they got to where they are now.
What do you love about real estate?
I’m out there meeting people day in and day out. I come into the office and speak to more people over the phone, so I’m building relationships every day and learning about people’s lives and their aspirations. Most of all, I love helping people and making their dreams become a reality. Whether it be helping a first home buyer through their first ever property purchase, selling a family home that has been tightly held for 50 plus years, or even sitting down and helping people overcome difficult situations during their property transaction is so important to me, because at the end of the day, not every sale is full of rainbows and diamonds.
Diab Abou Haidar, LJHooker Belmore
How did you get into real estate?
I always had an interest in property, but what made me join the industry was my desire to inject more honesty and integrity into the industry, which is something I live by, and thought that I could fill that gap.
What was your most memorable sale?
A house and shop in Greenacre on approximately 455sq m,, with a high price tag in a very tough market. It was a really tough sale, but in the end, I managed to achieve it and now it’s considered the crème de la crème in Greenacre.
Tips for other young real estate agents?
Work hard and grind, get yourself out there, visit development sites, cold call and continuously aim to be better than you were yesterday. Never give up!
What do you love about real estate?
I love the exhilaration that comes from listing, negotiating, and selling. I love the excitement from both parties when a deal gets done, but the thing I love most is achieving above and beyond my vendors’ expectations.
Camille Sleiman, First National Real Estate Daystar, Padstow
How did you get into real estate?
My parents own a real estate business and, after finishing my HSC, I wasn’t entirely sure of the career path I wanted to pursue. My dad suggested that while I was considering my options I should start off with the basics in real estate. Three years on, I am now a sales associate.
What was your most memorable sale?
The most memorable sale of course was my first sale, located in Thomas Street, Picnic Point. By coincidence, I was driving past at the time and noticed people were having a look on the outside. I decided to stop to see if they wanted to go inside and by good fortune, I sold it to them the very next day.
Tips for other young real estate agents?
Expect to start with the basics. Don’t set false expectations, gravitate to mentors, work hard, and always do the right thing. There is a lot to learn, so be prepared to always listen and absorb all the information you can.
What do you love about real estate?
Being able see the smiles on both vendors’ and buyers’ faces. I love seeing their reactions when we get the results. I especially love meeting new people and the flexibility that the industry provides. Most of all, I love to look after my vendors and their most valuable asset.
Franco Spitalieri, Wiseberry Bankstown
How did you get into real estate?
I got into real estate after spending several years working in the science industry.
While I enjoyed my work, I felt a strong desire to explore a different path that would allow me to combine my outgoing nature and passion for working with people.
Real estate seemed like the perfect fit, especially considering my family’s background in the industry. With their guidance and support, I made the transition and never looked back.
What was your most memorable sale?
I do have a memorable experience when I helped a landlord secure a long-term, high-value lease for their commercial property, after being vacant with another agent for 6 plus months.
It was a challenging negotiation process, but seeing the landlord’s satisfaction and the successful outcome made it incredibly rewarding.
It was a reminder that property management involves more than just day-to-day operations; it also includes strategic decision-making and maximizing the value of your clients investments.
Tips for other young real estate agents?
1. Embrace your outgoing personality and utilize your people skills. Even though real estate can be highly transactional, it is a relationship-driven industry, and being able to effectively communicate, build rapport, and understand your clients’ needs is crucial.
2. Leverage your previous industry experience. Coming from a science background, I found that my analytical and problem-solving skills were valuable assets in real estate.
Identify the unique skills you gained in your previous field and find ways to apply them in your real estate career. It will set you apart and provide a fresh perspective on the industry.
3. Never stop learning. Real estate is constantly evolving, and it’s essential to stay updated with the market, regulations/ legislation, and industry advancements. Attend seminars, take courses, and seek mentorship opportunities to enhance your knowledge and skills.
What do you love about real estate?
It keeps me on my toes and offers a sense of fulfilment when I can successfully navigate through complex situations. Additionally, seeing the positive impact I can make by creating safe and comfortable living or working environments for tenants is incredibly rewarding. Real estate allows me to combine my passion for people, problem-solving, and creating tangible, meaningful results.
Tiana Dimitrakas, Hockingstuart Bankstown
How did you get into real estate?
My real estate career began in high school where I landed a Saturday job at a local real estate agency to earn some money whilst studying for my HSC. Originally, I had no plans to pursue a career in real estate however, I became infatuated with the fast paced and unpredictable industry.
Tips for other young real estate agents?
Just beginning my career in real estate my main tip for other young individuals contemplating getting started in the industry is to go for it. You have to be a go-getter to get through this industry, become confident in talking to strangers as if you have known them for years and most importantly be comfortable in being yourself.
What do you love about real estate?
In real estate, no two days are ever the same. This is one of my top reasons for loving the industry, each day comes with a different combination of new properties, new people and new obstacles to work past. While it can be intimidating not always having an answer, the world of real estate requires you to continuously learn something new whether that be market trends, new technologies or social media.
Golf club housing redevelopment in super-size shock
The developer behind the controversial Arundel Hills Country Club revamp has unveiled dramatic new plans. SUBSCRIBE TO SEE THEM
Dad drops huge sum on home for kids after auction truth bomb
A Melbourne father arrived at an auction expecting to put in a bid or two for an old stables his kids could move into. But everything changed when the auctioneer revealed its true history.