Sydney and NSW’s top 50 real estate agents ranked by home sales
From former bouncers to uni drop outs, the Sydney and NSW real estate agents earning up to $7m in annual commissions have been revealed. See who is ranked in the top 50.
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They’re the new breed of real estate agents who have clawed their way to the top of the Sydney property market – and now many are out-earning finance bigwigs and other high paid professionals.
Exclusive realestate.com.au figures have revealed multiple agents selling more than 100 properties over the past year and pushing through well over $100m in deals.
Industry insiders revealed such high sales volumes were seldom seen in previous decades and have resulted in agents earning commissions of up to $7m annually.
SEE PROFILES OF THE TOP AGENTS BELOW
Many of the top 50 deal makers with the highest number of sales declared on realestate.com.au were ambitious operators under the age of 40 who sold modest homes across Sydney suburbia.
These agents had often harnessed the power of online technology and cutting edge marketing tactics to push through more deals in quick time than would have been possible in the 1990s and 2000s.
Agent trainer and auctioneer Tom Panos said recent market entrants were often earning the kind of money that only veteran players were able to get in the past.
“What used to take 20 years to achieve now takes three or four,” he said, noting that social media had allowed determined operators to reach more people quickly and build a personal brand faster.
The industry was also attracting new types of people, Mr Panos said.
“We rarely had uni graduates working in real estate in the 1980s and 1990s, but now many undergraduates decide to go into real estate sales rather than the corporate world,” he said.
“The appeal is uncapped earnings and the ability to own your own business without having to throw a lot of money into setting it up.”
Laing and Simmons president Leanne Pilkington said the big results of high achievers were even more impressive when considering how challenging the current market was for agents.
PropTrack figures showed new listings were down 28.2 per cent over the past year and some suburbs had no new listings at all.
“There’s more real estate businesses than there were 20 years ago, but a lot fewer properties to sell. People stay in their homes longer and there isn’t much business to go around,” she said. “It’s almost a two-speed industry. A few top agents do most of the sales and then there’s everyone else.”
TOP 20 SYDNEY BY SALES VOLUME
1. JOSH TESOLIN, Ray White Quakers Hill
He has been in the industry just 10 years but Ray White Quakers Hill director Josh Tesolin has become one of the country’s most prolific salespeople, pocketing close to $7.3m in commission last year. He was also the only NSW agent to sell more than 300 properties as lead agent.
Mr Tesolin said he has achieved these feats with a relentless work ethic.
“It really is 24/7, seven days a week, all year,” he said, noting his hefty schedule has meant little time to enjoy the fruits of his hard work.
“I wish I could say I’ve gone out and bought a flashy car like a Ferrari or something, but I’m not into that,” he said. “Mostly I just reinvest that money back into my business. I bought 10 investment properties. Maybe when I’m 50 I can retire. Right now I’m just building my future.”
2. MARK SALEH, Pace Property Agents
He used to kick people out of properties – now he welcomes them in. Mark Saleh is a former security guard who switched to selling real estate 10 years and ago and has since become the top agent in much of the Canterbury area.
He said working security near a home that was up for sale inspired his switch of careers. “I’ve got the gift of the gab. People like me. I always knew I’d be good at sales,” he said.
3. PETER DIAMANTIDIS, Ray White Diamantidis Group
Peter Diamantidis said he has seen everything in his 21 years selling real estate in the St Marys region of Western Sydney. “Every sale is different,” he said. “We once needed to inspect an abandoned building and then out came this guy swinging an axe above his head … I think that prepares you for anything.”
He credits his high sales volumes to a strong connection with the local community. The St Marys property market has also boomed, he said. “Some people underestimate this market,” he said. “If you go back five or six years, it didn’t have a good reputation. Now, because of the new airport, it’s hot. My sales so far in 2023 are actually higher than the whole of 2022.”
4. BERNARD ANTANIOS, Enterprize Property Group
Bernard Antanios helps make dreams come true for first homeowners, selling house and land packages through Dream Scope Homes.
The sales consultant has been in the role since late 2019, focusing on new subdivisions throughout northwest and southwest Sydney.
“I enjoy helping people, often first home buyers think they have to buy something strata titled,” he said. “We help them get something that is freestanding which will appreciate in value.”
5. OMAR LABABIDI, Ray White MacArthur Group
Omar Lababidi was looking for flexibility when he started in real estate eight years ago.
“I enjoy speaking with people and every day is different,” the senior sales executive said.
“Seeing the smiles on the faces of first home buyers, it’s a different feeling.”
He said his largest recent sale had been at a home in Harrington Grove for $2.65m.
6. DIB CHIDIAC, Dibchidiac
Dib Chidiac began his career with an agency in Concord and quickly became the network’s national leader in sales before branching out to establish his own brand in 2019.
Selling in many of the inner west’s harbourside suburbs, his meteoric rise to one of Sydney’s top agents has followed the region’s emergence as a luxury real estate market.
7. IBRAHIM MERJAN, Ray White MacArthur Group
It was a deal that ended with a career in real estate for Ibrahim Merjan.
The Ray White Macarthur Group senior sales executive was managing restaurants and had a friend interested in changing careers from real estate to hospitality.
“I did a deal with him that I would manage his restaurant if he got me an interview in real estate,” he said.
Mr Merjan has never looked back and said he enjoyed working in high pressured environments. His highest sale over the past 12 months was in Bardia for $2.5m.
8. ALEXANDER PHILLIPS, PPD Real Estate
Alexander Phillips has sold $830m worth of real estate with one month left of the 2022/23 financial year.
The co-founder of PPD Real Estate said his highest sale over the year was $26m in Vaucluse.
“Our lowest sale was $450,000 so we do everything in between,” he said.
Mr Phillips said every day in the job was different and his team worked hard, made tough decisions and enjoyed brainstorming together.
9. JASMYN CALGARO, Ray White Nepean Group
Kicking off her real estate career with Ray White in 2015, Western Sydney agent Ms Calgaro is now among an elite group of agents who sell over 100 properties a year. She told the Sunday Telegraph last year that her rise to the stop was hard.
“The job is not what you’d think. Before I had started, I had heard it was good money, but the first three years was getting told to bugger off a lot. It was door knocking, cold calling. It wasn’t pretty.”
Her best recent result was $2.3m for a house in Jordan Springs.
RELATED: ‘False dawn’ warning on Sydney home values amid lates PropTrack prices
10. AMIT NAYAK, McGrath Parramatta
Specialising in Parramatta, Wentworthville, and Westmead, Amit Nayak sold 133 properties over the past year. Mr Nayak said the area has continued to grow in popularity with families.
Despite his high volume of sales, he said little is for sale in the area. “Real estate continues to be challenging for Sydney buyers with low stock levels,” he said.
11. BRENDAN LAPPAN, Ray White MacArthur Group
Brendan Lappan described himself as a “uni drop out” when his mother in law suggested he give real estate a go.
“I had reached a point where it was time to get my act together so I sacrificed my weekends with my mates, got my certificate and door knocked the streets of Penrith,” he said.
Mr Lappan has been a founding member and associate partner at Ray White Macarthur Group for around eight years.
“I love being entrenched in the Camden community, it is a tight knit network,” he said.
He added that he had been working over the past four years in the prestige market, regularly selling rural lifestyle properties at the $2-3m mark.
12. TIM AARAON, Ray White MacArthur Group
Ray White Macarthur Group agent Tim Aaron was working a retail job he described as “mundane” when his wife suggested he try his hand at real estate sales. That was eight years ago and the now successful agent hasn’t looked back. He said agents who are in the industry simply for the money don’t last.
“Longevity in this job comes from fulfillment,” he said. “You could chase numbers only but it’s a short term approach. And the community picks up on it. Those agents don’t stay around for long.”
13. ALISTAIR AGIUS, Agius Property Group
Mr Agius has transacted a number of properties for millions of dollars over the past 13 years.
Specialising in Seven Hills, Lalor Park and Kings Langley, his largest sale in the last year was at 15 Lakefield Ave in North Kellyville. The property sold for $2.35m.
14. MELINDA SEETO, Seeto Real Estate North Strathfield
Prior to becoming a real estate agent, Melinda Seeto was an accountant trying to balance work with raising two kids. When she was looking for a property with her third child on the way, she realised that real estate could be a good industry for her.
“My husband ended up being a stay at home dad with the three kids, and I was working
seven days a week in the early days of being an agent. Over the past year, we’ve hired 10
people and that’s made life a lot easier.”
15. RHYS CHRISTOFA, Stone Real Estate Engadine
Mr Christofa sells over 100 properties a year in the Sutherland Shire and is one of the highest selling agents in the area.
“I’ve sold over 100 properties across the Sutherland Shire in the past year alone,” he said. “There’s been a noticeable increase in the number of out of area buyers looking to get a lifestyle property 45 minutes from the city.”
16. JAY BACANI, Manor Real Estate
Manor Real Estate founder and director Jay Bacani has more reasons to celebrate, opening his fifth office in Seven Hills this week.
From a career that started out by “coincidence” when a friend suggested he give real estate a try, Mr Bacani has become one of Sydney’s top agents. “I gave it a try and never looked back,” he said.
Mr Bacani recorded a $2.72m sale on a home in Castle Hill this year, well and truly beating the suburb average of $1.5m.
17. STEVEN FAN, Ray White Parramatta
Steven Fan sold his first property for $80,000 when he started his career as a real estate agent.
More than 24 years later, the group selling principal of Ray White Parramatta/Oatlands/ Northmead/Greystane recorded a $4.5m sale in Westmead.
Mr Fan said he had enjoyed watching Parramatta grow over the years and seeing the investment in infrastructure. The thrill of the job was repeat customers and watching his team grow, he said. “I sold a property 20 years ago to a customer and their son recently sold a unit through me,” he said.
18. VEDANT AGRAWAL, Ray White Diamantidis Group
Recently awarded the ‘Rising Star of the Year’ at the Annual Area Excellence Awards for his sales as an agent for Ray White’s Diamantidis Group in Western Sydney, Vedant Agrawal is currently in the process to launch his own agency TAG Re based in Wentworthville later this year.
“It has been a dream since I started to embark on this journey,” he said.
Mr Agrawal’s biggest sale over the past year was a five bedroom two-storey home at 63 Pandorea St in Claremont Meadows, which sold in May 2022 for $1,405,000.
19. AMIT KUMAR, Amit Kumar Property
Selling properties in the Schofields area, Amit has seen some strong sales taking place in the past few months despite falling stock levels. His strongest sale took place in May this year, when he sold a five bedroom designer home for $1.653m.
Mr Kumar said the property had been highly sought after by upsizing families, selling for $253,000 above the reserve price.
20. CINDY CASH, Ray White North Richmond
Award winning agent Cindy Cash, from Ray White North Richmond, worked her way from receptionist to business owner over 21 years.
“After being EA to multiple female top performers over 13 years and learning from some of the best in the industry, I was excited to be given the opportunity to go into sales myself at the age of 49,” she said.
Ms Cash’s biggest sale over the past year has been a home on 10 acres in Kurrajong which sold for $4,850,000.
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Originally published as Sydney and NSW’s top 50 real estate agents ranked by home sales
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