Victoria’s top real estate young guns real of past year: best selling agents aged under 35
They’re young, ambitious and can earn millions of dollars in commission every year. And one has sold a jaw-dropping $214m+ worth of houses in 12 months. SEE THE LIST
Property
Don't miss out on the headlines from Property. Followed categories will be added to My News.
They’re young, ambitious and can earn millions of dollars in commission every year:
Victorian real estate’s young stars include Michelle Stephens who sold a jaw-dropping $214m+ worth of houses in 12 months.
The 33-year-old from OBrien Real Estate Carrum Downs offloaded 255 properties last year and even closed a deal on her wedding night.
Real estate transaction figures provided to the Herald Sun reveal that 19 agents aged 35 and under individually traded more than $100m in property across 2023 across the state – something which many high-flying industry veterans do not achieve until they are two or more decades into their career, if ever.
RELATED: Melbourne’s top 50 highest-selling real estate agents revealed
Vic Government hints at big housing tax change
Inside Ash Barty’s lavish $4m new property score
Other top performers are Marshall White Port Phillip’s Ben Manolitsas, 32, and Jellis Craig Monash’s Calvin Huang, 35.
They each sold more than $170m in property, based on data from major agencies.
RT Edgar Toorak’s Max Ruttner, 33, netted $167m+ in sales and Marshall White Boroondara Davide Lettieri, 35, logged deals worth $156m+.
At 24 years old, the youngest top agents are Barry Plant Essendon – Keilor East’s Caleb Venneri on $99m+ in sales, Buxton Ashburton’s Tai Menahem on $86m+ and
Ray White Coburg’s Raphael Calik-Houston at $80m.
Ms Stephens was four years younger than this when she entered the profession at age 20, after
studying accounting but realising sitting behind a desk was not for her.
She credited her impressive achievements to years of hard work, including 12-hour days, and a genuine desire to help people with life’s big decisions.
“To be successful in a real estate career, you have to let it take over your life,” Ms Stephens said.
“I am happy to sell a house at midnight, nothing is too big or too small.”
She once convinced an Uber driver to rent his property out through her agency and also made a sale during a 12am phone call, following her 2017 wedding.
While Ms Stephens’s colleagues, including husband Lenny, assist with background work like writing advertising copy, she negotiates every deal herself.
Her advice for up-and-coming agents is to “be passionate” and “be yourself”.
Fellow agent Mr Ruttner formerly worked as a booking agent for music industry giants Michael Gudinski and Frank Stivala.
Later, he joined a commercial real estate firm where he enjoyed honing skills in customer service, attention to detail and developing long-term client relationships.
However Mr Ruttner said some aspects of these years were similar to working for The Wolf of Wall Street, a driven, hard-partying New York stockbroker character portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in a 2013 film of the same name.
Since moving into residential property, Mr Ruttner’s highlights have included selling four neighbouring Toorak houses for different owners and scoring a $13m listing – but being a young agent does have its drawbacks.
“At 33, a lot of people I’m competing against are aged 50+ and already established so in my mind I am coming from behind,” he said.
MORE: Melbourne’s ‘most welcoming brothel’ up for sale
‘I ate rice for dinner for a year … now I own 6 homes’
Mr Ruttner said his ultimate ambitions were to make his family proud and “be authentic in my own way”.
For Mr Manolitsas, having a work life balance is another challenge of real estate.
“You need to be there 24/7, some vendors are CEOs and the best time to call them is at 5.30am before work,” he said.
Property is often a dinner table conversation topic, as his wife Georgia Whitford is a Marshall White agent.
And it was meeting his future father-in-law, Geelong agent Dale Whitford, that inspired Mr Manolitsas to first pursue real estate as a profession.
“But I’m genuinely passionate about what I do so it doesn’t feel like work, I live and breathe Albert Park and Middle Park,” Mr Manolitsas said.
Based further out of the city in Glen Waverley, Mr Huang is accustomed to no two days being the same.
He has experienced people driving past an auction then turning back to make a bid and entire families bursting into tears of joy upon securing their dream home.
“I know there are a lot of television shows out there like Luxe Listings and Selling Sunset which make the job look very glamorous and rewarding, Mr Huang said.
“It is very rewarding but it’s not glamorous most of the time.”
Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.
MORE: Ex-Neighbours star, model sells unique island ‘shed house’
First look: New Coast shopping centre for surprise site
A long-empty site in a surprise location will be transformed into a retail showroom complex under fresh plans lodged with the council. FIND OUT WHERE
Revealed: How much rent you need to pay in every Qld suburb
Rents have increased again in 252 Queensland suburbs, reversing the brief downward trend recorded just three months ago. See how your suburb compares!