Raising the Bar - QLD Property
Raising the Bar: Real Talk About Queensland Property 🎙️ Hosted by George Sourris, Legal Practice Director at Empire Legal - a Brisbane-based conveyancing and property law firm Welcome to Raising the Bar, the Queensland property podcast where we sit down with the best real estate agents, mortgage brokers, buyer's agents, property managers, building inspectors and property pros across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and wider QLD. In each episode, host George Sourris pulls back the curtain on the stories, strategies, and hard-earned lessons that define excellence in the Queensland property market - from first-home buyer tips to auction tactics, from QLD conveyancing essentials to running a top-performing real estate business. Because our industry deserves better. Whether you're buying or selling property in Queensland, or you work in the property game and want to get sharper - this one's for you. Need a conveyancer for your next QLD property purchase or sale? Visit empirelegal.com.au or call 07 3088 7675.
Episodes
In episode 29 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with George Iacovou, Principal Financial Adviser and Founder of Great Advice, to unpack the financial decisions that shape long term success for Queensland property owners.
After founding Great Advice at just 23 years old, George has spent more than a decade helping individuals, families and business owners navigate investment, superannuation, insurance, re...
In episode 28 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Lara Paholski, CEO of LiveSign, to unpack the biggest regulatory change facing Queensland property professionals in more than a decade.
With AML/CTF Tranche 2 reforms commencing from 01 July 2026, lawyers, conveyancers, accountants and real estate agents will all face new obligations around identity verification, customer due diligence and anti-money l...
In episode 27 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Peter Burgin, Chief Auctioneer and Head of Performance at Ray White Collective, to unpack what it takes to build trust, perform at a high level and consistently deliver results in Queensland real estate.
With more than 23 years in the industry, over 15,000 auctions called and an REIQ Auctioneer of the Year title to his name, Peter is widely regarded as...
From starting in real estate at just 18 years old to building one of the most recognised brands in Brisbane Bayside property, Tamara Hall’s career has been shaped by grit, mindset and an unwavering focus on trust.
In episode 26 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Tamara Hall, founder of Tamara Hall Properties, to unpack the mindset, resilience and client-first philosophy that helpe...
From working 84-hour weeks in the Surat Basin gas mines to becoming one of the top-performing Ray White agents in the world, Matt Micallef’s rise in Queensland real estate is anything but ordinary.
In episode 25 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Matt Micallef, Owner and Selling Principal of Ray White TMG, to unpack the mindset, emotional intelligence and relentless work ethic that took him fro...
From walking away from a commercial law career to join the State Theatre Company to becoming the first female and youngest ever CEO of the REIQ, Antonia Mercorella’s journey is anything but conventional.
In ep 24 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella to unpack the career pivots, legislative battles and leadership decisions that have helped shape modern Queensland real e...
Every year, Queensland buyers settle on properties with hidden risks they never saw coming. From unapproved building work and boundary disputes to title defects and fraud.
In episode 23 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Paul Watkins, General Counsel at Stewart Title Australia, to unpack one of the most overlooked forms of buyer protection in Australian property: title insurance.
With more than ...
In episode 22 of Raising the Bar George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Italian Knight and community icon Mariangela Stagnitti, who has spent over 40 years helping people get on their feet, not just financially, but in life.
Starting as a batch clerk in a local bank branch, Mariangela has built a career grounded in relationships, trust and showing up for her clients across multiple generations.
We cover:
<...
If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
In episode 21 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with industry titan and ex REIQ Chairman Peter Brewer to unpack what it really means to lift standards in Queensland real estate.
From building a career that spans over four decades to leading major reform through the REIQ, Peter shares a no nonsense perspective...
Courtney Caulfield sits down with George Sourris from Empire Legal to share her journey from law to becoming one of Brisbane's most influential women in real estate.
We cover:
- Her pivot from law into Queensland real estate
- Building a personal brand that actually converts
- Balancing motherhood with high-performance selling
- What QLD buyers and sellers need to know right now
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/epis...
Ash Hansom from LJ Hooker Cannon Hill joins George Sourris to reveal how she became the #1 agent in Murarrie, outselling her nearest competitor 3 times over.
We cover:
- Dominating a Brisbane suburb from scratch
- Why she outsold the competition 3:1
- Building referral pipelines that actually work
- What buyers in Murarrie and Cannon Hill should know
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-19-ash-hansom
Raising the ...
Alex Tincknell shares how he built Elders Real Estate Redlands from zero experience in the Queensland property market.
We cover:
- Starting a real estate agency with no industry background
- Why the Redlands market is one to watch
- Hiring and building a team in QLD real estate
- Lessons from the first 12 months
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-18-alex-tincknell
Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Q...
Emma Flatley went from selling agent to scaling Acquired Buyer's Advocacy across Queensland in just 6 months.
We cover:
- Making the jump from selling agent to buyer's agent
- Scaling a QLD buyer's agency fast
- What buyer's agents really do for you
- The Brisbane and Gold Coast markets through a buyer's lens
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-17-emma-flatley
Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queens...
Rebecca Russell from Place Kangaroo Point shares how she went from bartending to dominating Richlands real estate.
We cover:
- Switching careers into QLD real estate
- Locking down a suburb as "your" patch
- The daily habits that separate top 1% agents
- Richlands and southside Brisbane property trends
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-16-rebecca-russell
Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queensland...
Thomas Metos from MEC reveals the 5-star customer formula that transformed his small business.
We cover:
- Building a 5-star customer experience
- Systemising service so every client feels looked after
- What real estate agents and property pros can steal from this playbook
- Running a small business in Queensland
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-15-thomas-metos
Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Q...
Aaron Woolard from Place New Farm shares how he went from White Pages cold calls to becoming Brisbane's inner-city attraction agent.
We cover:
- Starting with literally the phone book
- Becoming an attraction agent in one of Brisbane's hottest suburbs
- New Farm, Teneriffe and inner-city property insights
- Building a book of business that sends clients to you
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-14-aaron-woolar...
Shane Lawson from North Coast Pool Inspections shares pool safety insights every QLD and Northern NSW property buyer needs to hear.
We cover:
- What pool safety inspections actually check
- Common failures that trip up sellers
- The QLD pool safety certificate explained
- How buyers can protect themselves pre-contract
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-13-shane-lawson
Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast f...
John Cassimatis from Belle Property Coorparoo shares 25+ years of lessons from the Brisbane real estate market.
We cover:
- What changes (and what doesn't) over 25 years of property
- Coorparoo and southside Brisbane market cycles
- Advice for first home buyers right now
- How to pick a great agent
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-12-john-cassimatis
Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queensland pro...
Alex McEwan from McGrath Wynnum/Manly shares his journey from mechanic to top-performing Bayside real estate agent.
We cover:
- Career pivot from the workshop to real estate
- Wynnum, Manly and Bayside property trends
- Winning listings in a competitive QLD suburb
- Building client relationships that last
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-11-alex-mcewan
Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queensland ...
Sachin Nair, co-founder of Fincode Loanmarket and former QLD Police officer, shares rapid growth hacks for mortgage brokers.
We cover:
- From the QLD Police force to finance
- Scaling a mortgage broking business
- What borrowers need to know about the current QLD lending landscape
- The broker + conveyancer + agent relationship
Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-10-sachin-nair
Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's ...
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