PHOTO: The Woman Who Sold 70 Homes a Year and Changed Brisbane Property Forever. Judi O’Dea. FILE
Tributes Flow for Brisbane’s Most Loved Real Estate Agent
The Australian property industry is mourning the loss of one of its most respected and admired figures.
Legendary Brisbane real estate agent Judi O’Dea has passed away at the age of 70, leaving behind a remarkable legacy built on passion, persistence, and a deep connection with the communities she served.
Colleagues, clients and industry figures across Queensland have been paying tribute to the agent widely regarded as one of Brisbane’s finest property professionals.
Despite her age, O’Dea remained fully immersed in the industry until the end — answering every phone call personally, working weekends, and continuing to sell homes across Brisbane’s inner-west suburbs with the same energy she had displayed for nearly two decades.
Judi O’Dea came to real estate at 48 and made it her way.
A Career Reinvented at 48
Judi O’Dea’s path into real estate was far from conventional.
Before entering the property industry, she had spent years working in the fashion world as a retailer and creative entrepreneur. But after surviving a stroke and facing uncertainty in her business career, she reached a pivotal moment in her late forties.
Sitting on the back steps of her Paddington home, O’Dea made a promise to herself that she would not let her talents go to waste.
At 48 years old, she entered the real estate industry with:
No formal training
No established client database
No guarantee of success
What she did have was an unwavering belief in Brisbane’s inner-west suburbs and an ability to connect deeply with people.
That combination would prove powerful.
Judi O’Dea was often referred to as the queen of real estate for her grace even under pressur
Becoming a Powerhouse in Brisbane Real Estate
O’Dea quickly built a reputation as one of Brisbane’s most effective and respected agents.
After joining Ray White Paddington in 2019, she became synonymous with the suburb and the surrounding inner-west communities.
Her performance was extraordinary.
As a Ray White Chairman’s Elite Performer, O’Dea was selling around 70 homes every year, a level of productivity few agents ever achieve.
Yet those who worked with her say the numbers never defined her success.
Her real strength was her ability to understand people.
Judi O’Dea’s advice was often to listen more than talk: “You’ve got two ears and one mouth, use them in that ratio.”
The Secret to Her Success
Judi O’Dea often joked that success in real estate required just two things:
“Iron-clad persistence and a great frock.”
But behind the humour was a deeply thoughtful approach to property sales.
Her advice to young agents was simple but powerful: listen more than you speak.
She often reminded newcomers that effective communication begins with understanding clients.
Her favourite line became well known across the industry:
“You’ve got two ears and one mouth — use them in that ratio.”
At open homes she would ask thoughtful questions, allowing buyers and sellers to share their real motivations and concerns.
For O’Dea, every property transaction was about people first and property second.
Judi O’Dea, second from left, celebrated every sale with her signature “jump” with the sellers.
Old-School Real Estate in a Digital World
In an era dominated by text messages, automation and digital communication, O’Dea remained firmly committed to a more personal approach.
She believed nothing could replace a phone conversation.
According to colleagues, she answered every call herself — even after decades in the business.
Her reasoning was simple.
Tone, hesitation and emotion could reveal far more than a text message ever could.
It was this human connection that helped her build long-term trust with hundreds of clients across Brisbane.
Building a Team That Felt Like Family
While real estate can often be a solitary profession, O’Dea built a business model centred on collaboration and loyalty.
Her daughter Harriet Went joined the team in 2012 and quickly became a key operational force behind the business.
Alongside them was Michael Kleinmeyer, who had worked with O’Dea for more than two decades after first meeting her in the fashion industry.
Together they created a close-knit team that celebrated every sale.
Their signature tradition after an auction was a celebratory jump beside the property’s signboard — a joyful moment that became synonymous with O’Dea’s brand.
Judi O’Dea said a great team changes everything: “You are not an island”.
A Champion for Women in Real Estate
O’Dea also became a powerful mentor for women considering careers in real estate.
Having reinvented her own life in mid-career, she believed maturity was an advantage rather than a limitation.
She actively supported women entering the profession through Ray White’s Leading Ladies network, encouraging them to pursue real estate as a second career.
Her message was clear: it is never too late to succeed.
A Legacy Beyond Property Sales
Judi O’Dea’s impact went far beyond the homes she sold.
She helped shape Brisbane’s inner-west property market while mentoring a generation of agents and supporting countless families through some of life’s most important moments.
Her warmth, empathy and relentless professionalism made her not just an outstanding agent but a deeply respected figure in the Australian real estate industry.
O’Dea is survived by her husband Patrick Went, daughter Harriet, son Eugene, and her grandson Felix.
To the hundreds of clients whose homes she helped sell, the colleagues she mentored, and the friends who admired her energy and kindness, Judi O’Dea leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
As many in the industry have said since her passing — there truly was no show without Judi.
SOURCE: REALESTATE.COM