PHOTO: AREC 2024. realestate.com.au
A sellout crowd of 5,000 real estate agents and property professionals gathered on the Gold Coast for the industry’s premier annual event. The Australasian Real Estate Conference (AREC), now in its 26th year, featured a powerful Sunday morning session that ended with tears, laughter, and a standing ovation as US superstar broker Ryan Serhant took the stage, followed by top Australian agent and former underworld figure Mat Steinwede.
Keynote speakers at the two-day event included Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, who appeared via satellite. Serhant, known for his role in Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing New York” and “Sell it Like Serhant,” is presenting across both days of the sold-out conference.
Serhant is presenting over two days at the sellout event
The program boasted a lineup of high-performing agents such as Sydney’s Gavin Rubinstein and Brisbane’s Sarah Hackett, along with an international array of entrepreneurs and motivational speakers including Mark Bouris and Tiffani Bova. AREC founder and director John McGrath emphasized the event’s purpose: to inspire and empower real estate careers and businesses through the experiences and insights of its 30 carefully selected speakers.
5000 agents and industry professionals were in attendance
“I’m proud of how this event has evolved over the years and resonated so strongly with our industry,” McGrath said. “More than 90 percent of Australia’s top agents have attended AREC at least once, and the majority return yearly. About 800 agents also join us from New Zealand, adding to the event’s excitement and depth.”
AREC founder and director John McGrath
Serhant shared his journey from 2008 to becoming a top-selling New York broker, author, and TV star. He recounted an early deal involving a high-net-worth international client interested in a $12.5 million New York City apartment. After the client vanished for several months, Serhant tracked him down to Paris, where he finally showed up with a fleet of G Wagons. The client later confessed he was drunk when he found the listing online and felt compelled to follow through due to Serhant’s persistent follow-ups, which inspired Serhant’s mantra: “I will follow up with you until you buy or die — that is my secret sauce.”
Serhant shared his early success
Mat Steinwede’s emotional presentation ended with a standing ovation. Fighting back tears, Steinwede spoke about losing his 20-year-old son Logan to suicide last year. Once a homeless drug addict and underworld enforcer, Steinwede shared his journey of immense personal and professional growth over the past 30 years. “You are going to have challenges and you are going to have to dig deep,” he advised the audience.
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SOURCE: REALESTATE.COM.AU