Josh Tesolin

PHOTO: “Everyone can lie, but numbers don’t lie.”

📉 Josh Tesolin’s meteoric rise brought trophies, records, and headlines. Now, with his licence suspended over alleged malpractice, the scandal is shaking Australia’s biggest real estate brand to its core.

🚨 The Rise and Fall of Josh Tesolin

At Ray White’s NSW/ACT awards last year, Josh Tesolin dominated the stage — walking away with titles like Top City Principal, Top International Principal, and Top Auction Agent. He even smashed commission records, boldly declaring: “Everyone can lie, but numbers don’t lie.”

Today, those same numbers are at the centre of one of the biggest real estate scandals in Australia’s history.

NSW Fair Trading has suspended both Tesolin’s licence and that of his company, Tesolin Consulting, citing alleged underquoting on 100+ properties, dummy bidding at auctions, falsifying documents, and breaches of agent conduct rules.

⚠️ While these allegations are yet to be proven, the investigation paints a picture of widespread alleged malpractice carried out under the Ray White banner.

❓ Did Ray White Look the Other Way?

Industry insiders are now asking a crucial question: How much did Ray White know?

🔎 Agents — speaking anonymously to REB — described Tesolin’s tactics as an “open secret.” Some even claim there were pushes for head office to act long before NSW Fair Trading stepped in.

🏆 The uncomfortable truth? Ray White celebrated Tesolin’s performance with awards, trophies, and accolades — numbers plastered across giant screens — all while allegations swirled in the background.

Either Ray White turned a blind eye because Tesolin was successful… or it failed to spot misconduct that many in the industry were already whispering about.

Neither option reflects well on a brand built on trust, family values, and integrity.

⚡ Shockwaves Through the Industry

In recent weeks, directors and executives from major offices and competing networks have privately expressed their anger and disbelief.

Some had already banned questionable practices like “incentive kickers” (extra commissions for sales above quoted ranges), recognising their corrosive effect on consumer confidence.

Others worried about the reputational damage to their own businesses, as families caught up in the saga began to share their stories.

With housing affordability already a hot-button issue, public trust in property professionals is paper-thin. This scandal could be the tipping point.

🏛️ Is a Royal Commission Next?

Australians love property — but no obsession is strong enough to shield the industry from regulatory scrutiny.

If allegations of misconduct are shown to be systemic, a Royal Commission into the real estate sector is no longer unthinkable.

For an industry responsible for managing people’s biggest financial assets, the fallout could be catastrophic.

✅ Why Accountability Matters

This is bigger than one suspended agent.

👔 Accountability is not just about what happens on the auction floor — it’s about corporate boardrooms and brand leadership.

If the industry cannot self-regulate and enforce higher standards, it should not be surprised when governments step in with sweeping reforms.

Because misconduct unchecked is misconduct endorsed.

And when the whole house comes down, it’s not just Josh Tesolin who suffers — it’s the entire real estate profession.

📎 Related Coverage on PropertyNoise.co.nz

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