For many in the multiple listing services (MLS) industry, Monday’s announcement that Compass was acquiring Anywhere served as a wake-up call of sorts. 

Over the past year, Compass has worked to grow its stockpile of exclusive listings, but many did not consider the Robert Reffkin-helmed firm a serious threat to the MLS structure, due to the size of his firm. That all changed with Monday’s acquisition.

In acquiring Anywhere, Compass now has a global network of 340,000 agents that combines the No. 1 brokerage in the nation by sale volume and the No. 2 brokerage in the country by transaction side count, making a prospective Compass-Anywhere exclusive listing platform a serious threat to the existing MLS system. 

While planned prior to Compass’s announcement on Monday, Council of MLSs (CMLS) CEO Denee Evans’ comments at the opening of CMLS’ 2025 Open House conference Tuesday morning in Toronto were incredibly insightful and apropos given the events of the week. 

MLSs are at an inflection point

“Tomorrow’s MLSs must thrive in competition, not just survive, and that means earning their customers every single day. It means being better because if customers have another choice they may go with it,” Evans said. “Now, let’s be clear, I’m not saying your competition is just your neighbors or whoever is sitting at your table, or even portals or mega brokers with private networks, or startups offering new ideas, but it could also be something we haven’t even seen yet. MLSs need to compete every day just like our brokers and agents do.”

As Damian Eales, the CEO of Realtor.com-owner Move, Inc., sees it, the MLSs are at an inflection point. 

“The world is turning and many would say not in the favor of the MLS,” Eales said during a session at Open House Tuesday morning. “For those companies and commentators who criticize, bully or sue the open MLS system and independent buyer agency it enables, you should be careful what you wish for. The American system could devolve.” 

At the same time that competition in the MLS space has increased, the MLSs have also had to contend with removal of the agent compensation aspect of their value proposition, thanks to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement. 

“We are coming out of a world where the pillars of the MLS were compensation and cooperation, and one of those pillars is gone and never coming back,” Ed Zorn, the general counsel and vice president of California Regional MLS, said. “Now we have to decide if we are able to build the MLS on what is now, just a foundation of cooperation.” 

Expanding what the MLS is

With MLSs looking to evolve and grow, Evans shared a few things MLSs can do to not only compete in this new environment, but thrive. In Evans’ view, MLSs need to evolve from just providing listing data to providing data on the life of that property. 

“We need to expand what we think the MLS is,” Evans said. “You have to move from not just a moment in time of a listing but the living lifetime of that asset of the home. Having just the listings won’t allow us to compete.” 

As MLSs look to make changes and evolve, Evans asked them to keep consumers as their North Star.

“Please be open to letting go of what you know and be open to what could be,” she said. 

Although many MLSs may be concerned about the challenges that may lie ahead for them, Holly Mabery, the senior vice president of brokerage operations at eXp Realty, whose brokers and agents use MLSs across the country on a daily basis, told attendees that despite the need for some advancements, she still believes a strong MLS is essential for a strong real estate industry. 

“Everybody is holding up the MLS and saying that it’s the lightbulb. No, it is the power grid,” Mabery said. “Everything that is built on top of that is for our agents and our brokers to have success. If the power grid is servicing everybody at that seamless level, then we all win.”

An expanded dialogue with brokers

Although many of the threats facing today’s MLSs come from outside sources, such as regulatory pressure, tech start-ups and listing data become more widely available, Craig Cheatham, the president and CEO of The Realty Alliance, said not to discount disgruntled brokers, a category he would include Compass in. If MLSs hope to continue being the power grid for the industry, he said MLS leaders should meet with brokerage leaders, including those at Compass, to figure out how they can serve them best. 

“Nothing is going to change overnight with Compass’s acquisition, but if those two powers do come together, eventually there is going to be much greater pressure applied on the MLS and on certain portals and NAR,” Cheatham said. “One of the big lessons from the past is the you need to monitor and meet with all of your brokers.” 

So while the competitive landscape for MLSs may look a bit different now than it did even a year ago, many real estate industry participants still view it as an essential piece of the housing ecosystem. But the message from CMLS Open House speakers is clear: if MLSs want to stay relevant and competitive, they cannot be afraid of change. 

“There is far more change ahead of us,” Matt Consalvo, the CEO of Arizona Regional MLS, said. “There is far more that is going to happen over the next three years than that has happened since 2013. We need to start working together in ways we’ve never done. We need to start making sure we partner with our brokers in ways we have only dreamed of and we need to find our path to the future because the MLS deserves to be strong and healthy.” 

In predicting that mortgage rates will drop below 6 percent next year, economists at Fannie Mae are more optimistic about growth and less worried about inflation than their colleagues at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Renowned architect Shaun Lockyer at The Lighthouse in Bardon, Brisbane . Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

The landmark home of acclaimed architect Shaun Lockyer has sold just nine days after hitting the market, with the couple making a tidy profit after purchasing it back in 2003.

Now under contract, it is understood to have sold for $2.8m.

12 Rosewood Street, Bardon,

Lockyer originally purchased the Bardon property at 12 Rosewood St in Brisbane for $390,000.

The median house price in Bardon is now $1.895m, according to the latest REA Market Trends report.

Known as The Lighthouse, the original post war home has been transformed over the past two decades, and is now one of Queensland’s most talked about private residences.

The residence is known as The Lighthouse

But it should come as no surprise that the striking abode was snapped up so quickly, with Lockyer in high demand among prestige buyers.

His clients have included the likes of Olympic gold medallist swimmer Libby Trickett, former racing driver Mark Webber and property tycoon Don O’Rorke.

It features timber throughout

Lockyer – who has designed some of Australia’s most luxurious homes – told this News Corp that moving on wasn’t an easy decision.

“We’ve genuinely loved it here and there’s a lot of unpacking emotionally going on for Julie and me,” he said.

12 Rosewood Street, Bardon,

The Lighthouse was marketed by Ray White Collective principal Matt Lancashire, who himself is known for cutting some of Brisbane’s biggest property deals, including one in New Farm for $20.5m and another in Kangaroo Point for $18.48m.

“If you have ever wanted a Shaun Lockyer home, then this is probably the most important one – and possibly the best priced one too,” Lancashire recently said.

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12 Rosewood Street, Bardon,

The Lighthouse has four bedrooms, three bathrooms and sits on a leafy 607sq m block.

12 Rosewood Street, Bardon,

“The residence stands as a distinguished example of Lockyer’s architectural authorship, grounded in timber and tin, where curated appointments and hand-finished details blend seamlessly with the ease of everyday living,” the listing says.

“Louvres, shutters, and a series of glass pavilions harness light, air, and vertical space, while the interplay of decks, battening, and garden-framed outlooks blurs the lines between inside and out, creating a luminous haven for family life.”

12 Rosewood Street, Bardon,

The lounge, dining and kitchen spaces open out to an “alfresco oasis”., while the backyard is home to a private courtyard and pool with a waterfall feature.

12 Rosewood Street, Bardon,

The top floor master retreat has and ensuite while the kitchen features modern appliances and a waterfall island bench.

The elevated block is also within 100m of St Joseph’s School.

The Lockyer’s next residence will be a new build featuring natural timber, stone and concrete in inner-city Teneriffe.

12 Rosewood Street, Bardon,

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Royals, racing and real estate might seem worlds apart, but they’re chapters in the same compelling story for One Agency’s Mindy Powell-Hodges.  

Her career has been defined by constant reinvention, moving between industries, countries and leadership roles, while finding ways to turn fresh challenges into growth opportunities.  

What has connected each chapter in Ms Powell-Hodges’ journey has been an ability to adapt quickly, surround herself with the right people and deliver under pressure. 

From global racing to leading brand transformations in Australian property, Ms Powell-Hodges has carved a reputation as someone who thrives in demanding environments.  

She brings the same energy to her current role as global head of membership at One Agency, where she has been focused on accelerating growth and shaping the future of the business with co-founders Paul and Annie Davies. 

For Ms Powell-Hodges, success has been about curiosity, collaboration and creating the conditions for others to flourish. 

“When we stop being curious, that’s when you become stale,” she said.  

“That’s why I love being around people who are curious.” 

That mindset has underpinned her journey, one that has taken her from high-stakes international racing events to the boardrooms of Australia’s largest real estate brands, and now to one of the country’s fastest-growing networks. 

How the race began

Her story began in Oklahoma in the United States, where her parents bred thoroughbred horses.  

In her 20s, she became one of the first executives to join the leadership team of a racetrack, before being recruited to work for the royal family in Abu Dhabi. 

“I was meant to be there for four months but ended up working for the royal family in Abu Dhabi for almost seven years, working as a director of publicity and marketing,” she said.  

She handled millions of dollars in horse racing sponsorship deals around the world for the family, putting on international events and more.  

In Dubai, Ms Powell-Hodges met her husband and welcomed their daughter. But on a family trip to Australia, the family decided to relocate down under and settle here permanently.  

The move offered opportunities for her husband as a boat designer, but it pushed Ms Powell-Hodges to reinvent herself. 

“The thoroughbred industry is very different to the rest of the world, so I reinvented myself and went into real estate,” she said.  

She started out as a real estate agent, but she eventually pivoted into operations.  

She took on roles at Harcourts, Ray White and Raine and Horne, steadily climbing into leadership positions. 

Then at the start of 2025, Ms Powell-Hodges joined One Agency, where founders Paul and Annie Davies were seeking to expand the business.  

“I’ve worked across different franchise groups, but I remember sitting and listening to Paul and Annie’s business model and thinking ‘this is the way of future,’” she said. 

“For any real estate agent who wants to own their own business and provide for themselves and their family, this model extends it to them so they can be anything.”  

She has wasted no time since joining, adding 17 new offices to the network with several more in the pipeline.  

Today the group has nearly 800 members across sales and property management. 

Retention across the network has also improved, something she credits to refreshing the foundation of the business and listening to members. 

Leading with curiosity  

As a business leader, Ms Powell-Hodges likes to surround herself with strong teams, encourage experimentation and give people space to fail and learn. 

“I see how younger people are trying new things in the industry, so I’m really curious and I love exploring these new ways,” she said.  

“I love allowing my team to go out, explore and mess things up.  

“We are just out there creating new things and making the industry stronger, and it’s helping the businesses who join us to thrive.”  

Outside of work, Ms Powell-Hodges has relished giving back to the industry, serving as an influencer with the Rise Initiative. 

The Rise Initiative is a not-for-profit that supports wellbeing in real estate, and mentors young professionals.  

Looking ahead, Ms Powell-Hodges remains clearly focused on One Agency and its growth. 

“For One Agency, it’s literally about growth,” she said.  

“It’s about telling the One Agency story and talking about our benefits and added value, not only to business owners but also to agents who are thinking about taking the next step and owning their own business.”  

It’s this energy and competitive streak that Ms Powell-Hodges has carried across industries and continents that drives her to seek the next challenge.  

And with One Agency in expansion mode, her next chapter looks set to be just as compelling as the ones that came before.  

The post Racing, royals and real estate: How this leader swapped the racetrack for property appeared first on realestate.com.au.

The Brunswick Edwardian with a banana bathroom sold for $1.455m to first-home buyers after a spirited auction campaign.

A Brunswick Edwardian with a banana on its bathroom wall has sold for $1.455m to first-home buyers after a spirited auction campaign.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 87 Dawson St mixed heritage charm with eccentric touches, from pressed-metal ceilings and stained-glass doors to a roller-door backyard shed and bright blue coffee table.

Compton Green agent Tara Freeman said the unusual styling helped the home stand out from the sea of slickly staged inner-city listings.

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The bathroom’s banana decal became a quirky talking point during the Brunswick auction campaign.

“The sellers really made this place their own, it had a quirky, eccentric edge that reflected their personality, but it also felt genuine and lived-in,” Ms Freeman said.

“Buyers picked up on that. You could feel the love in the walls.”

The campaign drew strong numbers, although two bidders dropped out late due to finance and settlement terms.

Timber-top kitchen with Ilve oven and Miele dishwasher anchors the home’s rear living zone.

Skylit dining area with chandelier detail opens to the backyard deck.

On auction day one genuine bid was made before the home was passed in, then later negotiated to a result just above the quoted range.

Ms Freeman said the vendors, who had lived in the property for 24 years and raised three children and two dogs there, were emotional but delighted with the outcome.

“It was bittersweet for them, but they’re upsizing locally and were very happy to hand the keys to a lovely young couple buying their first home,” she said.

Spacious living room blends heritage character with quirky, eclectic style.

Eclectic interiors blended stained-glass doors, bold colours and quirky furnishings.

The property’s features included a skylit dining area, timber-top kitchen with Ilve and Miele appliances, multiple living zones, a study nook and a rear deck flowing to a lawn and powered workshop.

The main bedroom upstairs opened to a balcony with city glimpses. But it was the playful details that sparked the most chatter.

“From the stained-glass doors to the banana decal in the bathroom, the house had personality that buyers loved,” Ms Freeman said.

Eclectic interiors blended stained-glass doors, bold colours and quirky furnishings.

Substantial backyard with lawn, powered workshop and roller-door shed access.

The sale came just ahead of the new first-home buyer scheme starting October 1, which Ms Freeman said could spur more demand in Melbourne’s entry-level market.

“The biggest impact will be in apartments and affordable options, but with rates easing we’ll see more younger buyers at opens,” she said.

With the AFL Grand Final break pausing auctions next weekend, Ms Freeman said momentum across the inner north remained strong.

“We’ve got a healthy pipeline of listings, plenty of finance-ready buyers, and motivated vendors wanting to transact before year’s end,” she said.

“That energy will carry us through spring and set up a strong start to 2026.”

The infamous banana decal made the bathroom a standout talking point among buyers.

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david.bonaddio@news.com.au

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