From an after-school job in real estate at 15, to selling his first house at 17, Nicholas Christou has built a dynamic career in the industry. Still under the age of 30, Nicholas has led a team of 16 as general manager of a boutique agency, overseeing both the sales and property management departments. 

Now working as a Sales Agent with BresicWhitney on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, Nicholas brings the skillsets learned while studying for a Bachelor of Media from UNSW while preparing marketing strategies for his clients.

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LUXURY LIST WEEKEND spoke with Nicholas about his experience in the real estate industry and the outlook for the near future.

Why real estate as a career?

I ‘fell’ into real estate in a rather unconventional way when I was 15, looking for part-time work while at school. Now 13 years on, I love the dynamic environment and thrive in it.  I’ve always had an interest in property and architecture, so to be able to combine that with helping people get to their next stage is satisfying. I love that no day is the same and that you are constantly learning.

Having completed a degree in journalism and communications while in the early stages of my real estate career, it’s an interest and skillset that’s stayed with me. I find it really enjoyable to utilise marketing strategies to help a client get the best possible result, particularly as consumer habits evolve and change.

What are your predictions about the 2023 market in your area?

Subdued listing levels have been a hallmark of the Lower North Shore across the first half of the calendar year. Many sellers however have recognised this as a great environment in which to be selling. Coupled with the increases in buyer confidence particularly over the last three months, we’re seeing results that probably weren’t feasible 12 months ago. This includes clearance rates, numbers of bidders at auctions and groups through open homes. It’s likely that listing levels across the Lower North Shore will rise from Spring onwards, which will continue driving healthy activity into early 2024.

While the prospect of further interest rate rises is still a factor for many buyers and sellers, it’s not as much of a constraint for those on the Lower North Shore than it may be for those in some other Sydney markets. This is partly due to the comparatively modest mortgages many owners have and the proportion of established family homes. That being said, we know that many fixed rates will expire in August of this year which will inevitably shape the decision-making for some sellers and buyers.

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Are you noticing a change in buyers and sellers?

The most noticeable change over 2023 among buyers and sellers on the Lower North Shore has been the increase in confidence. Both parties are, generally speaking, more willing to engage with the market and are now aligned on price expectations and the timeframes in which a transaction might occur. It’s a different market now to what it was 12 months ago.

Another key shift to have taken place over the last 12-24 months has been the willingness among Sydneysiders to move between suburbs and markets; traversing across the Eastern Suburbs, Inner City, and Inner West, to the Lower North Shore, and the peninsula suburbs. Lifestyle remains a driver of decision-making, so being able to think laterally about where a buyer might come from, I believe, is important to help clients achieve the best possible result.

There are of course buyers and sellers on the Lower North Shore who do not have a pressing need to buy or sell who are also planning to wait until late 2023 or early 2024 to formalise their plans.

What advice would you give to vendors for the best outcome?

Firstly, for them to do their research. This includes researching the market, the economy and who they want to work with from an agent perspective. Secondly, to invest where possible on getting the home to the best possible standard. As an example, $10k in new interior painting could potentially lead to a $50k+ higher end result, so try to keep perspective on where they could add value.

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What advice would you give buyers?

One of the key pieces of advice for buyers is to ensure they have their finance ready. The Lower North Shore market moves quite fast, so being able to act on opportunities as soon as they appear is important. It’s also important for buyers, like sellers, to educate themselves on the market through a variety of sources and channels. At the same time, don’t be afraid to put their trust in the professionals, whether it’s speaking with a mix of local agents or working with a buyers’ agent to help them get to that next step.

What are vendors saying?

Lower North Shore homeowners and sellers tend to keep an eye on the market quite closely. Many of them recognise the opportunity of selling in an environment where listings are subdued. In saying that, continually educating and working with clients on the decisions that are right for them is an important part of the value we add as agents, so it’s about helping them make informed decisions, and uncovering perspectives or information they might not have had access to without engaging an agent.

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What are buyers saying?

Buyers always appreciate choice in a market and are looking forward to when listing levels increase over the latter half of the year.

Where is demand coming from?

Demand across the Lower North Shore remains quite broad. In addition to those looking to upsize or downsize, first home buyers remain active, which has and will continue to be shaped by relevant Government policies and incentives. The ongoing attraction to areas like the Lower North Shore for residents (buyers and renters) also helps maintain healthy investor activity, which has also increased over the last six months.

What is one thing you have learned over your years as an agent?

Always be truthful. In addition to this being a value that’s really important to me, it’s something that others will always appreciate and gravitate towards. The best relationships are built when sellers and buyers recognise your integrity and this is as important, if not more important, in the current market than it’s ever been.

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What personal hobbies/interests outside of real estate do you enjoy in your down time? 

I have always loved travelling.  Like it did for a lot of people, COVID made me appreciate it more and I’m proud that I’ve been able to make the most of it both pre- and post-pandemic. Taking care of my mental health and investing time into things that ground and focus me are (and always will be) priorities. Naturally, exercise is on that list. I’ve always loved cars too – part of my plan when studying journalism was to one day work for a car magazine!

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