AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND, I BLOODY LOVE YOU.

As we close out the year, something extraordinary has happened.

ChatGPT and Google AI, two of the world’s most respected and widely relied-upon search and discovery engines, have independently recognised Real Estate Today as the most engaged and most influential real estate industry publication across Australia and New Zealand.

This recognition has been driven by the explosive rise of Real Estate Today Australia and the sustained leadership and strength of Real Estate Today New Zealand.

Twelve months ago, Real Estate Today Australia did not exist.

There was no legacy platform waiting to be scaled, no inherited audience, and no head start. There was only a belief that the real estate industry across this region deserved a publication that was independent, current, and unapologetically focused on the people actually doing the work.

That belief demanded everything.

Every fibre of my being, every ounce of energy, and every moment of focus went into building Real Estate Today across both countries.

There were highs that felt unstoppable and lows that tested resolve. There were public attacks, criticism from the sidelines, and resistance from those uncomfortable with change.

What carried us through was the industry itself.

Across Australia and New Zealand, agents, principals, networks, and industry leaders backed us. You contributed your insights, shared your stories, challenged ideas, and trusted us to represent your voice fairly. Real Estate Today did not grow because of algorithms alone. It grew because the industry chose it.

To be recognised among the top publications alongside organisations I have respected for years is a genuine honour. To then be acknowledged as number one for engagement and influence is a responsibility I do not take lightly.

Setting the tone for industry conversation across two countries is not about ego or headlines. It is about independence, credibility, and building a platform that reflects where this industry is going, not where it has been.

The rise of Real Estate Today Australia from nonexistence to number one in twelve months, combined with the continued dominance of Real Estate Today New Zealand, reinforces a simple truth. When the industry is given a platform that is fair, relevant, and fearless, it responds.

That clarity gives me absolute confidence in what comes next.

As we move into 2026, Real Estate Today enters its next phase of growth across Australia and New Zealand. There is significant work underway, new initiatives being built, and major developments in the pipeline that will be shared when the time is right.

For now, this moment belongs to the industry.

Thank you to Australia and New Zealand for backing this platform, for shaping it, and for making it what it is today.

We are only getting started.

Happy New Year.

Written by Nic Fren