2026 Has Already Changed Real Estate. More Change Is Coming.

If 2026 has taught our industry anything, it is that change is coming faster and from more directions than ever before. The introduction of Australia’s AML/CTF reforms on 1st July represented one of the biggest operational changes real estate businesses have faced in years. 

Agencies have had to introduce new systems, processes, training and customer conversations, while continuing to run their businesses and support clients. For many of us, that work is still being embedded.

“At Stockdale & Leggo, we have spent a significant amount of this year working through what AML/CTF looks like in practice. You can design a process on paper, but the real test is how it works for your people and your customers once it is live.” At the same time, several proposed Victorian reforms could again change how our industry operates later this year and into 2027.

Potential changes include greater transparency around auction reserve prices, earlier preparation of Section 32 documentation, changes around deposits and proposed new work-from-home rights. Individually, these may seem manageable. Collectively, they point to a much broader shift in the way real estate businesses will need to operate.

Preparation will need to happen earlier

One of the clearest themes is that agencies may need to become more organised earlier in the sales process. Real estate has traditionally been an industry that can move very quickly. An appraisal becomes a listing, photography is booked and a campaign can be launched within days.  

“If some of these reforms proceed, I think the biggest adjustment for agencies will simply be getting ahead of the process earlier. We may need to move from a mindset of list first and prepare second, to prepare first and launch properly.” That means stronger onboarding, earlier conversations with vendors and closer relationships with conveyancers and solicitors. It may require some adjustment, but better preparation should ultimately create smoother transactions and fewer last-minute issues.

Auction campaigns may evolve

Victoria has always had a strong auction culture, but proposed changes around reserve price transparency could influence the way vendors and agents approach campaigns. Some sellers may welcome greater transparency. Others may reconsider whether auction is the right method of sale for them. 

“I don’t think auctions are going anywhere, but I do think some of the conversations around them could change.” Agents will need to be even better at communicating buyer feedback, market conditions and pricing expectations throughout a campaign. 

“The opportunity for good agents is to lean further into honest, early conversations with vendors. The better informed the client is throughout the campaign, the better positioned everyone is when it comes time to make decisions.”

The workplace is changing too

The proposed reforms are not limited to property transactions. Possible changes to work-from-home rights could also create new considerations for business owners and leaders. Real estate has always been flexible by nature. 

Salespeople are out meeting clients, property managers are regularly on the road and many support roles can be performed from different locations. “For me, the conversation should not simply be about whether someone is sitting in an office or sitting at home. It should be about performance, communication, accountability and making sure the customer experience does not suffer.”

At the same time, there is still enormous value in people working alongside each other. “Real estate is an industry where so much learning happens through observation. A new agent can learn a huge amount simply by hearing an experienced person handle a difficult conversation or negotiation.” The challenge for leaders will be finding the right balance between flexibility and maintaining culture, mentoring and collaboration.

AML has already shown us how to adapt

The AML/CTF reforms have been a useful reminder of what successful change management actually looks like. When regulations change, businesses need to understand what is required, build systems around it, train their people and then keep improving those processes once they are being used in the real world. 

“One of the biggest lessons from AML has been that implementation is not a one-off exercise. You introduce the process, listen to your teams, find the friction points and keep refining it.” That same approach will be important if further reforms come into effect. We should not expect every new process to be perfect from day one. We should expect our businesses to keep learning and improving.

Real estate has always evolved. We have moved from newspaper advertising to online portals, paper contracts to electronic signing, traditional databases to cloud-based systems and now into an era of artificial intelligence and much greater regulatory oversight. 

“The industry has always adapted. What is different now is the pace and volume of change.” There will rightly be debate about some of the reforms being proposed, and our industry should continue to have a voice in those conversations. But business leaders also need to look ahead. 

“What could this mean for our people? What could it mean for our systems? What can we start preparing for now rather than waiting until a commencement date is upon us?” After everything the industry has already navigated in 2026, I believe adaptability will continue to be one of the most important qualities of a successful real estate business. 

“The businesses that prepare early, communicate well and lean into change will be the ones best placed for whatever 2027 brings.”