Episode 14 with Ely Smith & Elke Kendrick: Building a Better Buyer’s Agency with VA Support

In Episode 14 of Task Me Anything, Ely Smith and Elke Kendrick from Smith Street Buyer’s Agents share their journeys into property, the story behind the business and what they are seeing across the Brisbane property market.

Ely reflects on moving from country Victoria to Brisbane after being drafted by the Brisbane Lions in 2018. A run of freak injuries changed the direction of his career, while buying his first property at just 19 sparked an interest in property investment and buyer advocacy.

Elke shares her path from automotive sales into real estate, starting in administration and property management before moving into buyer advocacy. She explains how that experience shaped her understanding of the industry and her focus on building strong relationships with buyers.

The conversation also explores the current Brisbane property market, including increased stock, reduced competition, the rise in off-market opportunities and why more choice can sometimes make buying harder.

They discuss the types of properties they believe could become increasingly valuable over the next 10 to 15 years, including larger blocks, Bayside locations and suburbs yet to experience significant redevelopment.

From AFL injuries and first property purchases to zoning changes, migration and market opportunities, the episode offers an insight into the people behind Smith Street Buyer’s Agents and their approach to buying property.

In this episode:

• Ely’s journey from country Victoria to the Brisbane Lions
• Being selected as Brisbane’s first pick in the 2018 AFL Draft
• Dealing with unexpected sporting injuries
• Buying his first property at 19
• How property investing led Ely into buyer advocacy
• Elke’s journey from automotive sales into real estate
• The transition to Smith Street Buyer’s Agents
• What is happening in the Brisbane property market
• Why buyers currently have more choice
• The rise in off-market properties
• Which Brisbane properties could perform strongly by 2040
• Why larger blocks could become increasingly valuable
• Brisbane’s changing suburbs
• The impact of interstate migration and housing supply
• The business philosophy behind Smith Street Buyer’s Agents

Approximate Minutes Breakdown

00:00 | Introduction and rapid-fire questions
Meet Ely and Elke, their backgrounds, competitive personalities and a few quick-fire questions before getting into their careers.

03:30 | From country Victoria to the Brisbane Lions
Ely explains how he went from being told he had little chance of being drafted to becoming Brisbane’s first selection in the 2018 AFL Draft.

05:35 | Injuries, mindset and dealing with setbacks
A run of unexpected injuries changed Ely’s football career and shaped his approach to focusing on the things he can control.

07:45 | Buying property at 19
Ely discusses purchasing his first Kangaroo Point property and how that experience eventually led him towards property investing and buyer advocacy.

08:45 | Elke’s journey into real estate
From automotive sales to administration, property management and buyer advocacy, Elke explains how relationship building shaped her career.

11:15 | Building Smith Street Buyer’s Agents
The story behind the name, the recent rebrand and the agency’s focus across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

12:15 | What is happening in Brisbane property?
More stock, less buyer competition and why having more options can sometimes make purchasing decisions harder.

15:00 | Off-market properties and current buyer activity
Who is purchasing right now, why experienced investors are still active and why more sellers are testing properties off market.

16:20 | What will we wish we bought in 2026?
Larger blocks, Brisbane Bayside property, redevelopment potential and the suburbs Ely and Elke believe could look very different by 2040.

18:40 | Has the Brisbane market bottomed out?
Supply and demand, interstate migration, the Olympics and the factors that could continue driving South East Queensland property.

20:20 | Dream properties, career reflections and business philosophy
Ely and Elke share their ideal properties, reflect on their careers and explain the simple principle behind Smith Street Buyer’s Agents: do what you say you are going to do.

About Smith Street Buyer’s Agents

Smith Street Buyer’s Agents helps home buyers and property investors identify, negotiate and purchase property across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The team takes a straightforward approach to buyer advocacy, combining local market knowledge, property sourcing, negotiation and access to both listed and off-market opportunities.

About Task Me Anything

Task Me Anything explores how ambitious business owners build stronger teams, create better systems and buy back their time with the help of skilled virtual professionals.