Raising the Bar - QLD Property

George Sourris - Empire Legal
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Raising the Bar: Real Talk About Queensland Property 🎙️ Hosted by George Sourris, Legal Practice Director at Empire Legal - a Brisbane-based conveyancing and property law firm Welcome to Raising the Bar, the Queensland property podcast where we sit down with the best real estate agents, mortgage brokers, buyer's agents, property managers, building inspectors and property pros across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and wider QLD. In each episode, host George Sourris pulls back the curtain on the stories, strategies, and hard-earned lessons that define excellence in the Queensland property market - from first-home buyer tips to auction tactics, from QLD conveyancing essentials to running a top-performing real estate business. Because our industry deserves better. Whether you're buying or selling property in Queensland, or you work in the property game and want to get sharper - this one's for you. Need a conveyancer for your next QLD property purchase or sale? Visit empirelegal.com.au or call 07 3088 7675.

  1. 6D AGO

    Episode 23 - Paul Watkins: the hidden risks in property that could financially ruin buyers

    Every year, Queensland buyers settle on properties with hidden risks they never saw coming. From unapproved building work and boundary disputes to title defects and fraud. In episode 23 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Paul Watkins, General Counsel at Stewart Title Australia, to unpack one of the most overlooked forms of buyer protection in Australian property: title insurance.  With more than 20 years at the forefront of title insurance, legal reform and property risk management, Paul breaks down what title insurance actually is, why so many Australians still don’t know about it and the real life claims that can cost buyers tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. We cover: - Title insurance explained: what title insurance actually covers, why it protects buyers for the life of ownership, how it differs from standard conveyancing due diligence and why it remains one of the most under-utilised risk management tools in Australian property. - Real claims and hidden landmines: the most common title insurance claims in Queensland, including unapproved structures, boundary encroachments, council enforcement action and fraud, plus the real stories that show just how costly hidden property issues can become. - Raising the bar in buyer protection: what lawyers, conveyancers, lenders and real estate agents need to do better when it comes to educating buyers, managing property risk and ensuring clients understand what their legal representation does and doesn’t cover. If you’re buying property or working in real estate, this episode is a reminder that protecting your biggest asset starts with understanding the risks most buyers don’t even know exist. Contact Paul: https://www.stewartau.com/about-us/leadership-team Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/ More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/ Check out our blogs: https://empirelegal.com.au/blog/ Website: https://empirelegal.com.au/ Support the show

    1h 3m

  2. APR 27

    Episode 22 - Mariangela Stagnitti: how she became an Italian Knight and community icon

    In episode 22 of Raising the Bar George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with Italian Knight and community icon Mariangela Stagnitti, who has spent over 40 years helping people get on their feet, not just financially, but in life. Starting as a batch clerk in a local bank branch, Mariangela has built a career grounded in relationships, trust and showing up for her clients across multiple generations. We cover: - The journey: how Mariangela went from a batch clerk to becoming a trusted name in Brisbane’s Italian community and the lessons from her early years in banking that still shape how she works today. - Empowering women: why she’s so passionate about helping women become financially independent, particularly through property and how she supports those navigating major life transitions like divorce, loss and starting over. - Legacy and impact: the growth of the Italian Business Women’s Network with over 80,000 members, what it means to give back at that level and how her work has been recognised with Knighthood from the Italian President. If you work in real estate, finance or deal with people making big financial decisions, this episode is a reminder that relationships and trust are what actually build long term success. Contact Mariangela: https://ibw.network/contact/ Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/ More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/ Check out our blogs: https://empirelegal.com.au/blog/ Website: https://empirelegal.com.au/ Support the show

    1h 18m

  3. APR 20

    Episode 21 - Peter Brewer: what’s broken in QLD real estate and how to fix it

    If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.  In episode 21 of Raising the Bar, George Sourris from Empire Legal sits down with industry titan and ex REIQ Chairman Peter Brewer to unpack what it really means to lift standards in Queensland real estate. From building a career that spans over four decades to leading major reform through the REIQ, Peter shares a no nonsense perspective on what’s working, what’s broken and what needs to change. We cover: - The career: how Peter built a brand that stands the test of time, what “raising the bar” actually means from his perspective and the key mentors and moments that shaped his journey from practitioner to industry educator and advocate. - Industry advocacy and the hard conversations: where Peter’s direct approach comes from, the biggest gaps he still sees in agent training and support and why real change comes down to leadership, accountability and calling out poor behaviour. - What’s next: where Queensland real estate is heading over the next 3-5 years, the biggest mistakes agents are still making today and what he would do differently if he was starting his career in today’s market. If you’re in real estate or business and want a real look at how standards are actually lifted, this episode is a reminder that change happens when people decide to do something about it. Contact Peter: https://thatpeterbrewer.com Follow us on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empirelegal/ More podcast episodes: https://empirelegal.com.au/podcast/ Check out our blogs: https://empirelegal.com.au/blog/ Website: https://empirelegal.com.au/ Support the show

    55 min

  4. APR 13

    Episode 20 - Courtney Caulfield: Most Influential Women in Brisbane Real Estate

    Courtney Caulfield sits down with George Sourris from Empire Legal to share her journey from law to becoming one of Brisbane's most influential women in real estate. We cover: Her pivot from law into Queensland real estateBuilding a personal brand that actually convertsBalancing motherhood with high-performance sellingWhat QLD buyers and sellers need to know right now Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-20-courtney-caulfield Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queensland property - hosted by Brisbane-based conveyancing solicitor George Sourris. We chat to real estate agents, mortgage brokers, buyer's agents, building inspectors and property pros across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and beyond. Need a conveyancer for your next QLD property purchase or sale? Visit empirelegal.com.au or call 07 3088 7675. Support the show

    46 min

  5. APR 6

    Episode 19 - Ash Hansom: #1 Real Estate Agent in Murarrie, Brisbane

    Ash Hansom from LJ Hooker Cannon Hill joins George Sourris to reveal how she became the #1 agent in Murarrie, outselling her nearest competitor 3 times over. We cover: Dominating a Brisbane suburb from scratchWhy she outsold the competition 3:1Building referral pipelines that actually workWhat buyers in Murarrie and Cannon Hill should know Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-19-ash-hansom Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queensland property - hosted by Brisbane-based conveyancing solicitor George Sourris. Visit empirelegal.com.au or call 07 3088 7675. Support the show

    33 min

  6. MAR 30

    Episode 18 - Alex Tincknell: Building Elders Real Estate Redlands from Scratch

    Alex Tincknell shares how he built Elders Real Estate Redlands from zero experience in the Queensland property market. We cover: Starting a real estate agency with no industry backgroundWhy the Redlands market is one to watchHiring and building a team in QLD real estateLessons from the first 12 months Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-18-alex-tincknell Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queensland property - hosted by Brisbane-based conveyancing solicitor George Sourris. Visit empirelegal.com.au or call 07 3088 7675. Support the show

    41 min

  7. MAR 23

    Episode 17 - Emma Flatley: Scaling a QLD Buyer's Agency in 6 Months

    Emma Flatley went from selling agent to scaling Acquired Buyer's Advocacy across Queensland in just 6 months. We cover: Making the jump from selling agent to buyer's agentScaling a QLD buyer's agency fastWhat buyer's agents really do for youThe Brisbane and Gold Coast markets through a buyer's lens Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-17-emma-flatley Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queensland property - hosted by Brisbane-based conveyancing solicitor George Sourris. Visit empirelegal.com.au or call 07 3088 7675. Support the show

    43 min

  8. 11/10/2025

    Episode 16 - Rebecca Russell: How to Dominate a Suburb in QLD Real Estate

    Rebecca Russell from Place Kangaroo Point shares how she went from bartending to dominating Richlands real estate. We cover: Switching careers into QLD real estateLocking down a suburb as "your" patchThe daily habits that separate top 1% agentsRichlands and southside Brisbane property trends Full show notes + links: empirelegal.com.au/blog/news/episode-16-rebecca-russell Raising the Bar is Empire Legal's podcast for Queensland property - hosted by Brisbane-based conveyancing solicitor George Sourris. Visit empirelegal.com.au or call 07 3088 7675. Support the show

    44 min
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About

Raising the Bar: Real Talk About Queensland Property 🎙️ Hosted by George Sourris, Legal Practice Director at Empire Legal - a Brisbane-based conveyancing and property law firm Welcome to Raising the Bar, the Queensland property podcast where we sit down with the best real estate agents, mortgage brokers, buyer's agents, property managers, building inspectors and property pros across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and wider QLD. In each episode, host George Sourris pulls back the curtain on the stories, strategies, and hard-earned lessons that define excellence in the Queensland property market - from first-home buyer tips to auction tactics, from QLD conveyancing essentials to running a top-performing real estate business. Because our industry deserves better. Whether you're buying or selling property in Queensland, or you work in the property game and want to get sharper - this one's for you. Need a conveyancer for your next QLD property purchase or sale? Visit empirelegal.com.au or call 07 3088 7675.

Information

  • Creator
    George Sourris - Empire Legal
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Raising the Bar - QLD Property
  • Show Website
    Raising the Bar - QLD Property

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