News & Media

Member Profile

Our association is built on the strength of our membership. Each month we profile a member to learn about their professional journey and what they would like to gain from being part of REBAA.

Matthew Hughes, WA State Rep and MD & Buyer’s Agent at Capital Property Advisory

How long have you been a buyers’ agent and what inspired you to become one?

I’ve been working exclusively with buyers for over 10 years now, though my journey in real estate started much earlier. I bought my first property at 19, some 27 years ago. This early success was followed by a series of avoidable mistakes – while I knew I wanted to build wealth through property, I had very little education on the topic and nobody to lean on for guidance. Despite the initial bumps in the road, taking action at such a young age sparked what has become a long-standing passion for property investment, development and helping others achieve success in doing the same. When I decided to make the leap into the industry to build a career, I initially started with a brief stint as a selling agent; however, it didn’t take long for me to realise that to truly provide the right advice, I would have to be advocating exclusively for buyers – providing qualified, unbiased advice that truly aligned with their interests and desired outcomes.

What do you love most about your job and the profession?

Every client I meet has a unique set of personal and financial circumstances, difference goals and varied timeframes in which to achieve them. I love the challenge of unpacking all of this with a client and tailoring a solution that I know will accelerate their path to success and minimise their risk of making the same mistakes I did when I first started out. Working with clients closely over the long term and guiding them through every step while ensuring they make informed decisions is deeply rewarding when years later you can see the tangible positive impact that well-informed decisions can have on people’s lives.

When did you join REBAA and why did you decide to join?

After a term as Chairman of the REIWA Buyers’ Agency Committee, I saw more of an opportunity to have a positive impact in the industry as a member, and now as a National Committee member with REBAA. I strongly believe in promoting ethical practices in real estate and in raising the level of education and the barrier to entry to become a buyers’ agent. REBAA is completely aligned with my commitment to operating with integrity and maintaining the highest standards of service for my clients. Also, the opportunity to meet with and learn from some of the most experience operators in the industry from all over Australia has been invaluable. Over time, I hope to help grow the REBAA membership, and add some value in return for my fellow members.

How do you think REBAA will benefit you and your business going forward?

REBAA provides a fantastic platform for staying connected with other top-tier buyers’ agents, and the access to continuous professional development is invaluable. For my business, it adds a layer of credibility that reassures clients they are working with someone who adheres to the highest standards in the industry. I believe that as the market evolves, having the support and resources of REBAA will help my group remain at the forefront of the profession, continually improving the way we serve our clients.

What do you see as the future of buyers’ agency as a profession?

While the profile of the buyers’ agent has grown considerable since I started, I still believe we are in our infancy and expect exponential growth over the next 5 to 10 years as more and more people come the understand the value of having an expert on their side when purchasing property – especially as markets becomes increasingly competitive and complex. Additionally, with advancements in technology and data analytics, buyers’ agents who are committed to client outcomes will be able to offer even more personalised, efficient, and data driven solutions, whilst not losing sight of the need for high levels of personal service, local knowledge and that human touch.