In an industry known for movement and rebrands, many long-term YPA principals say stability, trust, and genuine support are the reasons they’ve stayed.
Real estate has always been an industry where movement is common. Agents shift brands, offices rebrand, and experienced principals are regularly approached with new opportunities.
That’s why the number of long-term business owners staying within the YPA network stands out.
Across the group, many principals have spent more than a decade building their businesses under the same banner, not because they feel locked in, but because they feel aligned with the people around them and supported in the way they operate.
For James Antonio, who recently celebrated 15 years with YPA and nearly 25 years in the industry, the difference has always come back to relationships.
“Within YPA I know I can pick up the phone to any office for advice or assistance, and they will go out of their way to help,” he said.
Before joining YPA, James had worked within one of Victoria’s larger franchise groups, but said the culture felt very different.
“Most offices within that network didn’t speak to each other and almost resented one another,” he said. “Within YPA, it’s completely different.”
That sense of support has become even more important during the more difficult stages of business ownership.
“Opening an office is easy. Listing and selling is easy,” he said. “Retaining staff, growing a team and keeping your sanity at times can be the real challenge. Having people around you that genuinely support you is what makes the difference.”
For Patrick Kilkenny, whose first day in real estate coincided with the opening of the YPA Sunbury office almost 17 years ago, the accessibility of leadership has played a major role in why he has stayed.
“The support from head office has been nothing but amazing,” he said. “Any issue our team has can be discussed directly with them.”
Patrick briefly left the network earlier in his career to work within his father’s business before returning to YPA as a director.
“I had the opportunity to become a director with YPA and couldn’t refuse,” he said.
Like many within the network, he describes the relationship between offices as something that extends well beyond business.
“The connection through the group is amazing,” he said. “You make lifelong friends and learning from everyone is something that is hard to find.”
Joel Rawle, who joined YPA in 2014 after beginning his real estate career in 2010, believes the balance between independence and support is one of the network’s biggest strengths.
“Principals have the flexibility to operate their businesses in a way that best suits their local market,” he said, “while also having access to experienced leadership, proven systems, resources, and a collaborative support network when required.”
That local autonomy, he says, has been critical to the long-term success of his office.
“Every marketplace is unique, and having the ability to make decisions that reflect the needs of our local community, clients, and team has played a significant role in our continued success.”
For Ben Nutbean, who has spent 23 years in the industry and 15 as a YPA franchisee, trust has remained central from the beginning.
“Without trust you have nothing,” he said. “I trusted them from the very first meeting 15 years ago.”
That trust, he says, extends beyond standard franchise support.
“When I wanted to purchase the freehold to the office instead of paying rent, the first call I made was to them,” he said. “They even came to the meeting with my accountant to make sure this dream could be a reality.”
Luke Albioli shares a similar perspective after more than two decades in real estate.
“I’ve been at other ‘big brand’ agencies in my early career,” he said. “I feel I became a true real estate agent at YPA.”
For Luke, the relationship with the network has always felt personal rather than corporate.
“We’re like family,” he said. “I was 100% supported in my earlier years, and I’ll never forget the way I was treated.”
Across the network, offices vary in size, location, and structure, but there is a common theme in the way many principals speak about the business. The focus rarely centres on branding alone. Instead, conversations tend to come back to people, support, accessibility, and trust.
James perhaps summed it up most simply.
“People join brands,” he said, “but they stay because of culture.”