Born in New Jersey and raised in a working-class family with 10 siblings, Corcoran famously turned a $1,000 loan into The Corcoran Group, one of New York City’s most successful property brokerages.
She had no formal business training, dyslexia made school difficult, and she didn’t come from money.
But what she did have was hustle, charm, and a willingness to do just about anything to get noticed.
And her breakthrough ultimately came from bold marketing, according to realestate.com.au.
In the early days of her business, Barbara faked a market report (based on just 14 sales), taught dogs to shake paws to impress co-op boards, and even created a made-up “Madonna Report” to position herself as the go-to agent for celebrities, despite never working with Madonna.
That fake report got her press. That press got her listings. And those listings made her millions.
Now 76, she is a bestselling author, podcast host, social media star and beloved judge on the US version of Shark Tank, where she invests in everything from food trucks to tech startups.
But at her core, she’s still a property hustler who knows how to turn a moment, or a gimmick, into a headline.
When Barbara recently took to TikTok to share the “unhinged” tactics she used to get ahead in real estate, it was a masterclass in modern personal branding.
“The press made me credible overnight,” she said, recalling how being quoted in The New York Times (thanks to her self-published report) caused her phones to ring off the hook.
That’s the lesson for agents today.
Being good at real estate is important, but being seen is essential.
And across Australia, agents are following in Barbara’s footsteps, using controversy, creativity, and unconventional flair to rise above the crowd.
Sam Nader – Dancing his way to a record price
When LJ Hooker Bankstown agent Sam Nader launched a real estate video featuring a couple dancing across countertops, diving into beds, and slow-motion pirouetting through a family home, the internet wasn’t sure what to make of it.
Some called it “cringe.” Others called it genius.
But what mattered was that the video went viral, racking up views and drawing more than 1,000 people to the open home.
One of those viewers, a 23-year-old buyer, bought the house for $1.72 million before auction, smashing suburb records.
“The whole point of real estate is to get as many eyes as possible on the property,” Sam said.
“Mission accomplished.”
Richard Faulkner – Turning trash into treasure with brutal honesty
In 2020, Central Coast agent Richard Faulkner didn’t hide the faults of a dilapidated fixer-upper.
He used them to his advantage.
“Nothing says romance like lying in bed and talking to your partner in the toosh,” he said, because of an exposed toilet in the hallway.
The listing became the most-viewed in NSW that year, with 350,000+ clicks on realestate.com.au.
It sold for $535,000, $85,000 above the guide.
Matt Micallef – Lycra, wigs and a $1.6 million sale
Some agents stage flowers. Matt Micallef stages himself, and often in costume.
Whether parodying Steve Irwin to sell a family home or spoofing Dodgeball as a skintight-suited egomaniac named Forrest Goodman, Matt knows how to make buyers laugh, share, and most importantly, enquire.
One of his most memorable campaigns helped sell a 5-acre hinterland estate, “Sunpeaks,” for $1.61 million.
The video, while outrageous (he even appeared nude in the final scene), showcased the property’s lifestyle, including features like the dams, a yurt, dirt bike tracks, in a way no standard listing could.
“If people remember me, they remember the house,” he said.
Amir Jahan – Selling first home buyer properties with supercars
In Sydney’s west, 25-year-old Amir Jahan routinely parks Lamborghinis or McLarens in front of modest properties, even one-bedroom apartments, to drum up attention.
“I get people saying, ‘The car’s worth more than the property!’ And I say, that’s the point,” he said.
The contrast is what sparks conversations, shares, and eventually, buyer interest and it worked.
His brand is now synonymous with flair, even if the bricks and mortar are humble.
Noah Rezaie – Billboards and beauty votes
“Voted #1 Best-Looking Agent in Narre Warren South,” the billboard said with an asterisk: “as voted by my mum.”
Melbourne’s Noah Rezaie bet on humour over hubris, launching a self-deprecating campaign that blanketed local buses and billboards in 2024.
Some laughed, others rolled their eyes, but it made him a household name.
TV picked up the story and social media ran with it.
And most importantly, listings followed.
“You’ve got to be memorable,” Noah said.
“People won’t remember a just-sold flyer.
“But they’ll remember this.”
Ash Swarts – Gas masks, grow rooms, and grit
In Perth’s Armadale, agent Ash Swarts didn’t shy away from marketing a cannabis grow-op property.
Instead, he wore a military-style gas mask in his listing video to tour the home’s hydroponic room and pungent interiors.
He highlighted every fault, every missing lightbulb, even the fact that the pool cover had been nailed to the ceiling.
The campaign was hilarious, honest, and surprisingly effective.
Six offers poured in within days, and the rundown duplex sold quickly.
“More eyes means more offers,” Ash said.
