Eight Greek Australians are Victoria’s top real estate agents aged 35 and under.
According to a list compiled by the Herald Sun, 19 agents individually traded more than $100m in property across 2023 in Victoria – which usually doesn’t happen until agents are two or more decades into their career, if ever.
Neos Kosmos reached out to some Greek agents and compiled a profile on all eight of them.
Ben Manolitsas, 32 – Marhsall White Port Phillip
Ben Manolitsas is the top-selling Greek, number two overall, with 58 sales totalling almost $176.5m.
His average sale price is over $3m in Port Phillip.
“It’s just a by-product of doing a good job, generally caring for people and helping them in what is a pretty significant life moment – selling or buying a house,” he told Neos Kosmos.
“If you ask anyone, I’m incredibly competitive.
“I’m passionate about my job. I don’t see it as a job; I love work, and it’s not work but a lifestyle.”
Greek on his father’s side, whose family comes from Samos and Ithaca, Manolitsas is still looking to build a stronger connection to his Greek heritage.
“I would love to polish up on my Greek; I can’t speak it.”
“There’s a lot of Greeks in Albert Park and Middle Park, so it’s something I’d like to learn more.”
James Goulopoulos, 29 – Barry Plant Doncaster East
With 100 total sales of over $110m and an average sale price of more than $1.1m, James Goulopoulos ranked 15th.
Goulopoulos is recognised as one of the industry’s elite performers throughout Melbourne’s north-east and outer-east suburbs.
He has been Banyule’s No.1 selling agent for the last three consecutive years of his decade-long career.
A lifetime local of the area, he’s a former Ivanhoe Grammar School student who was a professional soccer player.
He has brought skills from there, such as a disciplined approach, teamwork, clear communication, excellent preparation, persistence, and a winning game plan, to his real estate career.
Andrew Koulaouzos, 34 – Barry Plant Taylors Lakes
Another Barry Plant agent, Andrew Koulaouzos, also made the top 20 with his 125 sales, making over $107m for an average sale price of $857,484.
He has been awarded the Top Lister and Top Performer in the Barry Plant Network in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and the position of No.4 Agent in Australia in the REB Business Awards.
He said being part of something important, buying or selling a home, is very special.
“When someone’s buying or selling, it’s very emotional and sometimes very scary to make that transaction because it is the biggest investment or transaction you’re going to make,” he told Neos Kosmos.
“Practically, people only do it a couple of times in their life. Some people buy or build their first home and always stay.
“So, it’s huge being a part of that.”
However, like everything, he admits real estate has its ups and downs, with many hours away from his wife and three kids.
Koulaouzos is also a former soccer player, but an injury meant he could no longer play, so he found real estate.
Costa Calaitzis, 34 – Jellis Craig Monash
Another top 20 ranked Greek, Costa Calaitzis, has 68 sales for nearly $102.5m, selling at an average of over $1.4m.
Raised in Mount Waverly, Calaitzis boasts a level of client commitment that surpasses his competition.
His experience selling all forms of real estate has led to countless accolades and testimonials throughout his career.
Always a top sales performer, he is a senior auctioneer able to confidently and expertly deal with all market conditions in the Monash community.
Nick Strilakos, 33 – Ray White Oakleigh
Award-winning real estate agent Nick Strilakos has sold 76 properties for $72.2m with an average price of $950,000.
Passionate and enthusiastic about all things property, Strilakos ultimately considers his role not a job but a lifestyle.
Having accumulated a wealth of experience at reputable agencies across the eastern suburbs, he has established himself as a skilled negotiator and specialist in residential sales.
Strilakos believes the key is to be approachable, confident and down-to-earth with clients.
Stasi Adgemis, 34 – Woodards Manningham
With 59 sales for over $74.3m and an average sale price of over $1.2m, Stasi Adgemis began his real estate career as a sales cadet at age 19. They became a real estate director by the age of 23.
Second generation in real estate, he learned the industry from his father. He grew up around some of Melbourne’s top real estate agents.
He told Neos Kosmos that what drives him is getting exceptional results for our clients and changing their lives financially.
But his biggest takeaway from this list is seeing his colleague Alec Stefanowski featured, who started as his junior.
“Part of my business has been able to grow young talent in the market.”
“I get more pride that he’s in it than I am.
“To be able to train and nurture someone else who hasn’t been able to have the guidance or success, to get them to that point is the big growth point for me.”
Adgemis’s family is Kastellorizan, and his great-grandparents came to Australia in 1911, making him a fourth-generation Greek Aussie.
He is also on the committee for the Kastellorizan Club in Victoria.
“I’d say that a lot of the community members are of Greek background, and I find that they always get drawn and attracted to me and my story.”
“How my family’s been here for so long and still very connected to the Greek community, that’s a big thing.”
George Skizas, 28 – Ray White Taylors Lakes
Taylors Lakes agent, George Skizas, has 76 total sales for $65.1m at an average of $856,578. The youngest Greek on this list, he prides himself on client care and service.
Dealing with clients at a young age, he knows how important trust and loyalty are in life and business. There’s no greater satisfaction for this award-winning agent than seeing happy clients.
“To me, the most important thing is building trusting relationships with my clients and a sense of comfort so that the whole process is enjoyable,” he said in his bio.
Elliot Kyriakou, 31 – McGrath Blackburn
Kyriakou has sold 55 properties for over $59.7m – averaging nearly $1.1m. He told Neos Kosmos that his Greek background drove him to this early success in his career.
“Growing up in a Greek household instilled in me values of hard work, integrity, and the importance of community,” he said.
“These have become the cornerstone of my approach as an agent, guiding me to uphold the highest standards of service and professionalism while staying true to my roots.”
Further to that, he shared how his upbringing had a direct link to his career trajectory.
“My grandparents played a pivotal role in helping my parents establish our family office in Blackburn in 1992, and I grew up upstairs at the office.”
“I vividly remember watching my grandfather tirelessly working, instilling in me the belief that hard work is the key to success.
“In 2024, as some aspects of our Greek heritage seem to be fading away, it has always been my mission to preserve and celebrate the best parts of our culture, embedding them into every aspect of my work.”
