Polished, switched-on, and sleek. These are words which a vintage car aficionado might choose when describing their dream ride. For Frederico Fraga-Matos, Sydney-based real estate agent, they’re attributes that struck me about him, and I’m wondering if he embodies them more so than the vehicles he admires.

But don’t be fooled. We didn’t start on the topic of cars, or material possessions. It’s information I had to drive out of him (pun intended) in a bid to understand more about the man behind the name.

“For the record, I drive a hybrid,” he says light-heartedly. Much like his community-minded car of choice, Frederico’s level-headed and logical, explaining he’s not swayed by the real estate stereotype or lure of ‘celebrity’. “Agents really do care about the people we serve, and we’re proud to help them get to that next phase of life, whatever that may be,” says the Inner West local. “Selling or buying a property can represent so many things in life and we’re fortunate to be a part of that.”

It’s a crisp Tuesday morning and much like the unseasonal weather, there’s something unexpected about Frederico. The café is buzzing with the morning coffee rush, but he doesn’t seem like the type who needs motivation to get the day started. “Here goes, short story long,” he laughs, diving in to telling me about himself, but not before the warning that he “can talk a lot”. “Growing up, my dad ran a local Inner West agency. I always idolised him but my sights were set on becoming a lawyer or barrister, so I didn’t give a career in real estate too much thought.”
An aspiration that he believed would allow him to make a meaningful change, it wasn’t until Frederico finished high school that the shine started to dull on that dream. “I realised more who I was and how I wanted my life to be. At the same time, I was young, eager to start earning, and really just be more independent.”

 

Working in the family real estate agency while he undertook a Business and Marketing degree therefore seemed like a sensible option – even if the long-term vision wasn’t there. As fate would have it (mixed with hard-work and self-discovery), that part-time job turned into more than a way to pay for university. “I fell in love with the pace of real estate and encountering interesting and different people every day.”

Learning the ropes in the Petersham-based agency (a 5-minute trip from Lewisham – the suburb Frederico spent his childhood and lives today) allowed him to deeply understand the market, build a network and witness first-hand the importance of transparency and trust. He also forged relationships with mentors, who encouraged him to plan his ideal next career step, whenever that would be.

“One of my mentors at the time said there were three agencies worth looking at if I was serious about making it as an agent in Sydney’s Inner City. One of those was BresicWhitney.” Turning knowledge into power, Frederico got to work, with the 18-year-old joining BresicWhitney for short-term work experience soon after, under the wing of founder Shannan Whitney.

“I loved it,” he says enthusiastically. “It’s always been that place that I’ve remembered and wanted to come back to one day.” He reflects with a fondness that feels genuine, recounting the names of former colleagues who are still with the group today. “And I wasn’t too bad at the work either,” humbly revealing an impressive track record in just a few weeks with the group.

 

The years that followed saw him dive back into the family agency, embracing a wider role across leasing, property management and sales. It was some years before he bid farewell to the people he knew and loved (at least between the hours of 9-5pm), with Frederico taking a new opportunity that would allow him to cement himself in the areas he called home. From Petersham and Stanmore through to Marrickville, Frederico admits, “I had over two decades of experience as a resident, a student and a professional, and I just thought that locals selling their home might like dealing with another local.” He was right, and over the years that followed, was recognised by his community for his commitment and results.

But it’s not only validation that keep Frederico motivated. “I’ve always been inspired by the creativity and uniqueness in and around Inner Sydney, from the people we get to work with and the homes we are invited into. It’s also been exciting to see more buyers from across Sydney really understand the value proposition of the Inner West and make a home for themselves here.”

The waitress pierces our conversation with question of a second coffee, which to me is a subtle way of telling you there’s people waiting for your table. I use the last minutes to ask Frederico about the future. Specifically, how he plans to navigate a market that’s shifting. Matter of fact, he responds “The conditions of the day are the conditions of the day. I focus on looking at what’s happening at the present moment and remind myself that the market is always changing in one way or another. There’ll always be challenges and there’ll always be opportunities.”

“What’s key for agents looking to achieve results is staying close to your clients,” he adds. “Some will have a need to move right now, and others will be playing the long game. Building those relationships and demonstrating what you can offer them when their situation does inevitably change, is really important.”

With that, it’s bill in hand and I’m feeling fortunate to have delved into questions and quiddities with Frederico. A few hours pass before I receive a text. “Lovely to meet you today, Amy. Looking forward to working with you.”  It’s a surprisingly succinct message for someone who as they say, can talk a lot. To me, it’s one last juxtaposition – proof that he knows when less is more, how to deliver a message, and how to build relationships. And if nothing else, that tells me everything I need to know about Frederico.

Until next time.